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

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.

FEDERAL INVESTIGATION: HAS THE VILLAGE MISAPPROPRIATED GRANT MONEY? PAY TO PLAY?

ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES DETERMINATION- VILLAGE VIOLATED LAW... AGAIN!

SAUK VILLAGE | The Illinois Attorney General has once again issued a determination that the Village has violated the Freedom of Information Act.

A request through the Freedom of Information Act for documents was made to the Village on May 11, 2016 for documents pertaining to a grant the Village received from the Illinois Public Risk Fund to purchase bullet proof vests for members of the Sauk Village Police Department.  We requested “all receipts, invoices, purchase order/requisitions, communication and correspondence showing the use and expenditure of these funds from said grant”.

On June, 2, 2016, the Village finally responded and furnished a one-page accounting which appeared to be an account ledger.  The Illinois Attorney General determined that the Village violated the Act because it did not respond to the request nor did it ask for additional time to complete the request as the law states.

On July 7^th the Village submitted a response to our Request for Review to the Attorney General’s office.  The Village stated that Mohan Rao, the Village’s Finance Director, is the “record keeper for grant materials”.  In the Village’s response they provided additional information that they submitted to the Attorney General in confidence and the Attorney General therefore could not provide us with copies of that confidential “information”.

Our response to the Village at that time was that the Village did not deny they received the grant and therefore it should maintain additional records related to its receipt and expenditure.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office determined that the Village violated the Freedom of Information Act because their response was “untimely” that it did not conduct a “reasonable search” for the documents we had requested. 

The Village’s official response was that the Village Finance Director “cannot locate the records, nor the specific measures the Finance Director took to search for them.”  Additionally the Illinois Attorney General stated that the confidential correspondence with the Village Attorney “does not adequately describe the scope of the search…”.  According to the Attorney General “The records related to a State grant recently received by the Village, and it appears likely that additional records exist regarding the application, award and expenditure.”

It appears that the Village has once again "lost" pertinent records regarding the details of the grant.  Accordingly we have reported this information to higher authorities.

The Illinois Attorney General had issued a rare binding opinion ordering the Village of Sauk Village to turn over “all documents” we requested with respect to Village Clerk Debbie Williams and her daughter Rosie Williams’ “personal trip” to Washington DC, which we have referred to as the Travelgate Scandal. ***CLICK HERE TO VIEW BINDING OPINION*** The Williams duo had used the Village’s website and Village resources to solicit “donations” from Village vendors, yet the Williams duo claimed “this was a personal trip”.  Both Debbie Williams and Rosie Williams spoke at a Building One America Summit in Washington DC in July, 2013.  Village vendor Pat Couch, now a Police and Fire Commissioner was appointed shortly after the trip to the Police and Fire Pension Board which may have been a “quid pro quo” or “this for that” or more commonly referred to as “pay to play”.  After the documents were finally disclosed two years later, it revealed that Couch actually paid for the dynamic duo's, Debbie and Rosie Williams, airfare to fly to Washington DC for this “personal trip”.  Couch actually attended this conference with the Williamses.  No documents were provided showing that Debbie and Rosie Williams reimbursed Couch for her money.

The Village Administration, supported by Rosie Williams and the votes she cast, has established a pattern of blocking the public’s access to documents and overall transparency.  The Village sued the Attorney General in order to block production of the documents concerning the “Travelgate” scandal.  Hanks and the Williamses spent thousands of tax dollars in their failed attempts to block the production of these documents.  

It is only due to the persistence of information can we find the answers we seek from this administration.  The big question for Sauk Village residents is WHY? WHY CAN'T INFORMATION BE FORTHCOMING WITHOUT BEING MADE TO DO SO?

For more information on Travelgate ***CLICK HERE***

SHAKEDOWN AND PAY TO PLAY CONTINUES AT VILLAGE HALL

OPINION EDITORIAL | With the Village Treasurer James Greigel facing Federal criminal charges of stealing money from the Police Pension Fund along with his heroine, whores, embezzlement and corruption scandal, the Travelgate scandal naming Debbie Williams and Rosie Williams as particiants; both occurring on David Hanks' watch!  Now we find David Hanks getting in on the act too shaking down village vendors for his own personal and political campaign! 

