WATERGATE SCANDAL GROWS, WATER FUNDS TAKEN, COMMISSIONER REMOVED AND RESIDENTS WONDER

LtoR Housing Commissioners Heidi Parker, Gary Holcomb

and Sharon Nowak

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  Controversy has fallen on the Sauk Village Housing Commission and calls for investigations have quietly begun.  The new scandal involves the Village's water fund which has been under intense public scrutiny given the Village's past practice of balancing the budget with water funds.  Residents were paying $3.50 per 1000 gallons of water are now paying $7.50 per 1000 gallons and bills have skyrocketed.

At this Tuesday's meeting it was discovered that money was taken from the Village's Water Fund without approval from the Village Board to pay 14 individuals who participated in a lawn mowing program that Housing Commission Chairman Gary Holcomb initiated. 

Village Trustee Derrick Burgess was the one who asked how these contractors got paid.  Finance Director Mohan Rao advised he had moved money from the water fund to pay them.  The Village Board had not taken any action to borrow the money from the water fund and until Burgess questioned the matter nobody appeared to know.  Mayor David Hanks began glowing red after the exchange between Burgess and Rao.

Holcomb was at the center of controversy recently for publishing a resident's State Identification card and her son's Social Security card on his social media pages he controls.  Now Holcomb and his Housing Commissioners are facing criticism over the handling of a $75,000 grant from the South Suburban Land Bank as contractors were rushed to be paid.  The only problem was that the Housing Commission had no money to pay them. 

It was discovered today through a person knowledgeable about the Lawn Mowing Grant that the Village is required to "put up the money first and the get reimbursed through the grant.  The payment does not come from the grant directly but should be paid through the Village" the person said.

HOLCOMB'S ANNOUNCEMENT

Holcomb advertised on his social media page that the contractors "payment is provided through a grant...".  Additionally, Holcomb was the individual who signed the contracts on behalf of the Village according to a contractor who spoke on a condition of anonymity for fear of not getting paid further. None of the 14 contracts were approved by the Village Board of Trustees.  The contractor confirmed that they received their checks from the Village of Sauk Village and at least one Village Trustee was present when checks were distributed according to the informant.  They identified Lynda Washington as the Trustee who was present.



Housing Commission Chairman Gary Holcomb and

Commissioner Larry Stewart

It was also learned last night that at least one Housing Commissioner was removed from their
position.  Larry Stewart was hand delivered a letter signed by Holcomb summarily dismissing him from the Commission stating "with the advice and consent" of the mayor and board of Trustees.  Village officials have taken no formal action to remove Stewart as required by law.

Stewart did not deny he was removed because he may have known too much.  "I can't say if that was the real reason I was removed or not.  They say I failed to provide proof of residency" Stewart said.  Stewart who has suffered some serious medical conditions recently has been in and out of hospitals amassing medical bills and has fallen on tough financial times.  "I guess they just want to humiliate me and rub my nose in my problems" Stewart said.

Governor Pat Quinn signed a law into effect in August, 2013 for a Homeless Person's Bill of Rights in order to protect individuals from discriminatory acts simply because they may be homeless or in transition.  The ironic part is that the only legal authority that any Housing Commission has is to enforce fair housing laws, it turns out that maybe Stewart may need the Commissions help because he may be the one who is being discriminated against under the very act the Commission is suppose to enforce.  Some question that Holcomb and his Commissioners have over stepped their authority and are acting as a Housing Authority.

Stewart said he would ask questions about the money but would never get a real clear answer from Village officials.  Stewart didn't say what action he would take but believes his removal was unlawful as Holcomb has no legal authority to remove him or any commissioner as he did not appoint him nor confirm his appointment.

EDITORIAL NOTE:
Was the law broken?  Did any of the Trustees know about how these individuals were paid?  Did Housing Commissioners know about the Village footing the bill for this?  Checks issued from the water fund to cover the "anticipated income" from a Lawn Mowing Grant without the knowledge or consent of the Corporate Authorities....
  
65 ILCS 5/11-129-11.   "All revenue derived from the operation of a water-supply system, improvement or extension constructed or acquired under Section 11-129-9 shall be set aside as collected and deposited in a special fund designated as a municipal water fund for the particular locality. The fund shall be used only for the purpose of paying the cost of operating and maintaining the water-supply system, improvement or extension, providing an adequate depreciation fund, and paying the principal and interest on the bonds issued by the municipality under Section 11-129-9 for the purpose of constructing or acquiring the system, improvement or extension."
Did it say Lawn Mowing anywhere...?  I didn't see it!