(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
SALEM LAKES, Wis. – Cassandra Hiller, the embattled Village Administrator of Salem Lakes, is preparing to leave her position after a tenure filled with controversy, public backlash, and strained government relations. But in a move that has left many residents baffled, Village officials—including President Rita Bucur—reportedly knew she was planning to depart and still expressed support for renewing her contract.
Hiller has not formally announced her resignation to the public or the full Village Board. However, several board members, including Bucur, are believed to have been aware of her intentions but chose not to inform taxpayers. Her updated LinkedIn profile confirms she is “open to work” and seeking new full-time executive positions, with a flexible start date and interest in roles across Wisconsin and Illinois.
Trustee Pete Poli—the board’s lone dissenter—was the only member to respond to KCE’s inquiries. “I would have preferred to hear about this from the administrator directly instead of from the local media – that aside, I wish her the best in her future endeavors,” he said. Poli has consistently challenged Hiller’s proposals, in stark contrast to the rest of the board that largely supported her initiatives.
Hiller was hired in late 2023 despite being overwhelmingly rejected by a citizen advisory panel during the administrator search process. One committee member told KCE, “The village doesn’t need a big city Illinois tax-and-spend Democrat.” Nevertheless, Bucur and her allies pushed the hire through.
A Tenure Marred by Scandal
From the beginning, Hiller’s time as administrator has been beset by scandal. Under her leadership, the Village was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for illegal wetland grading. The DNR required the Village to submit a formal remediation plan. Hiller retained legal counsel amid the probe, raising concerns that taxpayers may ultimately be responsible for her personal legal fees. The incident severely strained the Village’s relationship with state environmental regulators.
She was also accused of helping her next-door neighbor and personal friend secure a lucrative landscaping contract with the Village, bypassing local firms in the process. Her attempt to launch a regional EMS consolidation effort failed spectacularly, prompting Paddock Lake to sever ties with Salem Lakes Fire and sign on with Bristol instead.
In one of the most explosive revelations of her tenure, KCE uncovered a series of private meetings and unpublicized discussions between Hiller and developers about allegedly building a large-scale waterpark and amphitheater. The proposal, which may have involved hundreds of thousands in taxpayer incentives and long-term development agreements, was kept quiet until whistleblowers tipped off KCE. When residents learned of the secret negotiations, outrage followed. Many questioned the legality of the closed-door talks and expressed concern over the Village government’s complete lack of transparency. The board offered few answers.
Hiller further damaged public trust by promoting a taxpayer-funded $5,000 “woke workshop” for Village employees—an initiative that drew heavy criticism and prompted residents to walk out of a board meeting in protest.
Yet even after some board members learned that Hiller was seeking a new job, they continued to express support for renewing her contract at a salary exceeding $150,000. Sources say no efforts have been made to begin a replacement search, and none will begin until she is officially gone.
Résumé in Dispute
While Hiller’s résumé boasts an impressive list of accomplishments, several claims are disputed by residents and officials alike. She lists herself as the “lead negotiator” for the failed EMS consolidation project and claims she “created” the Village’s HR position—though that position was established by a board vote.
She also states the Village’s first comprehensive plan is “nearly complete,” though it hasn’t been formally commissioned—only authorized for bid. Perhaps most questionable is her claim of more than $500,000 in contract savings and new revenue in one year, a figure many doubt due to the Village’s growing legal expenses.
She further claims to have strengthened relationships with developers and government agencies, but KCE has heard from multiple sources who say the opposite is true. A notable example was her clash with the Kenosha County Fair, where she attempted to overcharge for fire protection and tried to derail construction of a big beautiful new building—actions some perceived as personal attacks.
Community Reaction
Public reaction to Hiller’s quiet exit has been blunt. “Good riddance,” one resident told KCE. “About time,” said another.
Still, the board’s handling of her departure—knowing about it, keeping it quiet, and still signaling support for a contract extension—raises fresh concerns about transparency and accountability in Salem Lakes government. For now, there’s no timeline for a successor, no public explanation, and no signs of reform.
