WATER PROBLEMS GET WORSE

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  It seems not so long ago that the village was giving away "free water" to residents under a Consent Decree from the Illinois Attorny General Lisa Madigan's office.  That was back in July, 2012.  Fast forward to today, the Village is still using the temporary Air Strippers on well #1 and #2 on Sauk Trail and well #3 is still shut down.

The Village is required to get well #3, which is located near Roadway's trucking terminal on the Village's north side of town, back on line or provide for an emergency connection.  The reason it was taken offline in 2009, was because the levels of vinyl chloride have steadily increased.  From 2009 to 2012 vinyl chloride levels began increasing to a point where the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency stepped in to force Sauk Village's hand.

Sauk Village voters approved a referendum to increase water rates, abandon the Village's 56 year old wells and go to Lake Michigan water.  The problem with that is the Village's water loss was too excessive.  Village Engineer Jim Czarnik of Robinson Engineering said at Tuesday's meeting the Village's water loss has been reduced to about 20% from a high of about 40% according to reports in 2012.

Complicating the Village's water problems now is the Village has yet to secure the $5.3 million from the State of Illinois for the water improvements which included installing permanent air strippers at Wells #3, #1 and #2. Additionally, plans called for replacing the filtration media for the village's aging iron removal system. The iron removal system went on line in 1988 and the filtration media has never been replaced.

According to the water improvement plan  (CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION), which was discussed before the April, 2013 election, 
the plan was submitted to the IEPA for approval. The project was suppose to have gone out for bid in July, 2013 and construction was to have been underway in September of this year and completed by September of 2014. At a meeting Mayor David Hanks said that the Village was approved for the low interest loan, however, funds have not yet entered the Village's coffers and the Village's water crisis continues.

It is uncertain, if the village's continued borrowing from the water fund to meet payroll has caused concern with the powers at the State level. Calls to the Gary Bingenheimer of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency were not returned late Friday night.  Vinyl Chloride levels remain high in all three village wells according to the IEPA website, however, the temporary air strippers process appears to be removing the carcinogen before it goes into the distribution system.

Village Board 2012 during the Water Crisis in "Crisis" mode

Fire Chief Al Stoffregen passing out bottled water-Courtesy ABC-7 Chicago

Resident wants answers during a Village meeting- 2012



 

A resident asking questions during a Public Hearing held by the IEPA- 2012



Resident Ed Sullivan discussing the water crisis with other residents- 2012

A glass of water from the tap in Sauk Village- 2012

VILLAGE FACES HUGE FINES AND MORE FINANCIAL CHAOS

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE | The Village is delinquent in their financial reports for years 2010, 2011 and 2012 according to the Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka's office.

In a Freedom of Information Act request completed by Topinka's office, the Village has been notified that it is racking up a penalty of $3,000 per month for not filing their reports.

The Village's financial reports were due October 31, 2010, October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2012 according to the information obtained through the request.

As of today, the Village's penalties total $12,850 and increase at a rate of $3,000 per month or $100 for each day the reports are not filed.  Additionally, the village recently changed its fiscal year back to ending April 30th, so another report and audit must be done for that 6 month period according to Topinka's office.

In an email dated August 22, 2012, the Village reveals that the 2010-2011 Audit would be completed by "11/30/2012". As of this report, The 2010 - 2012 audit is still not completed and has not been submitted to the Comptroller's office. The Village is also delinquent on its reportings for the Tax Increment Financing (T.I.F.) District reports according to the FOIA request information provided by the Comptroller's office.  Lack of financials have a negative impact on economic development as potential developers do not have exact financial data to make multi-million dollar decisions.

Mary Thompson, of Kane McKenna serving as the Village's bond consultant, said that the LogisiCenter T.I.F. #3 has plenty of revenue reserves for debt services, this was required at the time the bonds were underwritten Thompson said.

llinois recently began issuing fines and penalties to municipalites in an effort to encourage them to comply with reporting requirements.

Village Finance Director Mohan Rao reported at Tuesday's Village Board meeting that the Audit will be completed and presented to the village board at next Tuesday's meeting.

The Village lost its bond rating in 2011 following Standard and Poors downgrade claiming the village was not filing timely financial reports.

***CLICK HERE TO VIEW DOCUMENTS OBTAINED***

HANKS CHANGES HIS MIND.... This time a Good Thing!

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  It seems that changing ones mind is become more and more common in Sauk Village as Mayor David Hanks and the 5 Village Trustees who voted to hire REM, a consultant to hire a Chief of Police, changed their minds on Tuesday night.

