VILLAGE OFFICIALS FILE FALSE TREASURER'S REPORT

SAUK VILLAGE |  Village officials may have falsified the Village's Treasurer's Report according to official Village records.  Village Clerk Debbie Williams certified the Village's Treasurer's Report which apparently was void of two individuals who have been on the Village's payroll since 2015.

JW Fairman and his assistant former Northlake Mayor Reid Paxson are nowhere on the most current year's Treasurer's Reports.  Fairman and his consultant company JW Fairman LLC or perhaps JW Fairman LTD were hired by Mayor David Hanks in the wake of the Village election in 2015 during the lame-duck session.  Fairman or his consultant company are reported earning $100,000 per year while his part-time "assistant" is paid $25,000 per year.  Fairman, his company and Paxson are not found on the most recent Treasurer's Report.  "All employees and vendors" earning over $25,000 are required to be listed on the report according to Illinois law.

 

Fairman receives a state and Cook County pension, and it is unclear if his "full-time" employment with Sauk Village would impact those pensions and if the omission was intentional.  Fairman was a prison administrator for Cook County jail and retired.  What is clear is that village officials did not list Fairman and Paxson on the Treasurer's report, yet all other Village employees, contractors and vendors are listed out on the report (***CLICK HERE TO VIEW REPORT***)

Both Hanks and Williams have been criticized by residents and three of the six Village Trustees for the lack of transparency and in 2016 both were admonished with a petition of No Confidence signed by 652 residents.  Williams most recently had her petitions challenged for Village Clerk among many other reasons, because she accepted a check from a village vendor for her so-called "personal trip" to Washington DC in 2013.  Williams said on July 23, 2013 at a Village Board meeting that she paid for the trip with her own money, however, a Freedom of Information Act request clearly showed she did not.  The Electoral Board in January of this year, which included Hanks and her daughter Rosie Williams, voted 2 to 1 to keep Williams on the ballot. 

Williams may still face charges from the Cook County States Attorney for failing to report money she received on her Statement of Economic Interest which is required under Illinois law.

"I do not understand how they keep getting things so wrong" a long-time resident said.  "The Village Treasurer gets indicted and pled guilty to Federal charges and these guys keep getting away with crap like this" they said.

The Village Treasurer, James Griegel appointed by Hanks in May, 2013 was arrested in January, 2016 and later Federal charges were filed against Griegel for embezzlement of Police Pension Funds.  The Village has not had a Treasurer in place doing the job since January, 2016 when Hanks put Griegel on "paid" administrative leave.

***UPDATE*** March 28, 2017:  At Tuesday's meeting JW Fairman's advised the public that we were correct that there was an omission was corrected and the Village has filed an amended Treasurer's Report!  We applaud their effort at Financial transparency in government!  

DAVID HANKS- 2016 SAUK VILLAGER PERSON OF THE YEAR

SAUK VILLAGER PERSON OF THE YEAR! This award is established to honor a person who has made a significant impact to or for the Village. Just as Time Magazine had honored Adolf Hitler and Joe Stalin in 1938 and 1939, respectively and most recently named Donald Trump for 2016 as their persons of the year, I choose David Hanks as the Sauk Villager's Person of the Year 2016. David Hanks' announcement in September to retire from politics may be the most significant single impact to the Village’s future!

This announcement was the biggest and most historic announcement of the year in Sauk Village and was cautiously and hopefully expected by many. (CLICK HERE to see Video)  (CLICK HERE- to read the story) It could be the impetus for voters to bring to an end the Village's continued political turmoil which began back in May, 2009. 

Hanks fell into the office of mayor on the heels of Lewis Towers' disgraceful resignation on November 8, 2012.  In Towers' wake, Towers left a trail of financial woe; leaving over $1,000,000 in unpaid bills in addition to a General Fund Deficit totaling over $1.2 million. Credit is to be given to the then sitting Board of Trustees who were diligent in preventing Towers from illegally using the $3 million balance in the water fund.  David Hanks and the Trustees that support him, however, have managed  to erase that $3 million reserve by voting for the same illegal usage of the water fund that they were so diligent in preventing Towers from doing.  As a result, this lame duck Mayor will likely leave office with over $1.7 million owed to the water fund, in addition to over  $1 million in unpaid bills. 

Hanks financial incompetence was further exacerbated when he appointed his staunchest trustee supporter, Rosie Williams to the position of Finance Committee Chair, after two of his Trustees loss their re-election bids in 2015.  Hanks, with the help and guidance of Trustee Rosie Williams, have been using water fund revenues to pay for expenses unrelated to water, causing an even greater fund balance deficit of nearly $1.7 million today!

