Avon Twp. assessor says he's still going to Miami

Avon Township Assessor Rick Dishman still plans to attend a Miami convention that will cost taxpayers about $3,000, despite a new board's demand he seek refunds for the trip because it would be three months before he leaves office.

Dishman informed township Supervisor Sam Yingling in a letter Tuesday he won't cancel hotel reservations and fees for the ProVal International Users Group event in late September.

Yingling said Dishman's planned trip to Miami is inappropriate, considering revenue problems Avon Township and other local governments across the country are encountering.

"It's a total waste of money," Yingling said. "I think people should be incredibly concerned the outgoing assessor wants to go ahead and spend this money."

Dishman declined to comment, instead directing questions to his attorney, Robert Masini of Waukegan.

Masini said the Avon Township board in place before the April election approved this year's budget and Dishman's conference expenses. He said the new board doesn't have legal standing to force Dishman to seek refunds.

"For pretty good reasons, it is the job of the assessor to run his office," Masini said.

Yingling said he made a written request of the past town board aligned with Dishman to refrain from allowing any travel spending at its final two meetings before he took over May 18. He said the board should not have approved Dishman's convention tab.

By a 4-1 vote June 2, trustees and Yingling agreed refunds should be sought for the Miami trip. The majority contended taxpayers wouldn't benefit because Dishman will step aside for new assessor Bryce Carus on Jan. 1.

Dishman and assistant Penny Heckel have two rooms at Loews Miami Beach Hotel from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 at a cost of $1,638. The 790-room oceanside hotel is in the heart of South Beach.

ProVal convention fees for Dishman and Heckel cost $870, with another $478 going toward two airline tickets. ProVal is a private group involved with a real-estate tax bill software product.

Yingling said he tried to cancel the reservations connected to the trip and gain refunds, but he learned Dishman was the only one who could get the refunds because the arrangements for the conference are in the assessor's name.

Masini said Dishman has attended the ProVal event for at least seven years. He said Dishman has a responsibility to do the best job he can for taxpayers and to leave the assessor's office in good shape for Carus.

Carus ran on a political slate headed by Yingling when he beat Dishman on April 7. Dishman was part of former township supervisor Shirley Christian's political team.

Avon Township includes all or part of Grayslake, Hainesville and the Round Lake area.

Trip: Convention involves tax bill software