Village Trustee Derrick Burgess stated during a recent public meeting that he supported hiring from within the Police Department and that the Village did not have to spend money, it did not budget or have, for REM to do a search.

Minutes released from an Executive Session (See attached) showed that Hanks wanted to bring in REM to do the search.  Burgess' wanted the firm to bring three candidates to the board not just one.  Burgess was not being disagreeable with what Hanks wanted to do, but did not agree with hiring outside the department.  "I do not want to discuss what happens in any Executive Session but I will say that it makes meetings go more professionally when you can agree to disagree.  Sometimes people hear what they want.  The facts in open session speak for themself" Burgess said.

Hanks and the Village Board voted to make Timothy Holevis the permanent Chief of Police by a vote of 5 to 0 with Lynda Washington abstaining on the vote. (Editorial note- an abstention vote goes with the majority and consequently Washington's vote was a "yes").  Holevis, who was already sworn in as Chief of Police last week, took the ceremonial oath of office.

Holevis served on the Sauk Village Police force since 1985 at the time Dick Rhodes was Chief of Police.  Holevis rose through the ranks from patrolman all the way up to Chief of Police.

The Village is under a contractual obligation with REM and so Hanks proposed that REM could find a Deputy Chief of Police instead of a Chief.  According to Village's ordinances the Deputy Chief of Police must be from within and is appointed by the Chief of Police with the consent of the Village Board.  It is not certain how or if the Village can back out of their agreement with REM.

EDITORIAL OPINION: 

I'm not sure when it became bad for a Village Board member to agree to disagree!  Some are trying to cast Derrick Burgess as the villan by posting Executive Session minutes highlighted (which I share on here for your view).  I commend him for trying to make the best of a situation where he STOOD ALONE! 

I am very pleased that David Hanks and 4 trustees have changed their mind!  Well done to ALL!  I want to commend David Hanks on making a tough decision to change his mind again, but this time that turned out to be a good decision for Sauk Village!  Some may say Derrick Burgess threw the Village Board under the bus by casting the lone NO vote for REM!  Burgess said he voted NO because for "LOYALTY" to the Department and to those who endured the "reign of terror of Lewis Towers".   I'm glad he did, I'm glad that the Village Board, with the exception of Lynda Washington found that Tim Holevis was not only the BEST CHOICE but the only choice for Sauk Village!

Thank you Mayor Hanks and Village Board, you did a good thing in this action!

I hope that some people stop the personal attacks on others and stop the negativity that continues to drag Sauk Village down.  The same people that praised what I did when Lewis Towers was in office now find the TRUTH a hard pill to swallow!  Some say that what I post is negative, that my opinion is "negative".... give me something REAL that is positive!  Something that is not a photo op and we'll talk!  Isn't it time to stop the stupid and really move the village forward? 

Minutes from August 27, 2013 Executive Session

ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKS INFORMATION ON TRAVELGATE SCANDAL

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office has determined that "further inquiry" is warranted into the Village's denial of a Freedom of Information Act requested filed by Joseph Wiszowaty (this reporter) for information regarding Village Clerk Debbie Williams and her daughter Village Trustee Rosie Williams' trip to Washington D.C.

The FOIA request originally was a four-part request for information requesting among other things documents regarding the Building One America Summit, including attorney fees for the investigation conducted by the Village's attorney, donations and sponsorships.  The Village denied the request in a letter from the Village Attorney Michael McGrath on August 22nd.

The Attorney's General office responded in their letter stating "We have determined that further inquiry into this matter is necessary to confirm the Village has complied with its obligations under FOIA.  Please provide to this office a written explanation of how the Village searched for responsive records".

In the request filed with the Attorney's General office the contradictions are pointed out including Debbie Williams stating at a public meeting on July 23 that this was "a personal trip" then later stating that she was asked to represent the Village of Sauk Village.   Debbie Williams also stated at the same meeting "until the Village Attorney tells me I have to provide the information I will not" she said.

The Attorney General is now seeking that very information that Williams refused to provide as the Village did not state that the information was "exempt".

Emails to Village Clerk Debbie Williams went unanswered.

Strassburg gets visit from Congresswoman Kelly and some Computers too

by Joseph Wiszowaty- The Sauk Villager News
SAUK VILLAGE |  Strassburg School 4th grade teacher Cherri Moore and her students will get to use 5 refurubished computers donated courtesy of PC Rebuilders & Recyclers of Chicago.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-2nd Illinois) and State Representative Elgie Sims (D-34th District) were on hand for the presentation who helped faciliate the donation from PC Rebuilders & Recyclers' CEO Willie Cade, who was also on hand.

