FINANCES GET LITTLE ATTENTION BUT PUBLIC COMMENT TAKES CENTER STAGE

SAUK VILLAGE |  The Village Board met last night and were presented with the Village's Audit Report.  The audit showed few surprises and virtually no change in financial position of the Village according to the Susan Jones of Miller, Cooper & Co LTD of Deerfield, Illinois.

Trustee Derrick Burgess asked about the issuance of immediate checks and then having them approved after the fact by the Village Board.  Susan Jones said that is not common and that there should be few exceptions to for immediate checks, payments should go through the normal payment process.  Burgess also asked about borrowing funds from the water fund or other funds, the auditors said that there appears to be adequate documentation and general ledger information, however, the Village Board should vote to borrow money according to Illinois Statute and in some cases that has not happened.

Trustee Cecial Tates said he only had a matter of minutes to review the audit report and asked if they would be returning so that he could review the report and prepare his questions.  Mayor David Hanks said that any questions could be directed to Village staff at a future date. 

While the audit review was underway, Trustees Lynda Washington, Rosie Williams and Ed Myers sat mute for the twenty minute time it took for the auditors to present the audit.  Each of them did, however, chime in when it came to Public Comment and each had their own opinions and comments.  Rosie Williams suggested that the Ordinance for the public comment period be no longer than 60 minutes, but the discussion of the matter took 1 hour 13 minutes.

Burgess merely wanted the Village Board to get rid of its current restriction that says the public can only comment on "agenda items only".  "Why should we restrict what the public has to say.  We do have a First Amendment and the Illinois Attorney General has issued binding opinions that state public bodies cannot restrict the content for public comment" Burgess said following last nights meeting.  Burgess does not want residents intimidated when they come up for Public Comment by threats of arrest or removal from the meeting

Myers and Williams, who comprise the Ordinance Committee will once again take up the matter at a Special Meeting on Friday.  Williams, who was not present at the Village Meeting Tuesday night was on the telephone during the entire time will apparently be required to attend in person Friday, as someone attending a meeting by conference call cannot constitute a quorum according to state law.

"Why is it that public comment take more time and it seems every one of the trustees who remained silent during the auditor's presentation all spoke up on public comment" Tates said after the meeting.  "It's interesting to see where their priorities are".

During the Public Comment period of the meeting Bernice Brewer asked why Hanks has not removed the Village Treasurer James Griegel who admitted to purchasing heroin for sex and allegedly admitted to embezzlement from the Police Pension Fund.  Hanks' response "we're not talking about the Village Treasurer".