*7/5/2025 @ 10:13 p.m. Article modified to show screenshots of Cassandra Hiller’s LinkedIn page which was altered within hours of publication of this story.*
55 Responses
Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. That woman is the most immoral, unethical, unscrupulous politician I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting. The fact that the board hired her and is still discussing keeping her despite her “accomplishments” at VOSL is simply disgraceful and shows the true sense of the words “bad government.” Hopefully her replacement won’t set the bar even lower, given the board who will be selecting.
I nominate Kenosha city administrator and former police chief John Morrissey as the new top dog in Salem Lakes. He is a dream candidate in every respect.
He pads his resume with a fake college degree.
He has demonstrated repeatedly his high level of corruption. He is a perjurer who uses his office for personal gain.
If Salem Lakes hires him, they get the whole package. He will put his entire family and his close and trusted henchmen on the payroll.
He is perfect for this board. Just do it!
Cassandra. Where do I begin.
For all those bashing on her. Look a little deeper.
Actually look a lot deeper. As was a line in the TV show West Wing said so many times, “I serve at the Pleasure of the President”
Cassandra serves at the “Direction” of the Seven Salem Board Members. Not at the beck and call of one or two but all Seven. She is NOT supposed to do ANYTHING that the board didn’t ask for or anything she may have suggested without getting approval of the board.
Bash Cassandra all you want, but this is more on the board than it is on her.
Now don’t get me wrong. Did Cassandra screw up ? Sure she did. Many times. Not in any particular order but let’s start with the pond.
Just looking at her LinkedIn page. She’s got boatloads of knowledge there about wetlands. She wrote and taught training on that subject. But what happened here was that she knew so much about ponds and the things she can and can’t do, she thought everyone else knew them too !!
Her direction to the guys who did the work was incomplete and unsupervised. By Her !!
If, and this is a BIG IF ! If she had supervised the guys doing the work around the pond, she may have very well got everything she wanted and never violated any laws. There was a way to work around the pond following the rules without needing permits from the DNR. But the work that ultimately was done was not what she planned on. Work that did need permits. Her downfall there was she didn’t explain EXACTLY what could and could not be done. She ASSUMED others knew as much as she did. They didn’t. And Did any of the board know what was happening from the get go ?? If they did, then why wasn’t it stopped ?? Even by one. Is this “who knew what when” worthy of an investigation ? Sure ! Unless you are one of seven who sit on the board.
The Fire Contract with Paddock Lake.
She says the negotiations were a year in the making. Says she has emails to prove it ! Probably does.
Did anyone take into account that “new” people in charge are ALWAYS looking to make a mark in their own name ?? A couple of new people here. Cassandra and Alex.
Does anyone give Alex Attiah any blame ?? He’s the New President of the Paddock Lake Village Board. Remember how he got that position ??
And Tim Popanda as long as he’s been in Paddock Lake still has to follow what the President says.
Did Alex want to make a Stand for his constituents ?
Did Cassandra want to get Paddock Lake to pay what it really cost for hers ?? Both “new” people who were making a stand.
That said, did Cassandra push too hard and too fast to make the Fire Contract “correct” after in many people’s opinion, Paddock Lake (PL) was and has been for many years, not been paying their fair share ? Sure.
If that’s true then that’s not all her fault. But I will agree that even though PL hasn’t paid what they should be paying, should have Cassandra asked for it all in one fell swoop ? Maybe her negotiation skills aren’t what they should be. Maybe she should have sought some help or at least advice from some people more “in the know”. Maybe this was something she was trying to make her mark on. Or maybe Paddock Lake truly just wanted to try something else.
Maybe down the road a few years Bristol will realized that they too aren’t getting enough.
Vindication ?? Hardly. But it will prove the point.
The overall EMS issue.
Combining Wheatland, Randall and Twin Lakes with Salem ?? Where the hell did that come from ??
Another BIG IDEA that probably shouldn’t have happened. But it did. Why ?? It failed but What was in it for us ?? I’m really not seeing it. And apparently so many others aren’t either.
For those that say she’s over paid.
Rita. Bill. Peter. Tell me I’m wrong here. But didn’t Cassandra save the Village over $500K just in her first year with reviewing contracts ? Renegotiating insurance policies ? Overall streamlining some of the villages long term day to day bills and obligations ?