Photo courtesy Social Media

Let's face it blowing up $6,000 is not “American”, at least that was the unanimous decision of the Village Board of Trustees at the May 24^th Village Board meeting.  Why did they take this action and cancel fireworks for their Independence Day celebration?  Well frankly blowing up $6,000 when they budgeted ZERO dollars to start any youth programs to keep kids off the streets or perhaps making the Sauk Village Police Station a healthy and safe work environment is more responsible!  Or, it could be that the three Bobble Heads were shamed into it by the responsible actions of Trustees Derrick Burgess, Cecial Tates and Kelvin Jones!

So what does the meathead “Mayer” David Hanks plan to do now?  He’s planning on continuing to shakedown  Village vendors, ala Travelgate, just like Debbie Williams and her daughter Rosie Williams did to scheme money for their “personal trip”, so that Hanks can blow it up in a 15 minute fireworks show.  So how do you suppose any vendors will recover their money?  You got it!  On the backs of the taxpayers completely circumventing the Village Board's action which already voted “NO” to fireworks!

If you don’t believe anything, believe this!  David Hanks continues to show his immaturity during village meetings just like a spoiled child who did not get his way!  How can anyone respect a person who would intentionally harm the health and welfare of Village employees nor give a darn about the kids of Sauk Village.  His actions speak volumes!  Don’t be fooled by his follies and lies he continues to put out through his surrogates and brainwashed minions.  I have no respect for a man who lies to peoples’ faces, whose actions intentionally hurt people and their welfare (i.e. cancelling their health insurance while they were out on medical leave).  Also and even more troubling for taxpayers and residents taking action without public votes, without the consent of your board and ruling by royal fiat and edict.

Let's not also forget the pattern of lies that David Hanks appears to have in his personal life as (CLICK LINK TO LEARN MORE).  This man is a pathological liar!  Read the facts and do your own research.  Son of a preacher!  Yeah he's a son of a something alright.  Know your history Sauk Village.... KNOW your history!

The rule of David Hanks has been one hundred times more damaging to the Village than that of the previous administration!  Why do I say that?  He has 3 Bobble Heads, Lynda Washington, Rosie Williams and Ed Myers, who support his misguided political agenda!

Original material copyright 2016 Sauk Villager News; all rights reserved. 

TRAVELGATE: WILLIAMS SAGA CONTINUES

Village Clerk Debbie Williams

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  By now hopes where that the people of Sauk Village would know just who paid for a trip that Village Clerk Debbie Williams and her daughter Trustee Rosie Williams had taken to Washington D.C.

The Williams mother and daughter duo took a trip to a Building One America Summit in Washington D.C. in July, 2013 along with a Village vendor.  Williams solicited donations on the Village’s website and from among Village vendors, but called the matter a “personal trip”.  Williams later shared video of her presentation at the summit on the Village’s website, which is taxpayer funded.

A Freedom of Information Act request was filed following a July 23, 2013 meeting in which Village Clerk Debbie Williams had a virtual melt down.  The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office issued a non-binding opinion in the matter in March, 2014 stating that Village should provide all information requested.  The Village ignored the Attorney General’s opinion.  So we made a follow up request to the Village requesting the same information, since the Village had failed to deny or honor the request in the first place.  The Village again refused to provide the information.  We then asked the Attorney General to issue a Binding Opinion in the matter.  The response came finally after months as the Attorney General’s office issued a rare Binding Opinion stating that the Village violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to provide all information about the trip which was requested.

The Village, through the taxpayer funded attorney, in November, 2014 has sued the Illinois Attorney General stating that the Attorney General and I had essentially colluded against the Village in what is known as ex parte communications.  In December, 2014, the Attorney General filed a lengthy multi-page legal motion to dismiss the Village’s frivolous action.  The Attorney General, in their motion to dismiss the Village's action the Attorney General reminded the Village that the State of Illinois has Supremacy over the Village and that its power is derived from the State. 

A hearing was scheduled for Monday, February 9^th; however, the Village was unprepared and requested a continuance.  The Continuance was not objected to by the Village or I and the hearing will go forward in March.

