After Judge Orders Imposing Restrictions on Mayor Tiffany Henyard, Who Runs Dolton, Illinois?

DOLTON, Ill. (CBS) — In south suburban Dolton, some people are wondering who runs the city.

That comes after A judge put an end to it to Mayor Tiffany Henyard's plans to appoint new village leaders herself in an order issued Wednesday. Cook County Judge Thaddeus Wilson's order included an injunction prohibiting Henyard from making appointments without the approval of the village board of trustees, and an injunction barring any of her appointees from taking office.

Henyard had appointed a new village manager, a village attorney and a new police chief – none of whom can take office now that the ruling is in effect.

On Thursday, a day after the ruling was issued, there was no sign of Henyard – who was already under investigation for her handling of Dolton Village finances.

“I've been involved in government in Northern Illinois for more than 40 years, and I've never seen anything like this,” said David Greising, president and CEO of the Better Government Association. “It’s been a slow train wreck for months.”

Judge Wilson's ruling Wednesday was a legal victory for some village managers.

“The trustees are trying to take back their city from a renegade mayor,” Greising said.

But who runs the village — now without a village manager, village attorney and police chief because Henyard appointed them all without board approval?

“The trustees are the ones who run Dolton if they can get a quorum,” Greising said.

All of this follows former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot When he arrived here in Dolton as special agent, he revealed that the village's general fund… Negative balance of $3.65 million. That came after a limited review of Dolton's finances.

Lightfoot was originally hired by trustees concerned about Henyard's spending. Allegations regarding Henyard's spending include self-promotion, taxpayer-funded billboards, advertisements, and spending on lavish dinners and trips.

Lightfoot noted that $40,000 was spent on Amazon purchases in one day. This money is not accounted for.

But former Mayor Lightfoot isn't the only one investigating. The FBI is also conducting an investigation at Dolton Village Hall – without elaborating on who is being investigated.

Regardless, Henyard must cooperate when the FBI asks questions about the village finances.

Greising said Dolton's money problems are far from over.

“The consequences of this mayor’s behavior will be a bill that Dolton residents will have to deal with for many years to come,” he said.

CBS News Chicago reached out to all Dolton Village trustees on Thursday, but none of them responded to requests for comment.