HANKS CLOSES DOWN TRANSPARENCY AS GRAND JURY INVESTIGATES

 SAUK VILLAGE|  Residents will need to get use to less transparency at Village Hall because of Mayor David Hanks' order to the Village Finance Director, Public Works Director, Village Engineer, Village Attorney and Community Development Director not to attend any further Village Board Meetings.

Hanks' move comes despite a Federal Grand Jury apparently hearing matters regarding embezzlement from the Police Pension Fund by current Village Treasurer James Griegel and fraud involving Federal Grants.

"Never before has a Mayor ordered department heads to not attend public meetings and address questions from the Village Board.  What is this mayor trying to hide" Trustee Cecial Tates said.

"So much for Transparency in government " Trustee Derrick Burgess said following the meeting.

Trustees Edward Myers, Lynda Washington and Rosie Williams said nothing about Hanks' action.

"So the Bobble Heads don't speak up for the residents?  Well rest assured the residents will speak up at election time in April" Community Activist Larry Stewart said Tuesday.  "They are out telling people crime is down in Sauk Village, what they aren't telling us is that it is up in Village Hall" Stewart said.

HANKS POLITICAL BLUNDERS COSTING THE VILLAGE DEARLY

SAUK VILLAGE |  When over 100 years of combined service to the people of Sauk Village walked off the job on Tuesday night, what was going through David Hanks mind?  Apparently not much at all as he was trying to obstruct Trustees Derrick Burgess and Kelvin Jones from asking Public Works Director Kevin Weller questions.  Hanks’s obstruction of Burgess and Jones at one point became so belligerent and childlike that Jones called Hanks an “asshole” as Hanks was literally laughing. 

Earlier on in the meeting Hanks appointed Jeff Morden, who Hanks supported for his failed re-election bid in April, 2015, to replace former Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Art Johnson.  This prompted immediate resignations of long-time members Assistant Director Amon Darnell, Thomas Heatherly, Arlene Stephens and Mike Sopjestal.  “Thirty-five years down the drain because of your appointment” Heatherly said as he pointed to Hanks and dropped his resignation on Hanks’ desk at the dais.  Stephens and Sopjestal did likewise.  The resignations left the department with less than a handful of members.  Rank and file members of the department protested having Morden appointed as Director because of an alleged incident which took place in 2003 involving his minor step-daughter.  A police report was circulated Tuesday night detailing the alleged sordid incident.   Morden claimed to several people Tuesday night that his record was expunged, however, he did not categorically deny the incident ever occurred.   

Wednesday evening Morden apparently sent Hanks a text message resigning as Director less than twenty-four hours after he was sworn-in.  It was learned that Hanks appointed Allen Vavrik as Acting Director.

Trustee Burgess questioned Hanks as to why he did not appoint a director from within the department and felt that Morden was a better choice but Hanks had no reply during Tuesday’s circus-like meeting.

Morden went along with Hanks, while he was on the Village Board in 2015, voted to eliminate Sauk Village's Dispatch Center and contract this out to Calumet Park, Illinois a more costly and distant dispatch center when neighboring Lynwood was offering the same services for less money.

"This was nothing more than a political appointment by Hanks and the bobble heads.  This wasn't about putting the best guy for the job in the position" community activist Larry Steward said Tuesday night. 

Hanks has been making political appointments haphazardly as he recently appointed his campaign manager and sometimes "minister" of the controversial Sauk Village Baptist Church Charles "Chuck" Thompson III to replace Judy Cast as Police and Fire Commissioner in May.  He appointed another political supporter, village vendor and benefactor to the Travelgate scandal Patricia Couch to replace longtime Police and Fire Commissioner Ed Milkint following his death.  Also Tuesday night, Hanks appointed Lynda Washington-House's husband Terry House as Housing Commissioner which will likely further gain favor and votes from Washington on the Village Board.  Washington-House is allegedly running against Hanks in April for Mayor, however, has been one of his staunchest supporters politically speaking.

To see highlights of Tuesday’s Meeting Click on the LINK HERE

98% DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB HANKS IS DOING AS MAYOR

SAUK VILLAGE | A survey of about 470 registered voters of Sauk Village show that David Hanks’ job approval are downright horrible according to the most recent survey. 

470 completed the survey of which 461 Disapprove or “completely disapprove” of the job David Hanks is doing as Mayor representing 98% of all those while only 9 people surveyed or 2% approve of the job he is doing as Mayor.  Hank approval rating is actually worse than that of his predecessor, Lewis Towers when he was last surveyed in 2012.

