Recorder Dawn Young recorded a professional milestone, on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The Morrison, IL, resident marked her 40th anniversary of employment by Whiteside County. She has served citizens at the Courthouse since April 28, 1981.
“These records are the people’s records,” Young stressed on Wednesday May 5, 2021. “They are available any time, during business hours, to anybody. If people have questions about property ownership, they are welcome to come to the office. We would be glad to help.” Deputy Recorders include Kendra Kophamer Bush and Brenda Nelson.
“In the near future” Young will post “a part-time notice for a Deputy Recorder.” Call the Recorder at 815-772-5192 or email dyoung@whiteside.org.
Dawn Young first was hired for the part-time position of Deputy Recorder, by then-Recorder Marvin Van Zuiden. Inter-office openings led to her promotion to full-time Deputy Recorder and Chief Deputy Recorder. Van Zuiden’s retirement plans enabled Young to register as a candidate for Recorder, on the November 1996 ballot. She won and has been reelected six times.
“I run with the President and run for reelection every four years,” she noted. When asked about the 2024 election, she replied, “I will review my life circumstances and make my decision then.”
She listed the most-satisfying aspects of her position. “Being able to prove [ownership of] your property is a big deal!”
- Being able to provide a copy of the most important document in a person’s life.
- Being able to trace the history of someone’s property back to 1836.
She initiated modernization and security of records since 1996. “We went to using computers n 1989,” rather than hand writing records. People can search from 1967 to the present. We are back-indexing land records.” That task requires the staff to retype documents.
Old microfilm records are available from day one and are backed up off-site. Newer records are saved electronically and stored off-site also. To find a property ownership trail, citizens usually need to begin with the address.
Young encourages all Whiteside County property owners to register for her newest initiative, the “Property Fraud Alert” program.
“There is no fee, and your information remains private. You will receive a phone call or email, to alert you when something is recorded with your name on it. It is good to have this protective notice in place.”
Call the Whiteside County Recorder Office at 815-772-5192.