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Richmond Township assessor seeks variance to run seasonal staff from home; trustees oppose
Summary
Richmond Township assessor Patricia O'Neil asked a McHenry County hearing officer to allow up to three additional seasonal employees to work at her converted home office, saying the township lacks secure space. Township trustees and neighbors urged denial; the hearing was continued to allow transcript review.
Patricia O'Neil, the Richmond Township assessor, told a McHenry County hearing officer that she needs a variance to allow more than one employee to work from her converted home office because the township building lacks secure, private space and the assessor routinely uses seasonal staff to perform field measurements and CAD work.
O'Neil testified that her property is more than five acres, that she typically employs four seasonal workers during the appeal season (mid‑May to mid‑August) and that the township owns three desktop computers used for records, which are backed up off‑site and housed in an alarmed office converted from a three‑car garage. She said meetings with residents are by appointment and that parking for visitors is limited to four spaces by appointment only.
The request grew from a complaint alleging more than one employee was working at the residence. Trustee Tracy Dickens, speaking for the township trustees, urged denial and called the claim of hardship “not genuine,” noting a taxpayer‑funded 10‑by‑12 assessor office now exists at the Richmond Township Hall that trustees say should be used. Dickens warned that granting a residential variance risks permanently changing neighborhood character and argued that, regardless of any questions about how the township office was approved, the public facility is available for use.
County planning staff (identified in the record as Kim) told the hearing the state revenue code governs assessors and does not require them to occupy space at the township building; staff emphasized the variance test focuses on whether surrounding properties would be affected and reported no adjacent property complaints tied to the operation. Staff also said the county’s stormwater and permitting divisions would review any later permitting concerns if development or impervious area changed.
Hearing officer Michael McNearney said he was not “horribly concerned” about immediate neighborhood impact but asked for a transcript review of earlier testimony and continued the matter to allow that review. Staff indicated they would not enforce alleged violations while the petitioner actively pursues the variance. The hearing was continued to June 9 at 11:00 a.m.
The continuance leaves the matter pending; if the hearing officer recommends approval, the county board will make the final decision at its next available session.