Were we not told that she saved over $400.K in a review during a meeting ? Didn’t someone say that we should put up a tote board in the front hall with a list of all the money Cassandra has saved us going forward year after year after year ?
I sure remember that. Even with the pond fix money we are still ahead ! She has saved more than she cost. Salary and all. And even after she’s gone, those savings are still there. Hopefully the next administrator won’t be looking to make a name for him or herself and screw up her successes.
For those who long for the last board. The last administrator. The employees that were around then but are gone now. Do you not remember the corruption ? The investigations ?? The things that Dianne and her board DIDN’T DO that they were supposed to after we became a Village ??
Remember the Silver Lake Lake District hearing that didn’t happen during Covid ??
A 100 people in the parking lot. Dianne saying that she can’t let that many people in the building. Then NOT Rescheduling that hearing in a school gym. The grade school or high school. Then finally punting the ball and told them to go to the county for their hearing.
She said to people, “We’ve never done a hearing like this before. We don’t know what to do.”
Sure we’ve never done a hearing like that before. Because we were a Town. We didn’t have the authority. But that was one of many reasons we became a Village. And the “old Board” didn’t want to embrace the work that was now required. Just didn’t want to do the work
Lots of unanswered questions about uncharged “crimes” during that time. Things were investigated but nothing happened. Did anyone really ask why ??
Rita.
Is she the right person ?? Yes I think so. Is she overwhelmed ? Yes. But isn’t that because she went out on a limb and hired Cassandra over the committees choice ? And then got burned ?
Cassandra was and still is a very experienced person. Though up to taking this job in Salem I doubt she was ever “Officially Completely in Charge” of anything.
She was always in support of other people. Did she shine in those rolls ? Sure she did. Just ask her.
Here though she had an opportunity to be the “one in charge.” Show all her talents. Prove to everyone, including herself she could do the job. Fix things !!
But Salem was and still is in so many ways, screwed up !! Don’t forget, we are a NEW VILLAGE !!
A hundred and 65 years in the making. And now only 8 years in we are still putting in place all the pieces to “Be a Village”. All of the proper things that Dianne and crew didn’t follow through with.
So am I sad Cassandra is looking for another job ?
Not really. She learned a lot here. As did we.
We learned that while Rita picked a very experienced person to correct a lot of things, the person she picked was not “experienced” in the workings of a “Old Small Town” mentality. We all still want the old small town experience but with the “village” power.
We want the old volunteer fire guys but with the 24 hour reliability. We want the old you rub my back and I’ll rub yours but without the cheating or new rules we have to follow. We want what we had.
We turned the page back in 2017. We became responsible for our selves. And with that came a boatload of responsibilities. Responsibilities that Cassandra knew what they were. But dragging us kicking and screaming into the future was not her strong suit. And for some on the board, it’s not their strong suits either. And that’s why this isn’t all about the administrator. It’s about her bosses.
Bosses that we vote for.
So maybe we all need to look in the mirror. It’s us that need to step into the future. Is that person you ?
Just a splash of Cassandra Kool-Aid?
– Sure, let’s all just build public infrastructure without permits. Because rules are more like… suggestions, right?
– Paddock Lake—twice the cost, half the sense. Was that our negotiator’s masterstroke or a clearance-sale strategy? How about a 15% increase per year? Nope, 100%.
– Wheatland and Randell called it. No deal, no funds, no plan—just a Hail Mary hoping for miracle monies
– Hiller’s paycheck? Arguably fair. But let’s talk about this “mountain of savings.” Budgets for 2025, so maybe they meant spiritual savings? Other Villages operate with a lean crew, but ours? We’ve got phantom frugality.
– And sure, PW crews had “nothing to do”… except eliminate wetlands. That’s a bold interpretation of idle time. Remember, Hiller said they were twiddling their thumbs on the DNR Warden Video. I’m sure taxpayers appreciated that the potholes were taking out their front-end alignment because the guys were creating a non-permitted? walking path.
