ANOTHER SCANDAL BREWING.... WATERGATE

GARY HOLCOMB (LEFT) AND DAVID HANKS

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  It appears that another scandal is brewing in Sauk Village, and it appears to be the water again a “Watergate” scandal no less!  No not contaminated water but a possible misuse of the Village’s water funds which are restricted under Illinois law and must only be used for the operation of the Village’s water enterprise operations.

The Village’s Housing Commission apparently went out to obtain a grant through the auspices of the Village of Sauk Village as the Commission is not a separate municipal entity.  The grant of some $75,000 according to published reports for cutting grass through the South Suburban Land Bank serving as an intermediary for the State of Illinois.  The problem is that the Village is unable to draw on those funds until sometime in August. 

 

Housing Commission Chairperson Gary Holcomb indicated in a social medial post on June 27^th “Our Grass Cutting efforts had taken a short break while some clarification as to the method of payment to those who are committed to working with us…  The program is scheduled to resume again next week and the first payment to those  who completed their work thus far was made on Friday, June 27, 2014 which is much earlier than the originally and mutually agreed August 15^th date”  as to the method of payment to those who are committed to working with us to get the neglected lawns into acceptable shape.ons as to the method of payment to those who are committed to working with us to get the neglected lawns into acceptable shape. The program is scheduled to resume again next week and the first payment to those who completed their work thus far was made on Friday June 27, 2014 which is much earlier than the originally and mutually agreed to August 15th date.

Village officials voted 5 to 1 to open an account earmarked for the Housing Commission recently in order to deposit funds received under this grant. 

Village Trustee Derrick Burgess questioned Finance Director Mohan Rao if the village received any funds under this grant.  Rao’s response was no, but that checks were already paid to 14 individuals unknown in the combined total of $7,660 according to the accounts payable.  Burgess pressed the question, if the Village didn’t receive any money how did these individuals get paid, Burgess wondered as did a stupified Village Board? Rao said that money was taken from the water fund to pay for the grass mowing and will get repaid once the grant money is received.

Burgess protested stating that the Village Board never approved the transfer of money from the water fund to cover this.  Rao declined to identify who instructed him to take money out of the water fund to pay for a program which was suppose to be paid out of a Grant.  Rao then said “he recommends” that the Village Board borrow the money after previously stating that the Board did not need to take action as it has already been done.

Burgess has requested all information related to the grant and the 14 individuals who received payment.

Village Trustee Rosie Williams came to defend the administration’s action stating that this was a “past practice” to which Burgess responded no nothing like that has happened with his knowledge.  “In the past we voted to borrow any money from the water fund” Burgess said.  Burgess pointed out that the Village Board just borrowed money from the water fund in November, 2013 to pay payroll and that the money was paid back in March, 2014.

Burgess voted NO on the accounts payable Tuesday night, while Williams, Edward Myers, Jeffrey Morden and John Poskins all voted yes and the measure passed 4 to 1 with  Lynda Washington abstaining on her vote, which goes with the majority under law.  Had Burgess not raised he question, nobody would have been the wiser to the matter.

Immediately following the vote, Mayor David Hanks attempted to call for a motion for the Village Board to borrow the money from the water fund, however, the Village Attorney apparently advised that such a motion would be out of order as it was not on the agenda.

 

One longtime village resident said following the meeting "this reeks of impropriety and someone needs to investigate this.  This seems so criminal.  They raised our water rates and now they're doing these questionable acts.  They were so quick to run to the States Attorney and Attorney General when it was Lewis Towers but now that it's David (Hanks) it's all fine?  I don't thinks so" they said.

EDITORIAL NOTE:  We are preparing a Freedom of Information Act Request so that we can ascertain many things!  We will publish our information as soon as we receive this information.  THIS completely lacks transparency!