MARION – The Williamson County Board of Commissioners is expected to accept the resignation of Supervisor of Assessments Alex Simpson and approve an interim Supervisor of Assessments when it meets Friday afternoon at 1:30 in the Williamson County Administrative Building boardroom on North Monroe Street in Marion.

Simpson released an email Wednesday announcing his resignation from his post. It’s effective at 4 p.m. Friday.

Simpson said in his email that County Commissioners asked him to resign his position or face removal in accordance with Illinois Complied Statutes that deals with Property Tax Code.

The statute, 35 ILCS 200/3-10, says the county board, by a vote of 2/3 of its members, may dismiss a supervisor of assessments before the expiration of his or her term for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in the performance of the duties of the office.

Whenever the county board dismisses a supervisor of assessments, it shall specify its reasons in writing. The dismissed supervisor may, within 21 days after receipt of the statement of reasons for dismissal, request a hearing before the county board. The county board shall conduct a hearing within 30 days of a timely request, and may reverse the dismissal by a vote of a majority of the members present. 

Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for a full term. In the event of a vacancy, the county board may appoint an acting supervisor of assessments, but an acting supervisor may serve for no more than 60 days until a qualified person is appointed to fill the remainder of the term.

Simpson says while he feels the listed offenses either predate his term in office, or fall outside of her immediate control to instigate such a removal, he recognizes that the same board that would potentially remove him from office under the umbrella of such acts would be the same board that he would have to appeal to. So Simpson decided to resign.

One reason county taxpayers were told when they contacted the county board about the property tax increase is that they increased because they were under-assessing property values in some areas. They also told taxpayers there are exemptions they can get to help with their taxes.