Taxpayers are likely paying for the legal services to protect the actions of Debbie Williams and Rosie Williams as they are not in compliance with the Illinois Attorney General’s Binding Opinion.  The Illinois Attorney General’s office has vehemently defended their Binding Opinions as a matter of law and for the most part has always been upheld and maintained.

Murders Top Headlines of 2014 - Top 10 Stories

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  As 2014 comes to a close in the next few hours, I wanted to reflect on the top 10 stories that made the news.  Sauk Village's murders definitely took the top spot in the news as the number of murders has increased!  Many good people, long-time residents and friends were lost along the way.


#10:  FEBRUARY 19, 2014:

FORWARD MOTIONS NOW WILL INCLUDE LAYOFFS- 23 Year Veteran & Deputy Fire Chief Axed

 

 

Lisa Gibbons

 

SAUK VILLAGE|  A 23 year veteran employee of the Sauk Village Police Department and the Deputy Fire Chief were axed by the Hanks Administration today.

Police Chief Timothy Holevis was summoned to the office of Mayor David Hanks early Wednesday morning who apparently gave the order to place Lisa Gibbons on layoff status.  It was also learned today that another head would roll.  Deputy Fire Chief Rich Atwood, a longtime veteran fire fighter was also placed on “layoff” status today.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....

 

 

 

 

#9 MARCH 23, 2014:

TRAVELGATE: ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMANDS VILLAGE CLERK RELEASE ALL RECORDS

 

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS

SAUK VILLAGE | After a 7 month battle with the Village and their attorneys, the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office has finally determined that the Village  possessed records responsive to our Freedom of Information Act request from July, 2013 and has violated the Freedom of Information Act.  “The vindication by the Illinois Attorney General shows that this Village Clerk and this Mayor have been anything but open, honest, transparent or accountable to the people” Joseph Wiszowaty states. 

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....

 

 

#8 APRIL 29, 2014:

4 TO 3 VOTE HIRES CONTROVERSIAL SUPERINTENDENT

 

Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak
Sauk Village's new Superintendent of Schools

SAUK VILLAGE |  School District 168 School Board approved hiring the controversial candidate for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak to replace retiring Superintendent Al Travaglini.  Travaglini took over as Superintendent in 2011.

The vote to hire Leak was 4 to 3 voting yes were Mary Howard sister to Sauk Village Mayor David Hanks, Aisa El-Amin, Deloris Green and Jimo Kasali and voting no were School Board President Sharon Davenport, Tammy Jones and Melvin Stevenson.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 

#7 JULY 23, 2014:

WATERGATE SCANDAL GROWS, WATER FUNDS TAKEN, COMMISSIONER REMOVED AND RESIDENTS WONDER

LtoR Housing Commissioners Heidi Parker, Gary Holcomb

and Sharon Nowak

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  Controversy has fallen on the Sauk Village Housing Commission and calls for investigations have quietly begun.  The new scandal involves the Village's water fund which has been under intense public scrutiny given the Village's past practice of balancing the budget with water funds.  Residents were paying $3.50 per 1000 gallons of water are now paying $7.50 per 1000 gallons and bills have skyrocketed.

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 

 

 

#6 SEPTEMBER 23, 2014:

SAILSBERY SWORN-IN AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  Rebecca Sailsbery was sworn-in as Deputy Chief of Police once again last week privately and formally Tuesday night during the Village Board of Trustees meeting.  Sailsbery previously had served as Deputy Chief of Police from 2007 to 2010 and Interim Chief of Police from October 2010 to December, 2010.

Sailsbery has been serving as the Department’s Administrative Sergeant since 2010 through the tumultuous times of former Chief Frank Martin, who had the shortest tenure in Sauk Village history.  Also, during the 18 months of Tim Holevis as “acting” Chief of Police, the temporary Chief of Police Robert Fox from November, 2011 to November 1, 2012....

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING... 

 

 

#5 OCTOBER 12, 2014:

Beware of Politicians Bearing Gifts at Election Time...

especially $4.8 million

 

SAUK VILLAGE | Governor Pat Quinn came to Sauk Village at election time to announce a $4.8 million grant as part of his multi-billion dollar clean water initiative Saturday afternoon.  Quinn is in for the race of his political life this November and every vote counts which is why some question the timing of this announcement!  Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, who just picked up the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune and Crains Chicago Business, has been doing well in polling.  Polls show Rauner with a slight advantage while other show a dead heat. 

