EDGAR CO. (ECWd)–
It has been over 17 months since we first raised concern with the actions taken under the leadership, if you can call it that, of former County Board Chairman Chris Patrick as it relates to the dissolution of the Mass Transit system in Edgar County. Actions that would have cost the tax payers of this county well over $100K.
We started working on this issue prior to May of 2013, — over 18 months ago. Here is one of the first emails we sent to trustees of the Mass Transit District regarding the sale of their real estate (click here), which will now have to be dealt with as real estate sold without proper authority.
The board refused to listen and did as they darn well pleased, however, we continued to demand accountability and never stopped fighting for compliance with the law.
For reasons we will never understand, our efforts of keeping funds in this county were met with resistance from the county board and the State’s Attorney. Resistance that included fabricated excuses without any research as to why we were wrong and the money could not stay in the county.
My attempts of exposing the illegal actions may have been the real reason I was taken out of the County Board meeting on June 12th, of 2013, but we may never really know the truth. (Click here for coverage of that meeting)
Two weeks after that meeting I wrote yet another article outlining all the problems with the actions of this county board, the State’s Attorney, and specifically stated this entire mess will prove to be a problem in the future. (Click here for that article)
Now, 17 months later in today’s county board meeting we finally have confirmation that the money we demanded from day one, that belonged to the county, is in fact going to stay in the county with more to come! Just as we spoke about during numerous county board meetings. $152,000.00 to date and depending on the revenues raised from the auction of the rest of the property, including the real estate, the figure could rise substantially.
You would think after years of complaining about our demands of accountability to the law, you might hear at least one person acknowledge that following the law brought a substantial windfall to the county, but nope, not a word!
Not only did the county’s bottom line go up by $152,000.00 but it was in fact a portion of that money that made them able to make a $50,000.00 payment to IMRF to save interest charges on those underfunded obligations saving as much as 6% in interest.
That equates to no less than $155,000.00 this county was able to use to ensure they were not over budget, paid off some debt, and paid down IMRF obligations. All because of the efforts of two people who simply demanded accountability to the law, and refused to accept the incompetence of its elected officials who were hell bent on giving it away! Why on earth it took such an effort is beyond us, but let this be an example of the importance of following the law!
Additionally, ECWd has secured over $65,000.00 for Clark County for their portion of the proceeds from the dissolution of the East Central Illinois Mass Transit District.
You are Welcome!
.