The Village has been on a steady decline since 2013 because Hanks has had full control of the Board of Trustees and they have historically voted in lock step for every major decision that affects the Village. Even with Hanks' appointments of a Village Administrator, an assistant for the Administrator, his Finance Director and appointing him an assistant, with all this manpower, the village should have expected a vast improvement over its finances.  Instead, the Village's financial staus is on the brink of insolvency!

The Hanks' legacy will be marred by other questionable and scandalous events; too many and too big to mention here.

But today Hanks gets the honor of being 2016 Sauk Villager's Person of the Year for announcing he would retire from politics and more importantly, for keeping his word!

Past Honorees:
Click the links below to read those stories

2015 - Senior Pastor Rev Melody Seaton, Grace UCC

2014 - Dr. Donna Leak Superintendent 168

2013 - Derrick Burgess, Village Trustee

2012 - Alan Stoffregen, Fire Chief

2011 - Robert Chavez, Sr., Village Trustee

SAUK VILLAGE FINANCIAL MESS - You can't pay? Village wants to charge more!

This is the seventh in a series of revelations of the 2014-15 Audit Report.  The Village was delinquent in filing their audit with the Illinois Comptroller (due December 26, 2015).  The Audit report (see attached link at the end of this report) reveals the status quo with the Village finances continues with 3 years into David Hanks’ Administration.

SAUK VILLAGE |  When it comes to the finances of the Village clearly there has been a lack of attention to detail, especially when it comes to investment, assets and the Village’s public utility.  At last night’s Village Board meeting David Hanks’ political lackey and Village Administrator J.W. Fairman recommended raising the reconnection fee for water when the Village shuts the water off due to nonpayment.   The reconnection fee currently is $25 if paid before 3pm or $75 if paid after 3pm according to Community Development Director Sherry Jasinski.  Fairman wants to raise this to $250.  “When people cannot afford their water bill in the first place, how in the hell can they afford an additional $250 to have it turned back on” Trustee Derrick Burgess said following the meeting.

With all that said, the Village seems to have its own problems managing the water fund receivables according to the Village’s audit management letter.  The following is an excerpt of that letter:

17.   Outstanding Utility Bills (Repeated from Prior Year)

We noted that various residents have long-outstanding unpaid utility bills, and that receivable balances are escalating.  We recommend that the Village review its policies and procedures with regard to the collection of utility receivables.  Implementing these policies and procedures on a timely basis could improve cash flow.

(Editorial Note:  Is increasing the water reconnect fee a way we have reviewed the policies and procedures regarding collections?  If people could not afford to pay their outstanding debts and the village allowed them to accumulate a “high balance” then logically, they need to work out arrangements with the user.)

16.   Capital Asset Capitalization Policy (Repeated from Prior Year)

The Village does not have a formal written capitalization policy.  We suggest that the Village develop, and the Board approve a form written capitalization policy.

(Editorial Note:  Really?  This is a repeated finding by the Auditors!  Way to take care of the Village’s Assets!)

18.   Investment Policy

The Village’s investment policy does not address interest rate risk, credit risk, concentration of credit risk, and custodial credit risk. We recommend that the Village update its investment policy to include, at a minimum, the foregoing risk considerations.

An expert on Illinois Municipal Finance, intimately familiar with Sauk Village’s financial history reviewed the Village’s audit and management letter and stated the following:   “I don't believe any of these are just normal issues.  In a well run environment, none of these issues should occur.  There should always be a system of "double-check" in order to eliminate any possibility of wrongdoing.  We have many of these safeguards in place to prevent fraud and provide transparency with taxpayer’s money.   What I don't get is the lack of attention being paid to account receivables.  What exactly does everyone working at Village Hall do?  Why is it that the Finance Director has no backup from existing staff? What does this so called Village Administrator or the Mayor do? (by the way the Finance Director  seems to have a lot of authority according to this report)?  This report is pathetic!”

HEROIN, WHORES, EMBEZZLEMENT AND CORRUPTION, BUT NO RESIGNATIONS... YET

JAMES GRIEGEL (left) takes oath
as Treasurer in May, 2013

OPINION EDITORIAL
SAUK VILLAGER NEWS

I have already called for the resignation of David Hanks, and now it’s time for residents to do likewise!  Where is the resignation of James Griegel!  Why hasn't Hanks publicly demanded his resignation, or fired him!  It's time for the outrage!

Why anyone is surprised at the most recent corruption within the David Hanks administration is really beyond me!    David Hanks’ administration has adopted a pattern of behavior which mimics that of his predecessor, former Mayor Lewis Towers, including demoralizing and alienating village board members, village employees while creating an environment that encourages lawsuits by both residents and employees of Sauk Village.  Let’s face it David Hanks began his administration on a lie, saying that he was not going to run for mayor and then “changed his mind” after endorsing another candidate.  His supporters said at the time, he had the right to change his mind and I said he didn’t change his mind he LIED to the people he was elected to serve.  He began his administration on a lie!