 

#4 SEPTEMBER 8, 2014: 

ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL RULES SAUK VILLAGE VIOLATED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

DEBBIE WILLIAMS

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS MUST DISCLOSE DETAILS ON TRAVELGATE

SAUK VILLAGE| The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office issued a rare 10 page binding opinion against the Village of Sauk Village concerning a request for information about Village Clerk Debbie Williams’, her daughter Village Trustee Rosie Williams and a Village vendor Patricia Couch’s trip to Washington D.C. in July, 2013 to attend the Building One America conference.  Madigan’s office declared in their opinion that the Village had “violated the (Freedom of Information) Act” by not providing full and complete disclosure about the trip, which they determined was subject to public disclosure.

 

***CLICK HERE*** TO VIEW THE 10 PAGE I.A.G. OPINION

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

 

#3 SEPTEMBER 14, 2014:

Youth Gunned Down in Sauk Village

Duane McCray- Courtesy of
Facebook

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE | Another young man was killed Saturday on the streets of Sauk Village, the third since June of this year. 

 

Duane McCray, 20, was shot in the 21700 block of Peterson Avenue in Sauk Village, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:40 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said.  McCray attended Sauk Village schools and Bloom Trail High School.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

 

 

#2 JUNE 7, 2014:

MAN DEAD, WOMAN STABLE FOLLOWING SHOOTING

John McIntyre

Contributions by: Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE | A man was pronounced dead and a woman was in stable condition Saturday following shootings in Sauk Village, police there said.

At 12:05 a.m., Sauk Village police responded to a call of a woman in the 2100 block of 217th Street with a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found a 19-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the face and a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

 

#1 STORY OF 2014...  AUGUST 19, 2014:

2 CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF NATE BURNS

Nate Burns killed August 14th

MARKHAM | On August 14, 2014 at approximately 1:45pm, the Sauk Village Police 911 Center received a report of several people shot, in the 1700 Block of Sauk Trail Rd., Sauk Village, Illinois.  Upon arrival, officers learned 4 people had been wounded by gunfire.  All the victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment.  One male victim, Nathaniel Burns, 16, of Sauk Village later died from his injuries. 

During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned the identity of three suspects.  Two suspects have been apprehended and were both charged late Monday night by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.  Charged with First Degree Murder are Lamika Overall, 19, of Steger and Shaquille Wilson, 20 of Sauk Village.

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

WASHINGTON BLASTS HANKS FOR CANCELLING MEETINGS

LYNDA WASHINGTON

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  It appears that the “forward motions” David Hanks campaigned on have come to an end along with about 15 to 20 Village Board meetings in 2015 so says Trustee Lynda Washington.  Washington appears to be breaking ranks with Hanks in her move to distance herself from her one-time political ally.  Washington put out a press release critical of Hanks unilateral decision to cancel as many as 20 meetings in 2015.

Hanks and Village Clerk Debbie Williams have been criticized by many residents for the lack of transparency in the Village government where residents do not know what is going on.  “Money is being moved around and things are going on behind the scenes where Hanks doesn’t want people to know” says a long-time resident.  The Illinois Attorney General issued a binding opinion declaring the Village had in fact violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to provide public records as required by the law over the Travelgate scandal.

Hanks apparently told Trustees privately about his scheme, because this was not part of a public statement, “there is nothing to put on the agenda and the residents do not come to the Village Board meetings to participate” according to Washington’s statement.

“The Mayor stated that he plans to cancel at least 15 to 20 more meetings in 2015” Washington said in a letter she authored on Village letterhead.  “I am not in agreement with this decision” Washington states.  “This was a decision of Mayor Hanks alone and not a Board of Trustees decision” Washington said.

With the Village’s finances in a precarious state, with revenues falling far shorter than budgeted, the lack of meetings do not provide residents the ability to know how Village bills and employees are being paid.

Washington has circulated a copy of her news release throughout the Village.  “I’ve been passing it out at Fairway” Washington said.  “I have an outpouring of supporters they want copies to pass out they are appalled” Washington said.

Trustees Derrick Burgess, Washington and Rosie Williams called a Special Meeting for this Tuesday to discuss village finances, despite Hanks’ effort to cancel meetings without the Village Board’s approval.

