BURGESS DEMANDING ANSWERS AS $1.8 MILLION DRAINED FROM WATER FUND

SAUK VILLAGER NEWS- Requested this information

through the Freedom of Information Act.  The Village

does not routinely put out information to the public which

necessitates requests for routine information.

SAUK VILLAGE |  Village Trustee Derrick Burgess, a Mayoral candidate, blasted fellow Trustees on Tuesday night for remaining silent while the Village's water fund is being drained without accountability and proper oversight.  According to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the Sauk Villager News, the administration of David Hanks has taken $1.8 million from the water fund, including over $600,000 in just the past 60 days!

At Tuesday night's meeting Burgess asked Mayor David Hanks and the Trustees he controls, multiple times “which trustees gave you their consent to withdraw money from the water fund and when,  since there had been no meetings and no public vote requesting the withdrawals” Burgess asked. Trustees Cecial Tates and Kelvin Jones emphatically confirmed that neither gave any consent to move or borrow any money.

However, Trustee Rosie Baig, Trustee Lynda House, both mayoral candidates in the upcoming election and Trustee Ed Myers, who is running for re-election sat virtually silent with heads down as Burgess pressed the issue demanding an answer.  "Who gave their consent to do this" Burgess asked multiple times.  Still Hanks wanted to move on with the meeting as his allied Trustees played mute and dumb.

As you may recall, Burgess, Tates and Jones each voted "NO" to the Village's Budget in 2015 and in 2016 declaring them "unbalanced and irresponsible".  Hanks and the Trustees he controls insisted the budget was balanced.  End of story, let's move on, said Hanks after each annual vote of consent.

The Village Board took action in November of 2010 to block the mayor from arbitrarily taking money

Ordinance Passed by votes of Rosie Williams, David

Hanks, Ed Myers and Derrick Burgess November

9, 2010- But no such action required with the

current administration

from the water fund and passed an ordinance

[1] requiring the Village’s General Fund to repay the Water Fund.  Trustee Rosie Williams said at that time “that the Board is informed when funds are borrowed in order to keep a record of what amount needs to be paid back” according to the official village record.[2]

Hanks himself stated in November, 2010 “that it should be made clear that these funds were borrowed temporarily to meet payroll and it is the intent of the Board to pay those funds back” according to the official record. [3]

"When you don't have a balanced budget, then have to borrow $1.8 million dollars with no public votes by the Board of Trustees, I have a problem with that" Burgess said, "and so would the residents if they knew.  Under Illinois law, a village can "borrow" money from another fund, however, the fund must be paid back before the end of the fiscal year," Burgess said.

"Our Finance Committee chaired by Rosie Baig doesn't report anything on this matter.  But she can pontificate forever about things of minutiae.  The Finance Director is commanded by David Hanks not to attend meetings so he can answer questions.  But he (Hanks) believes we should vote on accounts payables without getting answers?  He's out of his mind" Tates said.

Now the Village's water fund is owed $1.8 million from the Village's General Fund, over $800,000 has been drained off the water fund since the end of October, 2016 until the end of December (a 60 day period.

Burgess's demand for information regarding the accounts payable which totaled over $1 million dollars went virtually unanswered by Hanks as he could not answer where the money had come from to pay for employees' pay raises and retroactive pay for contracts that were voted on at a prior meeting.  Burgess, Tates and Jones voted no on the accounts payable as Hanks refused to provide answers while Baig, House and Myers voted yes and Hanks broke the tie.

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[1] Ordinance 10-047

[2] Village of Sauk Village official Village Board Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2010

[3] Village of Sauk Village official Village Board Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2010

BETH ZUPON FOR VILLAGE TRUSTEE

BETH ZUPON

Independent Candidate

Village Trustee

SAUK VILLAGE | Meet BETH ZUPON... here again to serve the People!  Beth Zupon is a candidate for Village Trustee in April.   Beth Zupon served as Village Clerk from 2007 to 2009 following the resignation of Liz Selvey.  

Beth Zupon, is 52 and the third youngest candidate for Village Trustee, has lived in Sauk Village for nearly 18 years now.  She is married, is a proud homeowner and currently works as a Vice President of a major bank in Chicago.  Beth Zupon has been in the banking industry for over 30 years and is very familiar with how to balance budgets and how to exercise fiscal discipline.  

Beth Zupon has volunteered for many things throughout the years including Parks and Recreations, Beautification, Ordinance Review Committee, Housing Commission and many other events.  Currently Beth serves as Commissioner on the Zoning Board. 

