Hicks appraises new role as chief

Most people would agree that receiving mail from the appraisal district isn’t much cause for celebration. The envelopes are opened with bated breath and seldom is there a call made in response to convey approval for a job well done.

What typically follows for the Cass County Appraisal District is a rash of calls from aggravated property owners who are desperate to understand the numbers and dispute the assessments they see as unfair. Many of those same people would be intimidated to take a job where they are tasked to determine property values and bear the news to its owners, but not Lacy Hicks, Cass County Appraisal District’s newest chief appraiser.

Formerly the deputy chief appraiser and veteran field appraiser for Cass County, Lacy acknowledges that the district doesn’t hold much favor in the eyes of the public which is why she accepted the promotion from the district’s board of directors earlier this month. She hopes to change that.

Reserved in her demeanor, Lacy modestly gives an account of her duties to a multitude of bodies, including the taxpayers of Cass County and stresses the importance of good working relationships with her staff--all of which is a delicate balancing act and not for the faint of heart.

“I have to do what is right by the taxpayer and the county, and right now my focus is making sure that this office is being operated correctly, to get things lined out to where they need to be”, she said, “I am dedicated to being fiscally conservative while also ensuring this office has the resources it needs to function efficiently.”

In order to be an effective appraiser and chief appraiser, according to Lacy, one must be receptive to a property owner’s criticisms and willing to work with the owner for solutions.

“My door is always open to the citizens of Cass County”, she said.

Born and raised in Linden, Lacy has worked for the appraisal district for more than 10 years and has a “vested interest” in the district. Moreover, she understands the accountability of her position.

“It is important to me for the county to know that I’m here, I’m an involved chief appraiser and that I will still be involved in all areas of the office.”

When asked what inspired her to put in for the job, she said she felt the opening was a call to duty.

“I felt it was my obligation…to my employees, for them to have a leader and somebody who is going to work for them, for the district, for the entities, for the board and the taxpayers.”

And she’s not going anywhere. Lacy understands that the taxpayers of Cass County have an investment in her too. With turnover having been an issue in the past, she is working to invest in her current staff as well as prospective staff to keep them in Cass County.

“When someone leaves for an appraisal district in another county, they take that investment with them”, she said.

Her current staff, a solid mix of seasoned professionals and those just starting out, have transitioned with ease.

“They’ve always kind of seen me as their boss…I’m going to delegate, but I’m not going to delegate everything. I’m going to do what I can and pull as much weight as possible so that I’m not just a body in this chair. There’s too much work in this county for that.”

Upon entering the appraisal district’s office, the first face one sees belongs to Brittney Hearn.

A customer service representative who came aboard in 2019, Brittney says she enjoys meeting with customers face to face and aspires to have the work ethic of her new boss. Her confidence in Lacy’s ability to lead is endearing.

“[Lacy] knows Cass County like the back of her hand…she is a workhorse but also human and is a devoted mom and wife. Even before she was elected as the chief, we all went to her with problems or questions.

When she doesn’t know the answer to a question (which is not often) then she will find the correct answer” Brittney said. “She also knows what needs to be taken care of and is formulating us plans to get whipped back in shape. I believe that the board made the best decision in hiring her for the position as she well deserved it.”

Lacy Hicks, Cass County Appraisal District’s new chief appraiser, is a fiscal conservative who values total transparency and strong leadership.

Her knowledge and tenacity are on display at 502 North Main Street in Linden where she routinely guides the public, her staff and pesky reporters to understanding how all of it works.