Hanks will be going into a tough re-election year in 2017 on the heels of the shellacking he received when each of the candidates he endorsed and backed in 2015 lost for Village Trustee, including Jeff Morden and John Poskin.  Coincidently, Towers likewise received a similar shellacking in 2011 when Trustees he supported, including current Trustee Lynda Washington who is now allied with Hanks, lost by a nearly 3 to 1 margin.  Hanks also received a letter of no confidence from the Sauk Village Fraternal Order of Police and 652 residents signed a petition of No Confidence in Mayor David Hanks calling for his resignation in 2015 as well.

 

This past Tuesday, following Hanks appointment of defeated candidate Jeff Morden as Director of Sauk Village's Homeland Security Department, most all of the members of the department tendered their resignations on the spot.  Over 130 years of experience and dedication literally walked off the job during the Village Board meeting.  "Thirty-five years of service down the drain because of you" Tom Heatherly said as he turned in his resignation to Hanks.

 

Last year following his defeat then Trustee Jeffrey Morden voted to eliminate the Village's long-standing Police Dispatchers and to enter into a contract with Calumet Park for dispatching, by-passing the Village of Lynwood, who neighbors Sauk Village and would have actually been less costly. 

HANKS ATTACK ON POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY COST TAXPAYERS

OPINION EDITORIAL |Mayor David Hanks wants you to believe he is the "law and order" mayor, but his attack on the Sauk Village Police Department has put taxpayers at huge financial risk.  On the heels of a vote of No Confidence by the ranks and file Sauk Village Fraternal Order of Police earlier in 2015 and the abrupt departure of former Chief of Police Timothy Holevis, Hanks seems to have been waging war in retaliateion against the Sauk Village Police Department for having no confidence in his leadership.  Following Holevis' "retirement" announcement, he refused to allow Rebecca Sailsbery, the duly sworn Deputy Chief of Police to serve as "interim" Chief at the time, and had his political lackey and former  Cook County jail warden JW Fairman, serving as the defacto "chief of police".  Sauk Village faces serious liability stemming from a lawsuit filed by Aisha Michel, mother of a teenage boy,  who was allegedly was arrested and during said arrest the officer had to use less than lethal force upon the teenager following his arrest on July 14, 2015, during JW Fairman's tenure as "Public Safety Director". 

In a Federal lawsuit filed by the by Michel, the lawsuit wrongfully and erroneously claims that “there is no existing

Excerpt from Hanks' Article in September, 2015 Sauk Talk

Departmental General Orders specifically detailing the use of Tasers for the Sauk Village Police Department”.  The suit specifically cites a libelous Mayor David Hanks “Sauk Talk” article where Hanks put the Village in direct liability for this lawsuit by falsely claiming that the Village had no Taser policy in place and then attacked former Chief Timothy Holevis and former Chief Rebecca Sailsbery for being “remiss in their responsibilities…” 

Let’s point out the painfully obvious David Hanks!  You’re public attack on the Sauk Village Police Department has put the TAXPAYERS  and the Village’s Insurance carrier AT RISK!  Furthermore, Mr. Meathead “Mayer”,  as Harry S. Truman said “the buck stops here…”!  You were on the Village Board of Trustees from 1999 until your ascension as “mayer” in November, 2012.  If you knew the Village’s General Orders were not updated since 2005, as you wrongly stated in your venomous and libelous article of September, 2015, then why the hell did you not make immediate changes when you ascended the “throne” in November, 2012?  Why because you know that is a damn lie!

The village has had a Taser Policy dating back to the Cora Beem era when she served as Chief of Police, and you were on the Village Board then too.  You should know that King David!  But now your libelous article has put the taxpayers of Sauk Village at extreme risk!  How does that make the taxpayers “fill” as David Hanks would say?  Pretty empty in the pocket book I say is how you’re “feeling”!

If anyone would like a copy of the lawsuit filed, email me (SaukVillager@gmail.com)!  It’s 22 pages of liability courtesy of David Hanks himself!  Shame on you for causing this to happen to the taxpayers of Sauk Village!

I say GOOD JOB to the Sauk Village Police Officer for not shooting the young man killing him dead!  There is a reason for less than lethal force and when it should be used, herein is a good example in my opinion!

Oh by the way, Sauk Village PD still does use tasers!  As to the lawsuit, the family may have hit the LOTTO BABY courtesy of David Hanks (the Mayor of the village) stupid, vindictive, libelous and venomous attack upon the Sauk Village Police Department .  You want a history lesson on the Hanks family and the Sauk Village Police Department… I could write you a book!

