SYCAMORE – Former DeKalb County Board member Dan Cribben had one lighthearted request to his old colleagues when he was appointed as a Board of Review member last night:
“I don’t want to see any of you appeal your taxes because if you do, you know the county needs all of our taxes for all of the wonderful programs we have going on and administer.”
Cribben stepped down from the DeKalb County Board surrounded by applause and laughter during the body’s monthly meeting Wednesday after serving on the board for seven years. He was then appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Review.
Cribben’s voice uncharacteristically shaky at times, he said he will miss his work mates, whom he described as “eclectic.”
“You bring a whole lot of life experiences to this board, and I’ve appreciated that,” Cribben said. “I think that has made us a better body, and I appreciate all of your input.”
After laughter at Cribben’s tax jest, DeKalb County Board Chairman Mark Pietrowski Jr. joked that a dictionary may be needed for the term “eclectic,” which means “composed of elements drawn from various sources,” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Cribben will start his new position at the DeKalb County Assessment Office on Friday with an annual salary of $11,000, DeKalb County Administrator Gary Hanson said. His wife, Karen Cribben, previously worked as chief deputy assessment officer for the county, but retired June 14.
Along with the other two members of the Board of Review, Cribben will hear appeals from property owners of assessments performed by township assessors and equalizing assessments by township assessors within the county if necessary.
Board of Review members work three to four times a week for four to six hours a day depending on the workload, DeKalb County Assessor Robin Brunschon said.
DeKalb County elections judge John Linderoth and Sycamore resident Ryan Cardinali were selected as the new alternates for the review board Wednesday night.
Cardinali is the founder of DeKalb County Taxpayers, a local watchdog group for taxpayers.
The review board has had an open seat since earlier this year, when former board member Anthony Cvek was charged with stealing more than $10,000 from Habitat for Humanity for DeKalb County, where he worked as the nonprofit’s president and executive director, according to Sycamore police.
Cribben’s empty seat, District 11, is the second in three months for the County Board. Former board member Misty Haji-Sheikh resigned at a meeting March 20.
Her seat, District 7, was filled Wednesday by DeKalb resident Terri Mann-Lamb.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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