Schaumburg Twp. assessor invests in 'anger management'

Schaumburg Township Assessor John Lawson is investing in “anger management” at his office during this period of assessment appeals, given behavioral problems among constituents last November and the more recent shootings of public officials in Florida and Arizona.

“We had to do something,” Lawson said of the rising tide of violent expressions of anger. “We're trying to cut it off at the pass.”

Lawson's opinion when it comes to security is an educated one. Outside of his elected position as assessor, he is a detective sergeant for the Roselle Police Department with 26 years of experience in law enforcement.

As he did last November when tax bills first went out, he has hired a Hoffman Estates police officer to stand outside his office during this appeal period, and he has also installed shatterproof glass, a security door and panic buttons to the office itself.

Schaumburg Township Administrator Larry Weniger said the police officer costs $5,300 for a two-week period while the renovations to the office cost about $4,000.

“I don't think you can put a price tag on anyone's safety,” Lawson said. “I think we took all the measures we had to take.”

Anger has been turned down a notch during the early part of the appeal process this week, and Lawson doesn't expect any upset residents to turn violent. He is hopeful that the measures taken and the presence of the police officer will serve as a deterrent.

He is urging residents to attend a seminar on appealing one's assessment at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Schaumburg High School, 1100 W. Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg.

Appeals must be filed by Feb. 22 this year. Despite the fact that assessments did come down a bit this year, an appeal can result in a more significant change, Lawson said.

If residents wait to be shocked by their next tax bill, it will be too late to appeal, Lawson said.