Incoming Cook Assessor 'Deeply Disappointed' With Lyons Township's Lack Of Action

COUNTRYSIDE, IL – Cook County's incoming assessor said this week he was "deeply disappointed" in Lyons Township's failure to move on replacing him.

At a township board meeting, the township's assessor, Patrick Hynes, reminded officials that he informed them in September that he was leaving and that they should replace him.

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But the township took no action.

"You haven't taken it seriously," Hynes said. "I have a very large duty when I go to take the seat of the Cook County office, and I would have liked to have some time to prepare for those duties. As it stands, you guys still have to put in place a process to replace me."

He said he would vacate his position as soon as a replacement is found.

Township Trustee David Imielski said the township appreciated Hynes' work.

"It certainly was not the board's intention to make, understandably, a very important job much more difficult," he said.

The township board agreed to start accepting applications through Nov. 23. The trustees would then discuss the matter at their Dec. 8 meeting.

That would be a day after Hynes starts his term as the Cook County assessor.

In March's Democratic primary, Hynes defeated the two-term county assessor, Fritz Kaegi. In the general election, Hynes faced a Libertarian candidate. But Hynes' victory was virtually assured in heavily Democratic Cook County.

Unlike other counties, Cook County's township assessors don't actually assess properties. They act as taxpayer advocates.

Township assessors in Illinois must meet certain educational and certification requirements. The Lyons Township assessor's position is up in the April election.