– Illegal public path? That’s a fresh take on community service. Add in lying to law enforcement—on body cam—and we’ve nailed the “trust-building” strategy.
– Transparency update: more closed sessions, fewer public comments, and daytime meetings—because nothing says “inclusive governance” like holding meetings when your citizens are clocked in at work.
– Bucur: the fallen rock star. Leadership by delegation sounds poetic until the supporting cast turns the stage into a circus. Hiller and Hopkins stepping up? More like stepping over.
Final thoughts? The Village isn’t quantum mechanics. Start with the basics. Then maybe tiptoe toward change—not sprint like it’s a resume-padding triathlon. Citizens saw it coming. The Board? Still choosing BFF’s over competence.
Yes, in the end, it’s the Board’s fault. Maybe a psychological safety session will fix it all?
Nobody wants to read ALL of that!
I am sure all that reading probably confuses you. Just stick to the pictures then…
No one is reading your novel. Shit rolls up hill and Cassandra is at the top of the steamy pile.
The Board has no backbone or morals and allowed her to continue. The whole place is a sh*t show.
fkr, you shoudl read it. both of the long posts above. that you dont shows that the village electorate is in trouble because i suspect many are just like you. stupid as shit and only willing to pound out a sentence while drinking a fkn beer.
both of those writing above – the long ones – should run for office. – circulate the papers, campaign. win and work your ass off.
You can’t even spell out a word- nor use correct capitalization. Calm down.
The board continues its favorite pastime: blaming outside forces for its own steady stream of failures. With the exception of Trustee Poli, it might be time for the rest of you to take a long, honest look in the mirror—because that reflection? That’s the real problem.
Let’s be clear: allowing an employee to control the narrative is not leadership—it’s a failure to fulfil your responsibility to the taxpayer that you serve. You were elected to serve the public, not to be managed by your hire. The refusal to acknowledge the mistake in appointing the wrong Administrator isn’t just stubborn—it’s textbook dysfunction. Doubling, tripling, even quadrupling down on a bad decision doesn’t make it right. It makes it reckless.
Maybe next time, try listening to the people who actually live here. Radical idea, I know.
Sure, there may be some positives in the Village—though at the moment, they’re buried under a mountain of missteps. What’s not hard to find? A growing list of grievances, mismanaged projects, and a community that feels increasingly ignored.
It’s time to chart a new course. One that starts with hiring an Administrator who sees this Village not as a résumé booster, but as a home. Someone who values community input over personal accolades. Someone who understands that public service means serving the public—not managing them into silence.
The path forward isn’t complicated. It just requires courage, humility, and a willingness to admit when you’ve gone off course. The question is: does this board have it
Thank goodness for Poli!
Poli is a single man fighting alone in the army for what is right. We need to support him, because besides Barhyte, he’ alone, and sometime Barhyte has a brain fart.
Should never have been hired, should have long ago been fired. Thanks to Pete Poli for your single handed leadership, whenever the rest of the board chose to include you. The rest of this board is sub par at best, terrible at worst. Tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent just making up for her egregious mistakes including remediation, possibly fines, legal fees, mishandling of EMS services with neighboring communities, secret society and so forth.
Her legacy will be of poor performance and a fractured community. The board will be remembered for this atrocious hire and support for village leadership which can lie at will with no ramifications.
Now that she will soon be gone (is Monday too late?) it is time for Rita to do the right thing and also resign joined by Hiller fan club chairman Bill Hopkins and most of the rest of these slimy politicians.
Salem Lakes can survive, but the course needs to change immediately and the only way to do that is to clean house.
Replace an “L” with a “T” and Hiller is living up to her name.
Oh, bravo. Really—standing ovation for this board, who’ve managed to perfect the art of turning their backs on the very taxpayers they swore to serve. Except Poli, of course—apparently the lone survivor of integrity in this civic circus.
And Miss Bucur… what a plot twist. You started like a firecracker, ready to shake things up. But the moment Cassandra the Bulldozer rolled in, you folded faster than a lawn chair in a windstorm. Suddenly, it’s like the community didn’t matter anymore. Must’ve been exhausting, all that caring.
