DOLTON, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Dolton’s village board has now approved a resolution calling for a federal investigation into Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s questionable dealings.
Earlier this week, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office sent a cease and desist letter to Henyard’s charity, over the foundation’s failure to report how it spends funds and who has benefited. Henyard is also accused of spending village money on lavish trips with village staff.
At the meeting, Trustee Jason House said that this has caused a multi-million-dollar deficit for the village. Trustee Brittney Norwood said that vendors are calling everyday for non-payment situations.
Henyard has denied the allegations.
Driving or walking through Dolton and neighboring municipalities, boarded up buildings and storefronts are the most prominent features-leaving the surviving business owners disappointed with the mayor's impacts on their lives
A longtime business owner located just across the street from Dolton in Riverdale, wishing to remain anonymous, told WBBM that her business, surrounded on either side by boarded up store fronts, is struggling to pay property taxes while at the same time Henyard has "police detail to take her to concerts in Vegas and all that."
The business owner said she doesn't know if the cost for that comes out of the village's budget. "I think it's ridiculous," she added. "We're dealing with somebody who has a big ego. I think an investigation needs to happen."
She also went on to say that Thornton Township is involved with some neighboring property tax assessments including her own. Henyard serves as the Thornton Township supervisor, and the business owner said she would fear retaliation- something Henyard is accused of along with corruption involving usage of village funds.
She heard second hand some real instances of the claims against Henyard, including that businesses are impacted negatively when pulling their financial support.
"So, if you're for Tiffany Henyard, it's smooth sailing," the business owner said.
"A lot is going to come out, so if she's lying, it's going to come out. The roosters are coming home as the old folks say."
The Village Administrator of Dolton said in a statement to WBBM that a few village trustees are "spreading lies and false allegations."
The statement goes on to say that "these are the same trustees that cut the public safety budget by $3.8 million, eliminated the bond for garbage removal and have charged over $5 million in frivolous lawsuits that the Dolton taxpayers are stuck with the tab. The residents deserve better than this circus."
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