Cook County panel to inspect Brule Valley parcels after owner disputes new assessment

Tim White, a property owner in Cook County, appealed the assessor's 2025 valuation for two 40‑acre parcels combined into an 80‑acre tract, telling the county Board of Appeal and Equalization that the assessor overcounted buildable acreage because the lots contain steep ravines, coniferous wetlands and access constraints.

The dispute centers on a 2015 map prepared by David Demmer that the assessor used to identify potential build sites. “He doesn't claim to have been perfect and he's a water man, right? He was a water man,” White said, asking the board to consider on‑the‑ground conditions before accepting the assessment. White also described the land's enrollment in the SFIA program, which he said imposes a covenant restricting development and that “if you violate the terms of that in 1 small place, they're gonna come after you for everything.”

Bob Johnson, who spoke for the county assessor's office, said assessor records already factor wetlands and elevation discounts and that river frontage tends to increase market value. “We have Marsh discounts. We have Elevation discounts. We offset some discounts when you have a view like that because that is a multiplier in our assessment,” Johnson said. He also noted the majority of the parcel is recorded as wetland and that comparable sales in the neighborhood support a higher per‑acre value for riverfront property.

Commissioners asked whether staff could perform a field inspection. Johnson said county Land Services could send a staff member; he specifically offered to have NEVA Maxwell (Land Services) walk the property and review bluff setbacks, wetlands and access. Commissioner Gamble and others agreed that a staff site visit would be useful before any formal change to the assessment.

No formal change to the assessment was voted at the meeting. Instead, county staff agreed to schedule a joint site inspection with Land Services (Neva Maxwell) and the assessor to evaluate buildable area, bluff setbacks and whether the SFIA covenant or access limitations justify an adjustment. White said he would provide additional documentation, such as realtor broker price opinions, if requested.

The board framed the next step as an evidence‑gathering inspection: staff will report any factual errors found in the assessor's data and return with a recommendation for adjustment if warranted.