Zupon believes that the Village needs to be more transparent and fiscally responsible with the taxpayers' money.  Zupon is running as an independent candidate for Village Trustee.

"We've got to do a better job with the taxpayers' money.  That means balanced and realistic budgets.  That means being transparent with what we do.  Don't you think we as a community deserve better" Zupon said.

Beth Zupon will be third on the April 4th ballot behind Rodrick Grant and Bernice Brewer-Houston.  There are three seats up for grabs in April, two of which will be new faces around the table since two others are not seeking re-election.

Beth thinks that the best birthday present she could get is getting elected on April 4th. 

Zupon is ready to do the job and hit the ground running. 

 

BANK ROBBED AGAIN

SAUK VILLAGE  On Friday afternoon, the US Bank located on Sauk Trail and Torrence was robbed by a M/B late 20's. The offender took the money and fled the scene on foot. Sauk Village officers responding located a subject matching the description in the area of Sauk Trail and Orion.  A show up of the offender was conducted and a positive ID was made of the offender. The offender was apprehended by our officers.

The FBI was called and came out since this is a federally insured institution.

After the FBI interviewed the subject it was determined he will be charged federally again because this is a federally insured institution and the FBI's jurisdiction.

This is the second time this bank location was robbed.  The last incident occuring December 28th when two subjects entered the building disguised and fled. Their vehicle was later discovered in nearby Dyer Indiana burned out.

WATER FUND GETTING DRAINED - $2 MILLION GONE

Freedom of Information Act Request

General Ledger- Sauk Village

SAUK VILLAGE |  The controversy goes on with Mayor David Hanks and the village trustees aligned with him as they continue to authorize use of money from the water fund to plug up an unbalanced budget.                                                                                              

Trustees Derrick Burgess, Cecial Tates and Kelvin Jones voted not to approve the budget which Burgess called “irresponsible and unbalanced” at the time.  All evidence seems to indicate that Burgess was in fact correct, the budget clearly was not balanced.  The remaining trustees who routinely support the Hanks voted to approve the budget following the mayor’s tie-breaking vote in May, 2016.

According to a recent Freedom of Information Act request it was revealed that nearly $2 million dollars has been deducted from the water fund.

When Hanks took over as Mayor the Village did not owe anything to the water fund according to a FOIA request from August, 2016. From July, 2016 until the end of December, Mayor Hanks and the trustees he controls have increased the amount they have taken from the water fund from $1.3 million to $1,853,358.76. 

Water fund monies are supposed to be used for water related issues including replacing aging and leaking water mains, broken fire hydrants, etc.  In July, 1985 the late Village Clerk Nancy L. McConathy filed suit against the Village of Sauk Village for improper use funds.  The of law suit was settled following her death in 1986.  As part of the settlement the Village agreed to not use water funds for making payroll of non-water related personnel. The village had previously assigned a title to an employee so that employee could be paid from the water fund.

Mayor Hanks ordered Director of Finance Mohan Rao to not attend Village meetings following the indictment of Hanks’s Village Treasurer James Griegel.  Residents have routinely complained about the lack of transparency at Village Hall including Tuesday night when Judy Cast reiterated “there is no transparency”.  Hanks has also forbid Director of Public Works Kevin Weller from attending village meetings along with Community Development Director Sherry Jasinski.

Residents of Sauk Village voted to change to Lake Michigan Water rather than well water in March, 2012.  To date there have been no new pipes installed to reduce the water loss in the Village.  Water rates have more than doubled or 114% increase from $3.50 to $7.50 per 1000 gallons of water.  An incremental increase occurred which went from $3.50 to $5.50 per 1000 gallons to “break even” and then an additional $2.00 increase was to cover the “debt service” for the permanent air strippers.   The State of Illinois has “forgiven” most” of the debt, however, water rates remain at the same level.

The higher water rates would have allowed the Village to amass a $2 million dollar surplus in the water fund in just over a couple years, however, there is no surplus as it was eaten up by mismanagement of the Village’s finances.  The Village Administration has no plan on repaying the water fund for the so-called loan.

