GRIEGEL MAY BE OUT.... SOME SAY FINALLY!

VILLAGE TREASURER JAMES GRIEGEL

SAUK VILLAGE |  James Griegel, age 71 was appointed Village Treasurer by Mayor David Hanks following his election as Mayor in 2013 was indicted by a Will County Grand Jury in January and has been charged in a criminal complaint by a Federal Prosecutor for embezzlement of $21,000 from the Sauk Village Police Pension Fund.

Hanks has publicly stated that the Village did not have the legal authority to remove Griegel as he has only been charged but not convicted of any crime.  At Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, which Hanks was absent, a statement was read in which Hanks apparently has once again “changed his mind”.  “Upon being informed of Mr. Griegel's arrest (Monday, April 25, 2016) by the FBI,  I issued a letter to Mr. Griegel that he was being replaced as the Village Treasurer” the statement said.  Residents have been calling for Griegel's removal since his January arrest and discovery that he allegedly embezzled money from the Police Pension Fund.

Some Trustees wonder why Hanks did not take this action back in January when Griegel was criminally charged and then was indicted by a Will County Grand Jury.

“Why now, and why not in January?  The residents could have saved money by not having to pay Griegel for 3 additional months.  Nothing has changed from January to now, but this is par for the course for this administration.  One really must wonder why?” Trustee Cecial Tates said on Tuesday night following the Village Board meeting.

Griegel is scheduled to appear in a Will County Court House today for his criminal indictment for possession of a controlled substance.  Griegel was arrested by the Steger Police Department on January 4th for possession of a controlled substance (heroine) and admitted that he had “two bags” and used it to pay for sex according to the Police Report.