Top Berrios aide loses appraisal license
State says chief deputy assessor didn't take required classes
By Bill Ruthhart, Tribune reporterJanuary 19, 2014
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But the misstep won't cost Robert Kruse his job as chief deputy assessor — a Berrios spokeswoman said Kruse does not need his state appraisal license to do his $141,337-a-year job. The assessor's office is responsible for appraising 1.8 million pieces of land for property tax purposes.
The Kruse case is the latest ethics issue to surface during Berrios' first term as assessor. Berrios has refused to pay a $10,000 fine the county Board of Ethics imposed for violating nepotism rules after the assessor hired his sister and son to jobs in his office paying nearly $182,000. In July, the county agreed to pay more than $500,000 in patronage case payouts to 11 people that a federal court monitor determined were fired for unlawful political reasons after Berrios took office in late 2010.
In 2011, Kruse applied to renew his license and told the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation he had completed the required continuing education courses from 2009 to 2011, according to state records. During a routine check of license renewals, however, the state agency found that Kruse had "in fact had not completed the continuing education courses," records show.
Kruse, 64, declined requests for comment. But as part of a Dec. 10 settlement, state regulators ordered Kruse to pay a $2,000 fine and agree he won't be allowed to renew his real estate appraiser license or challenge the decision in the future.
Kruse attorney Fred Nickl said his client has paid the fine. Nickl sought to draw a distinction that Kruse did not have his appraisal license revoked. A state agency spokeswoman noted that under the terms of the agreement Kruse doesn't have his license.
"The department always has various actions it can take ranging from a fine to revocation of a license," spokeswoman Susan Hofer said. "In this case, the agreement reached between the department and Mr. Kruse was that he not renew his license to be an appraiser."
Berrios spokeswoman Cristina Villarreal said the office was not aware of the decision by state regulators, but said Kruse does not need his state appraisal license to perform his duties as chief deputy. The office's primary function is to appraise the value of property for tax purposes.
"I'm not sure what's going on with his state appraisal license, but as far as our office is concerned, that wasn't a requirement for his position," Villarreal said. "He's been an effective leader since the administration has taken office, so we have no reason to be concerned about that at this time."
Beyond the ethics questions, Berrios also continues to fight the scrutiny of the county inspector general. The assessor has refused to comply with Inspector General Patrick Blanchard's subpoena of documents relating to an employee who allegedly received a homeowner's tax exemption to which he was not entitled.
Blanchard sued last summer. Berrios tried to have the case dismissed, arguing the County Board improperly gave Blanchard the authority to investigate the assessor's office. On Wednesday, Cook County Judge Franklin Valderrama denied Berrios' motion to dismiss the case. Blanchard said he expects Berrios to appeal.
If the ruling holds up, it could send a wider signal that the county ethics ordinance applies to all countywide elected offices. The treasurer and recorder of deeds also have contended Blanchard cannot investigate their offices.
Tribune reporters Hal Dardick and Mary Ellen Podmolik contributed.
bruthhart@tribune.com Twitter @BillRuthhart
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