McHenry Co. (ECWd) –
The former Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, also former President of Township Officials of Illinois, appears to have sold equipment in violation of state law. I referenced the TOI connection as it is the organization that offers training and direction for Townships. One must ask when the President does things as outlined below, what other things are happening in this state as a result of failed leadership and inability to read or follow the law?
605 ILCS 5/6-201.17 – …….”In single township road districts, sale of road district property including, but not limited to, machinery and equipment shall be subject to elector approval as provided in Section 30-50 of the Township Code….”
In 2017, we find that the outgoing Highway Commissioner, Bob Miller, sold equipment to the Village of Island Lake. He sold a 2012 Elgin Crosswind sweeper that was claimed to be worth $246,000.00 new and it only had 25,000 miles on it.
Sale price? $70,000.00
Interesting we found a 2012 Elgin Crosswind with more than three times the miles listed for $135,000.00. Makes you wonder why this sweetheart deal was done? 
According to the minutes from Island Lake, this transaction was done through an Intergovernmental Agreement for the sale and purchase of a 2012 Elgin Crosswind/Auto truck sweeper. You may recall our article on the questionable purchase of a new sweeper in what appeared to have all the qualifications of a rigged bid in this article.
According to the 2016 Annual Meeting minutes, there is no action to approve the sale of equipment by the electors and it would have been during that meeting in which approval was provided as the sale was done prior to the 2017 meeting.
The only other way this sweeper could have been sold the way it was is by declaring it surplus by the Township Board or Highway Commissioner as outlined in section 30-50 of the Township Code.
A review of the minutes a full year prior to this sale does not reflect any record or notation of any declaration of surplus property, either by the board or the Highway Commissioner. Nor was there any record pointing to an Intergovernmental Agreement as referenced by Island Lake. An FOIA request has been submitted and will update upon receipt of that response.
All indications appear to point to the Road District selling equipment in direct violation of the law. Never mind that it appears to have been sold for well below fair market price. If it was sold as surplus, since when does a 5 year old sweeper with only 25,000 miles constitute surplus property, especially in light of the fact durinig this very transaction he was setting things up for a purchase of another sweeper?
.
Our work is funded entirely thru donations and we ask that you consider donating at the below link.