The pattern of corruption in the Hanks administration has been the worst in Sauk Village’s history, rivaling the Thomas Ryan scandal some 11 years ago.  Let’s review shall we!  During the last 3 years we have seen a pattern of corruption in Sauk Village including:

 

·         David Hanks lied to the people stating he would not run for Mayor and endorsed another candidate, then “changed his mind” having no intention of keeping his word.  Hanks lost integrity because he showed you cannot trust him or his word.

·         The Travelgate scandal where Village Clerk Debbie Williams and Trustee Rosie Williams fleeced and shook down vendors to pay their way to attend the Building One America Summit claiming this was a personal trip.  The scandal resulted in a binding opinion issued by the Illinois Attorney General declaring the trip was “official business” and all information was subject to the Freedom of Information Act.  The Village sued the Attorney General and later settled the matter after the Village spent some $11,000 to try and block it.

·         Then there was illegal use of Water Funds to pay for the Housing Commission’s lawn mowing program.   Hanks used the Water fund without the knowledge or consent of the Village Board of Trustees to pay for the mowing of grass.

·         David Hanks cancels meetings to avoid answering the public’s questions about his and the actions of the Trustees he controls.  Hanks continues to block the flow of information concerning the Village’s finances including not publishing audits on time, including transferring money like a shell game without the knowledge or approval of the Village Board, issuing immediate checks to pay village vendors without the approval of the Village Board in accordance with Illinois law.  Also, now Hanks wants to block the Village Trustees from even communicating with department heads!

·         Hanks’ own handpicked Treasurer, Jim Griegel, never attended a single Village Board Meeting has not provided any financial reports to the Village Trustees in accordance with Village law, and there still has been no Treasurer’s Report posted in accordance with the State law for the last fiscal year.

·         Hanks’ Village Treasurer Jim Griegel admitted to police that he wrote himself checks illegally out of the Police Pension Fund

·         The Village’s audit report was due to be posted to the Illinois Comptroller’s office in accordance with state law by December 26^th, and today it has yet to be posted.  The Village, because of the negligence of this administration, is accruing fines each day.

·         Hanks spearheaded an ordinance that created a Village Administrator and Public Safety Director and then filled it with J.W. Fairman, a candidate which was provided to him by Odelson and Sterk (the Village’s law firm).  His contract, among other things provides him with a “part-time” administrative assistant, former Northlake Mayor Reid Paxon (Paxon, in 1995 was found guilty of violating a Police Officers civil rights by a Federal Court CLICK LINK TO READ MORE), to the tune of $27,600 annual, a “cash” car allowance of $26,666.67 and a severance package (or “Golden Parachute”).   Fairman  is currently receiving State and County pensions while Reid receives a pension from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

·         Hanks is paying JW Fairman and Reid Paxon as “independent contractors”, however, IRS Code does not permit an “employee” to be paid as an “independent contractor”.  Also, it appears that the Village, because of these questionable practices, is intentionally circumventing paying into Social Security, Medicare and also the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund

·         Employees, who have filed complaints, lawsuits or are union representatives, have been targeted for termination or retaliation by David Hanks. 

·         David Hanks refused to bring back Lisa Gibbons who he summarily placed on “layoff” status, instead hired two less qualified “part-time” employees for Police Records Clerks, which shows his continuation of retaliation.

·         Sauk Village has been awarded several grants for equipment and supplies, many dating back over three years.  The Village has failed to inform the appropriate personnel of the receipt of such grant funds and little or none of these grants were actually spent on equipment or supplies.  The Feds must ask, WHERE DID THIS MONEY GO?

 

Today the pattern of corruption continues!  Village vendors are still shaken down and fleeced; there is no accountability to the Village Board or the residents of Sauk Village.  Hanks claims that the village’s finances get a “GREEN LIGHT” while all evidence points to the contrary! Property taxes continue to rise while values fall. 

 

It's time for the residents to stand up and say NO MORE!  NO tHANKS! 

HANKS WANTS TO WHITE WASH CRIME REPORTING

DAVID A. HANKS

by Sauk Village Voice
SAUK VILLAGE |So now the Administration of David Hanks appears to be trying to “white wash” the truth about crime in Sauk Village!  A woman was shot in her home and her baby died this week, and Hanks has his so called “Public Safety Director” JW Fairman, who was hired as an “employee” but yet paid as an “independent contractor”, makes one wonder why but that’s another story and another investigation later, I digress.

Fairman reported to the Village Board on December 8^th that crime has gone down a “projected 64.6% in 2015”, his words not mine.  There is a very simple explanation to why this is likely the case.  Sauk Village Police Department’s old reporting software, New World implemented in 2007, was completely down and not online for many months in 2015.  Police officers were forced to do police reports manually in some cases.  Now several officers report many communication problems with the Village’s dispatch center CalCom who is based out of Calumet Park Illinois.  Additionally many have complained that the CAPERS (computer aided dispatch) software the village will invest thousands of dollars in order to communicate with CalCom has not been working.