Superintendent of Schools Al Travaglini and School Board President Sharon Davenport were on hand along with Strassburg School Principal Lynda Johnson to accept the donated computers.

"This is a good thing for Sauk Village's schools and I'm happy to have been a part of it" Kelly said.

"We're very pleased for the donation.  Any time we can save the taxpayers money and provide more money for the education of our children the better we are as a community" Davenport said following the presentation.

Also on hand were Sauk Village Trustee Derrick Burgess and Mayor David Hanks as well as other school officials and staff.  Community Activist Bernice Houston also attended the presentation.

"I'm very happy that Congresswoman Kelly and Representative Sims could come out today" Burgess said following the presentation.

Kelly spent some time speaking with the students who asked her questions.  "The students were very well behaved" Traveligni said.

Superintendent Al Travaglini examines Computer Equipment

School Board President Sharon Davenport greets Congresswoman Robin Kelly

Superintendent Al Travaglini, Board President Sharon Davenport, David Hanks-Mayor and State Representative Elgie Sims

4th Grade Teacher Cherri Moore and her students along with Willie Cade, CEO of PCRR, Congresswoman Kelly and Representative Sims

Sauk Village Trustee Derrick Burgess and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-1st Illinois)

Strassburg's 4th Grade Teacher Cherri Moore and Congresswoman Kelly

Congresswoman Kelly receives a gift of appreciation from District 168 from Superintendent of District 168 Schools Al Travaglini

Congresswoman Robin Kelly speaks with students of Strassburg's 4th Grade Cherri Moore's class

Village Hall Closed on Wednesday?

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  The Village Hall was closed yesterday for Labor Day and will be closed tomorrow because, well the Village Hall is always closed on Wednesday to the public.

With a truncated week due to the holiday, you would have thought someone would have asked that the Village Hall, for this week should remain open on Wednesday.  After all, they could be working to facilitate the numerous Freedom of Information Act requests that the Village receives.

Now, I have made it no secret that since January 1, 2013 I have made about 23 FOIA requests since information about crimes, and financial reports are not available on the Village's website.  You would think that the 110 FOIA requests recieved or the 13.75 requests made on average per month that this couldn't possibly bog down the Village's staff?  Maybe Debbie Williams can roll up her sleaves and get to work on getting timely and updated information out on the taxpayer paid website instead of her personal trips she's taken.

Let's review.  Out of the 13.75 FOIA requests (on average) the Village recieves each month the staff could handle those on Wednesday's only.  This would mean that they could spend 32 hours each month answering 13.75 FOIA requests?  I do not think that these take that much "staff" time to warrant the Village Hall closing do you?
Now perhaps it is catching up on balancing the Village's 59 accounts?  No Mohan Rao has that all under control.  Well maybe they need time to process all those water bill payments?  Well if they were processing them, then why would they close and not allow people to pay their bills?  No that can't be it. 

Anytime I have gone into Village Hall during the week there have been one or two people or many times none at all, yet they are closed on Wednesday to allow the staff time to catch up on their work?  Now I'm sure they have "busy" times and I know that they do their job, when the Village Hall is open!  Don't mistake my message, I do NOT blame the employees, I blame the task masters!  If everything is running just fine, what is it that they need to catch up on?

By the way, did you ever call Village Hall during the day and get a recording?  Ok the fact you get a recording is not the surprise.  Guess who's voice you hear on it?  The former Chief of Police Thomas Lachetta who hasn't been with the Village for over 3 years now!  I wonder if Tommy is getting royalties every time they play his recorded  voice, if he did he'd be a millionare!

Perhaps we could work on getting Village Hall open on Wednesdays, update the voice greeting and work on solving the $46 million dollar debt the Village faces instead of worrying about how many FOIA requests that some have made.

Sauk Village Administration Needs to get it Right!

We couldn't agree more!  Presentation is EVERYTHING!

http://southsuburbanwire.blogspot.com/2013/09/sauk-village-must-learn-that.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheSouthSuburbanWire+%28The+South+Suburban+Wire%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

How do you attract a multi-million dollar business to Sauk Village when you can't get it right?

Jeff Morden you need to proofread what you put out on your public posts!  You are under the microscope as an elected official.  You should never publish that you are "about  to..." go along on a police ride-along before you go!  This compromises the police officer's safety and your own!  Informing criminals that a civilian is along on a police patrol.  Use common sense and stop focusing on the photo op!