Ela Twp. trustee to take assessor post

John Schweda has given up his seat on the Ela Township board to fill the vacant township assessor's post.

The board appointed Schweda to replace Pamela Hoffman who resigned Nov. 8 after 13 years with the township. She cited personal reasons for stepping down.

Schweda was selected from among three applicants for the job because he was the most qualified, Township Supervisor Lucy Prouty said.

Hoffman was re-elected assessor in April 2005 as part of Prouty's slate, which included Schweda.

Schweda became a certified assessor in 1996. He recently took classes to update his credentials.

"I think the board was looking for new blood in there," Prouty said.

The township board is now seeking candidates to serve Schweda's remaining two years on the board. It has 60 days from Dec. 13 when Schweda was sworn in as assessor to appoint his replacement. Applicants must live within Ela Township.

An appointment likely will be made at the January township board meeting, Prouty said.

Though an elected post, the assessor's job comes with a $54,461 yearly salary, including benefits such as health insurance and retirement plan.

Schweda's duties will include appraising roughly 14,000 homes and 16,000 to 17,000 land parcels. He'll serve the remaining year and a half of Hoffman's term.

"I think there's more challenge for me being assessor," he said. "I have a background in business and am a longtime property owner and resident of Ela Township, so it's something that I think I fit into."

Schweda previously served on the Lake Zurich Unit District 95 school board. He also was a volunteer fire chief and the first full-time fire chief for Lake Zurich from 1976 to 1983. He is on the board of directors and is a member of the Lake Zurich Lions Club.

For inquiries about the vacant township trustee post, call the township office at (847) 438-7823.