Lack of Transparency, Wrong Direction and the Water Highlight Town Hall Meeting

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |   Trustee Derrick Burgess hosted his monthly Town Hall Meeting, this time back at Village Hall Wednesday evening.

Village Clerk Debbie Williams filed an inquiry for a possible Open Meetings Act violation, ironically with the Illinois Attorney General's office who the Village has sued over the Travelgate Binding Opinion they issued in October.  The alleged Open Meetings Act violation was "unfounded" Village Attorney Matt Burns said at a board meeting earlier.

About 35 people, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donna Leak, School Board Vice President Tammy Jones, Parent Teacher Organization President Jovante Hasty came back to Village Hall as the Town Hall Meetings moved to Rickover over the summer.  "We wanted to move the venue to afford more residents the opportunity to attend which was successful as we had about 95 at a couple of them there" Burgess said.  "We will probably change up the venue again but hosting them at Village Hall is good too." Burgess said following the meeting.

Longtime resident Judy Cast was critical of the administration for the lack of transparency, but complimented some progress made.  "Under the last administration you wouldn't be sitting in a meeting like this" Cast said.  Cast also wants to know how much the Village has spent in legal fees for the Travelgate scandal.  The Village is suing the Illinois Attorney General over the Binding Opinion issued in October which declared that the Village and Village Clerk must turn over all documentation concerning the trip to Washington DC by the Village Clerk her daughter Trustee Rosie Williams and resident and now former Police Pension Board member Patricia Couch.

Larry Stewart, who was removed as Housing Commissioner earlier this year, blasted the Hanks Administration for the lack of direction and the lack of planning.

Marva Campbell-Pruitt criticized the Hanks Administration for the lack of a solid plan and timeline for the water infrastructure improvements.  "We're paying the additional $2.00 per 1000 gallons of water for the repairs but there is no plan in place to justify it" Campbell-Pruitt said.

Dr. Leak addressed Kelvin Jones' questions concerning school children needing text books.  "We want our children to have the latest information not a static text book.  Old text books from 2007 still have George Bush as President" Leak said.  Leak has been working on a multi-year plan with the School Board and hopes one day soon to bring I-Pads to the students of District 168.  There are about 1700 students in district 168 and the district is flush with cash with about $16 million in the bank and zero debt.

Community Activist Bernice Brewer-Houston said residents are still paying for contaminated well water but residents are paying Lake Michigan water prices.  "The Mayor and Trustees are using this money to balance their budget and not putting the money toward repairs to the water mains that are  constantly breaking" Brewer Houston said following the meeting.

"People are tired of paying $300 water bills for this nasty water.  You can't drink it, you can't cook with it.  You have to spend money to treat it, replace corroded fixtures and even after treating it you turn on the faucet and the water still comes out orange.  They got $4.8 million grant for what the Mayor said will free up the village from paying $260,000 per year, but the resident's get no relief" a longtime resident said.  "I'm just disgusted with our Village leaders" she said.

"Residents only get to speak for 3 minutes during Village meetings.  There are no time limits here, I want to hear the concerns of the residents" Burgess said.

Burgess has hosted Town Hall Meetings for the last 6 months and will be taking the month of December off and resuming them in January after the holidays.

Mayor David Hanks and Village Trustee Lynda Washington sat silent during the meeting.  Williams spoke briefly when challenged by a resident.  "I'm speaking as a resident" Williams said.  Williams was accompanied by her husband, who also sits as a Human Relations Commissioner.  Trustee Rosie Williams is the daughter of Debbie Williams but was not present.

Williams and Hanks Reign of Tyrannical Terror

OPINION EDITORIAL
by Joseph Wiszowaty

A second reign of tyrannical terror has begun in Sauk Village!  You thought Lewis Towers was something you haven't seen squat until you witnessed what is happening in the Village that you're not privileged!  Village Clerk, Debbie Williams is hard at work, well in her opinion she is!  Instead of answering questions about her "personal trip" to Washington D.C., the ethically challenged Williams now wants to limit your free speech!