Now, please—do enlighten the public: how does an administrator with Cassandra’s sparkling résumé still have a job? I mean, who hasn’t installed an illegal walking path for personal use, lied to law enforcement on body cam, and then just… clocked in the next day like it’s casual Friday?
Let’s not forget her starring role as Chief Negotiator in the EMS debacle, where she tried to double the price on Paddock Lake like she was haggling at a flea market. Result? We lost the deal. But hey, still employed! And the shady land swap? Misleading the Plan Commission? Just another Tuesday.
Honestly, I could keep going, but at some point, the absurdity starts to write itself. Miss Bucur, it’s time to stop treating this like a high school clique. This isn’t about BFFs—it’s about the Village you were elected to serve. Leadership isn’t about loyalty to dysfunction. It’s about doing the right thing, even when it’s inconvenient.
So please—IT’S PAST THE TIME TO CUT THE CORD!!! JUST DO IT!!!
Where is Shirley? Where is Linda?
Where is Russ?
Thanks Cassandra, it been a blast, good luck. We won’t miss you, I promise.
Fuc*in Swamp Gate. It is independence weekend, very fitting.😂😂😂
Remember George Carlin’s bit where he is talking about animal extinction and saying to let nature take its course and let them go gracefully….the board should take that advice. Let Cassandra go away gracefully to Lake County!
#MakeSalemLakesGreatAgain!
If she’s allowed to just walk away scot free, she only learns that she has won. Any legal means to nail her ass to the wall should be pursued.
She hasn’t won. Any muni worth anything will do some research into her and find all these lovely articles about her amazing accomplishments in VOSL. Besides, the legal fees budget is already out of control because of her and this board. Just let her slink away and retire from her dream job in McHenry county like she wants to and leave our Village alone. Now if only we can reclaim the board and really stop the madness.
Well her linked in no longer says open to work, so she must have read this article.
Thank you for the FYI. I uploaded my receipts. I always save my receipts, especially for Menards rebates. 😉
Kevin M is the reason we have a fighting chance against these lazy bureaucrats. Thanks, Kevin M
Does anybody know if the DNR is looking to hire more wardens by chance? I’ve heard she has lots of experience dealing with wetlands 👀
No more DEI hires, Rita. I hold you responsible for this mess. Hiring an Illinois democrat
was thee worst thing for this community, it’s quite obvious now, however, your ego
seems to think otherwise. Resign. Please.
Good! Still disappointed at the lack of spine with the Board. wtf are they even here for??
Well, well, well it’s about time. Can we look into all of the people she hired while she was there? A good percentage of them are unqualified for their positions.
Let’s start with Sara Spencer.
And the Fire Department
And her assistant.
Is the new path going to be “Hiller memorial pathway”?
Fuck this POS and the other floaters on the board. This entire administration is corrupt! Follow the money!
This area used to be beautiful, quiet and pleasant. Now, it’s full of every kind of trash imaginable, that can’t wait to destroy everything in sight. You deserve the government you elect!!!
Good morning creepy old perverted man. I suppose you had a long exhausting night of viagra and pornography fueled self indolence.
Why are you picking on my friend Heywood Jablowme? Is your name Karen by chance? Do you also enjoy clearing C-1 wetlands by chance?
It seems both of you are creepy old perverted men. Real and decent women want nothing to do with either of you because of your creepiness. Thus, you locked yourselves in a room with your 1970’s era Penthouse and Playboy magazines and fantasize about having sex, just like you did when you were in middle school.
Your screen names scream this is so. Mature and confident grown men don’t do what you do.
Penthouse or Playboy…I’d never degrade myself like that. The Sugar Shack strip joint in lake Geneva tho….👀
Your wrong. A very nice young lady named Cinnamon there said I am a very nice gentleman thank you very much 😎
Why dont you take that sense of humor of yours out of your pocket and play with it a bit? You might not be so miserable. Lighten up its just a screen name. I find it creative and funny😄
For real! If I was married to that lady I’d have to start taking baths with my toaster
🤣🤣🤣
I looked at the Linkin info. It reeked of wetland involvement. Fkn reeked. And yet, because it was below hwy83 grade , thought she could get away with involving other employees with her illegal decisions.
