The owner of a Dolton home leased to Mayor Tiffany Henyard is seeking a special process server to deliver an eviction notice on a home Henyard apparently shares with a Thornton Township employee.
The owner, Genetta Hull, filed eviction papers last month, saying Henyard and Kamal Woods owe more than $3,350 in unpaid rent and late fees for the home in the 14600 block of Harvard Street.
During the hearing, where she appeared by Zoom, Hull said the occupants have “been elusive” and that she’s not been able to gain entry to the home to inspect the property.
Hull told Cook County Circuit Court Judge Carrie Hamilton that she went to the home Saturday the locks and garage door code had been changed. She told the judge she wants to inspect the home’s condition and also have work done on the furnace.
Hamilton told Hull she might consider contacting the village for help gaining access to the home.
“Do you know who these people are, do you know who these defendants are?” Hull asked the judge, who said she did not.
Neither Henyard nor Woods were in court or appeared via Zoom, and no attorney appeared on their behalf.
Court records show Cook County sheriff’s police have attempted to serve papers to Henyard and Woods both at the home and at Dolton Village Hall without success.
Beau Brindley, a Chicago attorney representing Henyard on other matters, previously said the complaint by the landlord “is not brought in good faith” and that “no proof of missed payment can be produced as no payment has ever been missed.”
Reached Tuesday, Brindley said he is not representing the mayor on any eviction matter.
Hamilton set Oct. 29 as the next hearing date.
Court filings indicate Henyard and Woods had paid rent on a month-to-month basis since their lease expired at the end of May 2023.
Henyard is facing at least one challenger in next year’s municipal election, where she will seek a second term as mayor, and is also under federal investigation regarding her role as mayor in Dolton and as supervisor in Thornton Township.
Subpoenas also seeking records related to Henyard have been served at Thornton Township High School District 205.
Woods works for the township as supervisor of its youth assistance program, and a recent subpoena served on the township seeks records in relation to state grant money received for the program.
The landlord’s September filing indicates Henyard and Woods have refused requests for an inspection of the Harvard Street property, and the landlord is terminating the lease for nonrenewal on the tenants’ part as well as nonpayment of rent.
As Dolton’s mayor, Henyard is supposed to be receiving a salary of $46,000, and she also earns $224,000 a year as Thornton Township supervisor.
A W-2 statement provided by Dolton shows that for last year, Henyard was paid wages of just under $62,000 by the village.
Dolton trustees have complained they’ve been denied access to Village Hall, and that locks have been changed twice in recent months under Henyard’s orders.
mnolan@southtownstar.com
