Kent M. Tomblin is listed as the sole owner of 1120 N. Maplewood Ave. in Peoria (PIN #1805304013) and the joint owner with Laura L. Tomblin of 13104 N. Duggins Rd. in Dunlap (PIN #0815300023). Both homes are listed as “owner occupied,” giving the Chief a property tax exemption on both houses. Both the Recorder of Deeds office and the County Assessor office verified that, legally, a homeowner can only receive an owner-occupied exemption on one residence — that is, a homeowner in Peoria County can only have one primary residence. The County took the information on these two properties and said they would look into the matter to determine which residence is the primary one.
If the Dunlap residence is found to be primary, it would cause further problems for Mr. Tomblin since the Fire Chief is required to live in the City of Peoria according to City policy. When asked about whether the Chief is breaking the City’s residency requirement, City attorney Randy Ray said he would have to research it.
I’d give you kudos for another scoop — but best I can do is give you the nod for being willing to report what many know (and have known for years) but wouldn’t address. Unfortunately, he’s not the only violator of this policy. I recall several other management employees that were required to comply (and at least one that was fired for violation and one that resigned rather than comply). I guess it DOES MATTER who you are and chum around with.
There are few on the Council that can claim “ignorance” of this violation and while not their direct role to enforce their policy (that duty remains with the City Manager and the current one is too new to tag on him), it is their fault when they knowingly wink and look the other way.
LMAO!!! Randy Ray will research it. At a cocktail party? As long as Ray has been attorney for Peoria and he doesn’t know this? Time for a new lawyer.
If they don’t bill him retroactively for the second erroneous owner/occupied exemption then I would submit that they treat different citizens differently. Is that redundant?
Gotta give Randy Ray kudos for saying he’ll look into it instead of Aw, S*&t!
Not much to say about this except that we should be looking for a new fire chief. At least Irving has the excuse of a woman scorned to uncover his indiscretions. This is black and white. Either he lives in Dunlap or he lives in Peoria. If he lives in one or the other, he has been in violation of the exemption. Pretty straight forward, I think.
DON’T KNOW THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT DO KNOW KENT TOMBLIN IS ONE HELL OF A GOOD FIRE CHIEF! HESE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS ARE MORE TROUBLE THAND THEY ARE GOOD. SUPRISED SANDBERG HASN’T MADE A MOTION TO ELIMINATE THEM IN TOTAL.
Gary Sandberg would NEVER make that motion………………….. FOR ANYONE …….. Gary Sandberg fired one City employee for lying about his residence location when he was a Department head AND relunctantly accepted a very good employee’s resignation when the employee one year probation was up and the employee had NOT moved into the City, sooooooooooooooooooooooo mnjdj1, YOU ARE WRONG about ME.
Do you think your argument is more persuasive if you type in all caps? Guess what? It’s not. If the citizens of Peoria are good enough to draw your paycheck from, they should be good enough to be your neighbors.
Cheif Tomblin may want to take a look at this site to find a house in Peoria so he can fulfill residency requirements. http://www.fsbodigital.com.
Thanks Susan. Looks like he can pick between three properties to find his dream home.
n/t
Honest question to the author and anyone who has ever brought up this issue in any town, anywhere: What’s the big deal? No sarcasm intended. I just don’t see why stuff like this is important to people. IMHO it should not be – at all. Much bigger things to worry about in the world.