It is not legal for a Village to “borrow” money from the water fund to pay for General Fund services without paying it back (and with no intent to pay it back) within the same fiscal year!  65 ILCS 5/8-1-3.1 “Sec. 8-1-3.1.The corporate authorities may borrow money for corporate purposes from one fund for the use of another fund providing such borrowing shall be repaid within the current fiscal year…”

CLICK HERE TO SEE ACTUAL FOIA REQUEST

CLICK HERE TO SEE FOIA FROM AUGUST, 2016

CONTROVERSIAL CANDIDATE DEBBIE WILLIAMS FACES CHALLENGES

CHECK PAYABLE TO DEBRA WILLIAMS

Copy of Exhibit from Anderson v Williams

obtained from FOIA and Illinois Attorney General

Binding Opinion

PETITION CHALLENGER SAYS PROCESS IS RIGGED

SAUK VILLAGE |  The incumbent Village Clerk Debra Williams faces a formal challenge being filed by former Village Trustee Francine Anderson against Debra Williams's name being certified to be placed on the April, 2017 ballot.

Anderson states in her 33 page objection, among several other matters, that Williams accepted a check for $500.00 from the Village's Attorney Odelson and Sterk for her trip to Washington DC. for the Building One America Summit which began the "Travelgate" scandal.  Anderson contends that since the Office of the Illinois Attorney General  determined that the trip was in her "official capacity as Village Clerk" that the money should have been rightfully deposited with the Village and consequently, Williams owes the money to the Village.  Anderson cites the Illinois law and Illinois Supreme Court ruling stating that a person cannot be a candidate for office if that person owes the Municipality money.

Anderson also objects to certain notaries on the petitions filed by Williams as Williams notarized some of her own petitions as did another notary who signed Williams's petitions a violation of State law according to Anderson.  Anderson claims in her objection that this would leave Williams without the requisite number of signatures to have her name as a candidate for Village Clerk and she should not be certified for the ballot.

Williams, who could not afford to pay for the trip to Washington DC on her own dime in 2013, has  apparently hired a high profile downtown Chicago attorney to defend her to keep her on the ballot.  Anderson is stating that there is a blatant show of conflict of interest in the Electoral Board process if they should allow Clerk Williams' daughter, Trustee and now Mayoral Candidate Rosie Williams to continue to be a part of the Electoral Board process with charges against her mother.  Anderson filed a motion to recuse or exclude Rosie Williams from the Electoral Board and Debbie Williams is fighting that challenge as well.

"At what point do you say that this entire process is rigged" asks Anderson?  "When you have the daughter sitting in judgment over her mother, you know which way that is going to go", Anderson said.

Williams's attorney filed a motion to dismiss the entire matter at last week's hearing and Anderson expects that the Electoral Board will likely vote to dismiss the matter.  "Well, when you have an electoral board that is clearly biased, the results are a foregone conclusion" Anderson said.

"We will immediately appeal the electoral board's decision if they vote to dismiss the matter.  Rosie knows better, but this goes to show you what kind of ethics that this family has", Anderson said. 

The matter is being presented before the Village's Electoral Board at 6pm tonight at Village Hall.  The Electoral Board is comprised of David Hanks, Rosie Williams and Trustee Derrick Burgess who will also act as the "temporary clerk" during the proceedings since Clerk Debbie Williams is the subject of the challenge. 

Marva Campbell-Pruitt

While Williams may be on the April ballot, she will face a formidable candidate and the outcome of the election is anything but certain.  Marva Campbell-Pruitt has filed proper nomination petitions for Village Clerk and will challenge Williams one-on-one this April.   Pruitt did not challenge the validity of Williams' nomination petitions; however, she does intend on beating her at the ballot box.  Williams failed to gain 50% in a crowded field of candidates in 2013 but won a majority of the votes cast for her re-election bid.  Pruitt believes that the residents have "Williams fatigue" and are ready for change and to restore faith and trust in the office of Village Clerk.

Pruitt is running as an independent candidate for Village Clerk and said she is ready to restore confidence in the office of Village Clerk once more.  Pruitt plans on running a "progressive" and grass roots campaign for Village Clerk.

Pruitt currently serves as Vice President of School District 168 and revitalized the Village's current Beautification Committee in 2009 bringing back the time-honored "Hootsie Award" and annual village-wide clean up campaign. 

CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

CLICK LINK TO READ BINDING OPINION ISSUED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL

GRANT REINSTATED FIRST ON BALLOT FOR TRUSTEE

RODRICK R. GRANT

Independent Candidate

Village Trustee

SAUK VILLAGE |  Village Trustee candidate Rodrick Grant has been restored to his first position on the April, 2017 ballot following an unprecedented election blunder by Village Clerk Debra Williams.