NOTE:  There are two other Federal actions filed by Police Department personnel against David Hanks for his retaliatory actions against them.

IS HANKS DOING A GOOD JOB? TAKE THE SURVEY!

SAUK VILLAGE |  Please take the survey regarding Sauk Village Mayor David Hanks' job performance.  We will share the results of the survey with you soon...

Thanks in advance

Sauk Villager News

CLICK LINK TO TAKE SURVEY

JELENA ROWE TAKES FIRST PLACE AT NATIONALS

SAUK VILLAGE |   JELENA ROWE, an incoming senior at Bloom Trail High School Class of 2017 and Sauk Villager, took First Place High Jump at Nationals New Balance 5'10".

"So nationals was this past weekend and like going into this type of competition just enlightens me & I get very excited" Rowe said.   Rowe has had a consistent season with her jumps at "But I mean this season I was very consistent at 5-8 back to back and 5-9" Rowe said.   Rowe also participates in track and volleyball and tries her hardest to give it her all when it comes to her practices or meets.

Rowe said she worked hard for conference, sectionals, and state and just had the mindset of "I can win and will".  Rowe jumped 5-7 down state which put her in second place but she knew she could do better.  "When my amazing Coach told me about Nationals I was like great I can redeem myself but basically worldwide.  So I just stayed focused during nationals weekend and just had very good positive energy and confidence and just had to remember cockiness wasn't going to help me win" Rowe said.  

 

Rowe went into nationals knowing everyone was good and anyone could win and maintained her

composure. It came down to Rowe and Lilly Lowe at Nationals "I'm so used to it just being me and not having competition to jump against" Rowe said.  Lilly Lowe attempted 5-10 but failed on her two attempts while Rowe cleared it on her first. Rowe went on to attempt 6-0 "I just had to think like don't let the height stop me or frighten me like just have fun and jump your hardest and highest but all though it didn't happened I'm still happy with the progress I made and the accomplishments I made this whole season" Rowe said.

  

Rowe acknowledges the support she received "I couldn't have done any of this without the support and help from my team, my parents and coaches and that  at the end I was grateful for the opportunity"

 

HANKS LIES ABOUT SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE

OPINION EDITORIAL|  First of all, let’s set the record straight for real on the sidewalk to nowhere!  Hanks is a pathological liar!  He claims this is "free Federal Funding” for his insane sidewalk to nowhere!  This is a $1.3 million dollar boondoggle that Hanks and some idiots dreamed up.   (Is it Federal or State?  He quotes both entities)

Hanks spouts off about safety for the kids of Sauk Village!  Let’s remember when he wanted to eliminate the school crossing guards when he was a Trustee; fighting against the safety of the kids of Sauk Village as he nor his own children have never ever attended a Sauk Village Public School!  Ya he really cared about the kids then, too?  Right? NOT! 

Then let’s take a good look at how much Hanks cares about kids and their safety in Sauk Village when mothers and their babies are walking on the north side of Sauk Trail between Orion to Torrence Avenue where there is no sidewalk running the entire length of this stretch. 

Let’s now talk about the sidewalks in Sauk Village that are so heavily damaged, they are heaved up over 6 inches from each other or so  unleveled that you can break an ankle walking on them!  That is if you can pass through the 6 feet of grass growing over the sidewalks from the vacant homes! 

Now let's look at the safety issue at Sauk Trail and Torrence Avenue where kids have to dodge cars going 45 miles per hour to beat a red light and there is no cross walk and no walk/don’t walk signals which lead kids to a community center with asbestos floors!  Ya that’s safe!   

Yet Hanks wanted the Trustees to approve a measure to spend $1.3 million on a sidewalk to nowhere?  He claims the money is a federal and or state grant but the TAXPAYERS gotta belly up first!  Why not take care of the mess he already has on the east side of 394 before making a mess on the other side. 

Let’s face it, would you let/encourage your 6 to 13 year old kids to ride their bikes across 394 to go nowhere?  Would you trust the life of your child verses a semi crossing Sauk Trail at 394?   

Instead of settling for a measly $1.3 million sidewalk to nowhere, which the taxpayers of Sauk Village are on the hook for the costs and engineering,  why not get the funds secured to provide a proper crossing of Illinois 394?  Why?  Because David Hanks doesn’t give a darn!  That’s why!