Williams is proposing that residents and tax payers not be allowed to obtain signatures on petitions in a public building.  No longer will you be able to solicit support to oppose or support a public matter.  I wonder why?  Part of running for any public office is exercising free speech against those who sit in he big boy and girl seats.  Guess what, 2015 is an election year in Sauk Village!  Funny thing is that Debbie Williams now sits in one of those "big girl" seats.  Now she wants everyone else to shut the hell up and not solicit support or even signatures at Village Hall which has been going on since 1957.   Now none of this could be possible without the green light from King David Hanks.  Hanks wouldn't let Williams grow a brain and wouldn't dare make a move or defy King David!

The Bobbleheads (That would be the Fab 5 Trustees) are warming up in the bull pen... heads a bobbin and ready to approve such a move because it protects their turf!  What a bunch of arrogant self righteous people who are running the Village today who would trample on the 1st Amendment Rights of people!  This, if challenged, would fail the test and would be ruled unconstitutional in any Federal Court because you can't tell people you can't ask people a question in a public building.  Never-the-less, these people, who you voted for, are going to pass this nonsense!

People may have been hoodwinked by heavy weights (politically speaking) Debbie Williams and David Hanks thinking that they're doing something good for the Village.  Make no mistake they're doing "good"... for themselves and whatever is politically expedient to dispatch any opposition to this doomed administration.

People of Sauk Village you need to keep your eyes on this administration which is no better than that of Lewis Towers!  Oh yes, remember who came in with Lewis Tower... the common denominator Debbie Williams!

ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL RULES SAUK VILLAGE VIOLATED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

DEBBIE WILLIAMS

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS MUST DISCLOSE DETAILS ON TRAVELGATE

SAUK VILLAGE| The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office issued a rare 10 page binding opinion against the Village of Sauk Village concerning a request for information about Village Clerk Debbie Williams’, her daughter Village Trustee Rosie Williams and a Village vendor Patricia Couch’s trip to Washington D.C. in July, 2013 to attend the Building One America conference.  Madigan’s office declared in their opinion that the Village had “violated the (Freedom of Information) Act” by not providing full and complete disclosure about the trip, which they determined was subject to public disclosure.

 

***CLICK HERE*** TO VIEW THE 10 PAGE I.A.G. OPINION

 

Debbie Williams solicited “donations and sponsorships” on the Village’s webpage, solicited input for her report she was to give from the Village’s Attorney, Public Works Director, Village Engineer, Mayor David Hanks and some residents as well.   Ironically, Debbie Williams defiantly declared during a Village Board meeting July 23, 2013 that this was a “personal trip” and that she “refused” to disclose any information without the Village Attorney telling her to do so.

 

Former Village Trustee Joseph Wiszowaty, who also reports on village matters for this blog the Sauk Villager News,  filed the request in August, 2013 and then filed a request for Madigan’s office to review the entire matter once the Village did not comply.  Madigan’s office determined in March, 2013 in a “non-binding” opinion that the Village must disclose the information about the trip, including who paid for it and how much all aspects of the trip cost.   The Village refused to comply with Madigan’s office opinion to disclose.  Wiszowaty filed another request to the Village in April of this year and once again the Village refused prompting Wiszowaty to file a request for review with Madigan’s office again.

 

“This has been the least transparent Village administration in Sauk Village’s history” Wiszowaty said.  “This begs the question, what are they hiding?  What are they afraid of?  Actions like this smell of impropriety and cause scandals” Wiszowaty said.  “Arrogance and entitlement have already cost the taxpayers of Sauk Village additional legal fees defending something which is indefensible.  It seems that some people have forgotten who elected them, the people, and they are entitled to transparency and accountability in their government” Wiszowaty said.  The Village already has budgeted over $500,000 for legal fees in the 2014-15 budget despite claims that litigation have decreased according to Mayor David Hanks.

 

Wiszowaty is awaiting the response from the Village.  

 

Madigan’s office, in a 2013 press release stated: “In 2013, the Public Access Bureau again increased the number of binding opinions issued. The authority to issue binding administrative decisions was an important component of the 2010 overhaul of the state’s transparency laws and has allowed the Bureau to issue opinions that clarify the law and increase disclosure. The Public Access Bureau has also helped thousands of members of the public, media organizations and advocacy groups resolve disputes over records and open meetings through informal mediation with public bodies that has led to increased disclosure of government information.”