Kudos to the operator who accidently on purpose got equipment stuck! Great move! There is nothing more visible than someone with years of experience making a “mistake” of getting sucked into a pond! Again, Kudos! Let us shake your hand.
Cassandra Hiller.
Keep typing that name on ever comment, as it gets caught by Google spiders now and in the future!
You know you want it baby!!
First off Thanks to KCE (Kevin) for exposing the truth about SL weak government and corruption with the Village Administrator.
Serious question: Is Salem Lakes worse off now than when Diane, Culat, Kmiec, and Murdock ran things? Probably not, but maybe. What a sh-t show! Trustee Poli is new and trying hard despite being shut out by the good old boys. Faber, Barhyte (both who usually show better judgement) and Hopkins (who always seems to get it wrong) were on both boards and don’t show leadership or accept responsibility.
President Rita is lost and overwhelmed.
Time to clean house.
Who’s going to step up !!
Is it You ?
Well atleast Salem lakes didn’t follow Bristol footsteps and cost the taxpayers tons in legal fees in a race they don’t have a horse in!!! Let her walk. Kerkman will never say that he f’d up and the Bristol board will never admit they afraid of their employee!!
Salem Lakes has legal bills that are out of this world. I think the board and Cassandra use the Attorneys as therapists. The public is going to need psychological Safety Sessions soon.
I’ve heard as all of us has that not only is the new legal firm more expensive per hour but has been used more hours. A lot more.
And yet for the “important stuff” like negotiating fire contracts or wetlands permits, they were not used. Why ??
Seems flip flopped on what decisions and research the administrator was supposed to know and do versus what the lawyer was supposed to review and sign off on.
Did Cassandra over sell her experience and resume to Rita that she knew enough to not call the lawyer so much ? Or was she asked questions that she didn’t want to be on the hook for her answers ?
Why was the lawyer called so much ?
I think Bucur and Hopkins and Poli should answer that question
Quentin, hire Hiller to take care of your yard. She seems to be able to bamboozle people so maybe she can pull one over on Bristol’s Board
What about the Rock Lake land swap deal?? Did she get her pay out for giving public wetlands to
a friend of the board? I feel sorry for the homeowners over there they will soon be taxed for a lake district
they never voted for. “Taxation without representation”..an age old problem! The board refused to listen to
the public at many of the citizen comments. Whoever says that you have a voice here is sadly wrong. An
investigation should be done here.
There once was a leader named Cass,
Who swore “No wetland was harmed by my mass.”
Her bodycam found
Her tall tales unbound—
Now she’s mired in a murky morass.
Now that Cassandra is gone… or leaving. Now it’s time to get rid of Carr, Keske, and Torres at Salem Fire/Rescue. They’re literally running the department into the ground. And when they have to let 3-6 full time Firefighter/EMTs go in the fall, best of luck to the residences of Salem getting an ambulance out the door.
Did you know… this weekend there was a near drowning in Paddock Lake and because Carr, Keske, and Torres are too proud to call Bristol for mutual aid when they didn’t have an ambulance crew available, it took them 9 minutes to get an ambulance out the door. Carr is literally playing with our lives because they’re too proud to call Bristol or another mutual aid department.
It’s only a matter of time until the EXTREMELY POOR LEADERSHIP leads to the death of a patient or a member because all they want to do is argue with each other on scene, refuse to call mutual aid because they think they’re the only ones allowed to play in the sandbox or quite simply suck at their jobs. Time to go Carr, Keske and Jill.
If your claim is factual and you would truly like for this issue to be addressed, you have 2 choices. The first option is to make a complaint with the Salem Lakes Police and Fire Commission. They have complaint forms on their website. The second option is to make a complaint to the State of Wisconsin, DHS. They also have complaint forms on their website. If you expect to see a change, this is how you facilitate it.
The only one to blame on this is CARR! Apparently not a leader, teacher or developer. And hasnt empowered the team. Kick it up a notch there Carr.
This was fun to re-visit: https://kenoshacountyeye.com/2023/10/18/salem-lakes-hires-new-village-administrator/