Grant's name was originally drawn from among the candidates who filed at 8am on the first day to file nomination petitions by Williams.  Williams failed to pull the remaining three candidates names to determine the ballot position instead held an unprecedented "do over" later that day re-pulling for first ballot position.

Grant filed a formal objection and complaint with the office of the Village Clerk and Cook County Clerk David Orr's office demanding that he be put back in first ballot position again and then the remaining three positions.

Earlier Tuesday Williams, for reasons unknown but certainly after consulting with the Village's attorney, reinstated Grant to his original first ballot position according to another candidate. 

Marva Campbell-Pruitt, who is opposing Williams for Village Clerk said she will "get it right the first year" she is in office.  "It will not take two terms" Pruitt said.  Pruitt blasted Williams for costing taxpayers money in attorney fees for not knowing her job.  "We must find a way to conduct our own investigations without paying attorneys to tell us how to do our jobs" Pruitt said.

Grant's name will appear first for the office of Village Trustee as an independent candidate.  Bernice Brewer-Houston, Independent Candidate will appear next followed by the former Village Clerk and now Independent Candidate Beth Zupon third.  The remaining candidates will follow.  The seats of Rosie Williams and Lynda Washington will be open as they are not running for Village Trustee in April.

Williams confirmed she will certify the ballot with Grant's name being first on the ballot for Village Trustee according to Grant Tuesday night.

"I'm very pleased that we were able to resolve this without having to seek other relief.  We only wanted what was fair and what was originally done according to the law" Grant said.

Grant is 27 years old and is youngest candidate seeking election and should he be elected as Trustee in April, 2017, Grant would be only the 7th youngest in Village history.

WILLIAMS CANDIDACY CHALLENGED

TRAVELGATE SCANDAL COULD KEEP WILLIAMS OFF BALLOT

SAUK VILLAGE |  Shades of Travelgate, the so-called “personal trip” that Debra Williams and her daughter Trustee Rosie Williams took to a Building One America Summit in July, 2013, continue to plague the Village Clerk.  

Former Village Trustee Francine Anderson filed a formal objection to Debra Williams’s candidacy for Village Clerk claiming that she in fact owes the Village money from the trip.  Anderson in her objection claims that Williams solicited “donations and sponsorships” in her official capacity as Village Clerk.  That Williams accepted a check for $500 from a village vendor and provides a copy of the check to support her claim.  Anderson claims that Williams did not deposit the money into the village’s account, as required under law, therefore, owes the Village said money.  Under Illinois law, a person cannot be in arrears on any debt or owe money to a municipality and be eligible to run for office.  Anderson cites case law to support this claim in her objection.

To support Anderson’s claim, she included a copy of the Binding Opinion issued against Williams by the Illinois Attorney General stating Williams “acted in her official capacity as Village Clerk…” during the solicitation of funds for the Building One America Summit.

Anderson lists other objections to Williams’s candidacy along with several exhibits to support her claims.  Williams apparently notarized her own petitions, which Anderson cites that under Illinois law, that a Notary Public cannot notarize any document to which they are a party to within the document.

Attempts to reach Anderson for comment were unsuccessful; however, she did provide a copy of her 33 page objection to the Sauk Villager.

The objection further asks the electoral board for the recusal of certain members from serving on the board including the Village Attorney, David Hanks, Debbie Williams, her daughter Rosie Williams, Trustees Derrick Burgess, Lynda Washinton and Edward Myers for various reasons and conflicts of interest.  Typically Electoral Boards are not to have any conflicts of interest in the matter which they are to decide.  The Mayor, Village Clerk and the senior most Trustee which would be the daughter of Debra Williams, Rosie Williams, would serve on the Board.  Anderson claims all three have a direct conflict of interest in rendering a decision in the matter.  Anderson claims that Rosie Williams was a participant in the Building One America trip and that Debra Williams is her mother. 

Williams was first elected in 2009 as Village Clerk and ran with former mayor Lewis Towers.  Williams is being challenged for Village Clerk by Marva Campbell-Pruitt, who currently serves as Vice President of the School Board.  Campbell-Pruitt challenged Williams in 2013 in a crowded four-way race and Williams won with less than 50% of the vote.  Campbell-Pruitt promises rebuilding faith and trust in the office of Village Clerk.  Campbell-Pruitt promises not to solicit village vendors for personal gain.