Fairman apparently questions the Uniform Criminal Reports made by the Sauk Village Police Department to the Federal Bureau of Investigations UCR.  Fairman stated in his report posted by David Hanks on December 14^th “The question is; are Sauk Village’s reported UCR crime real or contrive”?

Former Chief of Police Timothy Holevis had his say about the matter in a brief interview.  “Uniform Crime Reporting is taken directly from the daily computer records.  It takes hours to report manually since requests were sent to the mayor (David Hanks) who failed to update the important computer programs making it more simplistic to report UCR” Holevis said.

Fairman also goes on to say “We did a precursory assessment of reported major UCR crime in 2014.  It was determined that reporting numbers were erroneous.  We did not determine why”.  Holevis responded to this categorically denying that the numbers from 2014 were wrong.  “Compare the official police reports to UCR, it will all match.  I refused to do anything illegal.  How do you not report a murder” Holevis said.  “If they aren’t entering UCR manually, then they’re not doing it correctly.  Sauk Village does not have a computer program that reports it automatically.  It should take him several hours to report UCR and domestic violence reporting” Holevis said.  Holevis said that for a two year period during the time Former Chiefs Frank Martin (2010) and Robert Fox (2011 to 2012) UCR reporting was not done at all. “The Village was threatened several times with revocation of the use of UCR because of all that” Holevis said.

“For the first 8 months, prior to Chief Kowalski’s arrival major UCR crime averaged 22.9 crimes a (sic) month, after Chief Kowalski’s arrival major UCR crime averaged 6.5 crimes a month a difference (or reduction of 69.9%” according to Fairman.  Hanks has his Chief of Police chasing Senior Citizens away from the microphone, like his predecessor did, during Village Board meetings instead of applying for grants and doing his job, fighting crime!  What Fairman and Chief Robert Kowaski did not report to the Village Board is that for the last 3 weeks there have been on average 1 to 2 cars stolen per day in Sauk Village.  But they would want you to believe crime is down in Sauk Village!  This is nothing but a white wash job Sauk Village.  Give me a break!

UCR Crime Statistics can be found here :  CLICK LINK

HANKS AND SOME VILLAGE OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF RETALIATION - EEOC CHARGES FILED

DAVID HANKS (left) and Village Attorney Mike McGrath

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  Deputy Chief of Police Rebecca Sailsbery a 23 year veteran of the Sauk Village Police Force has filed an action with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, required before a Federal lawsuit can be filed, claiming she is being retaliated and discriminated against by Mayor David Hanks, Administrator JW Fairman and other Village officials.

Following the abrupt retirement and resignation of former Chief Timothy Holevis, Sailsbery has been blocked from being sworn-in as "acting/interim chief" which should have happened automatically according to the department's general orders until a new Chief was appointed.  Instead Hanks ordered Sailsbery to assume the duties but not the position or title.  Sailbury argues that it is because she had previously won an EEOC complaint and the Village settled with her, Holevis and former employee Lisa Gibbons.  Gibbons was "layed off" and not recalled despite the Village having several opportunities and hires since her so called layoff.  In 2010, during the administration of Lewis Tower when former Chief of Police Frank Martin was terminated, Holevis was sworn-in as "acting/interim" Chief of Police.  Holevis at that time was not the deputy chief but the senior Sergeant on the day shift.

Apparently the discrimination and retaliation did not end there according to the complaint.  Gibbons has already filed another EEOC complaint against the Village.

Hanks, according to the supplement to the EEOC complaint, violated the Police Department Chain of Command, posted a notice that Sailsbury would remain Deputy Chief "until further notice" while all other police officers would retain their positions, violated the Police Officers Bill of Rights as an investigation was conducted without notification.  Finally the supplement to the EEOC complaint states that Hanks "traditional" views of women in the workforce are frowned upon and are expected to wear skirts instead of pants.

Sailsbury has stated she did apply to become chief of police.  According to Hanks 24 people have applied for the position.  Hanks appointed Fairman along with Trustees Rosie Williams and Cecial Tates to serve as a committee to search for a Chief of Police.  "We have yet to have a formal meeting with all of us present" Tates said.  According to Tates they were given each candidates resumes and asked to rank each candidate.  None of the results were shared with other committee members according to Tates.  "Not like any committee I had ever been on when you never meet to discuss anything" Tates said.

"According to the Mayor he gets to make the appointment the Village Board vote doesn't matter" Tates said.  "He has made that quite clear when it came to appointing committees and the courts already ruled on this same matter with former Village employees which the village is still in litigation over.  So let's just cut out the nonsense and move forward" Tates said.

Hanks has made no public comment regarding the EEOC complaint which was filed in earlier of this year.