Edgar Co., IL. (ECWd) –
According to records obtained thru the Freedom Of Information Act, County Board Members Mike Heltsley and Alan Zuber have received payments in excess of their compensation as set by the County Board on November 23, 2011.
Mike Heltsley violated law and received an additional $844.00 in 2014, and additional $476.70 in 2013.
Alan Zuber violated law and received an additional $844.00 in 2014 and an additional $476.70 in 2013.
It is well documented that a County Board Member can only receive compensation at the rate set by the board at least 180 days prior to an election.
The Edgar County Board set the compensation of county board members in November of 2011, and set it at $1200/year, plus $50/meeting, plus mileage. Nothing else was listed except for a stipend for the Chairman.
The Illinois Constitution states that compensation shall not be increased or decreased during a term of office.
The Counties Code, Section 3-10001, states that the county board must set the compensation.
The Illinois Code of Civil Procedure states that if anyone receives funds in excess of what they are legally authorized to receive, it must be repaid in full.
The Illinois False Claims Act authorizes treble damages.
Together, Heltsley and Zuber have shafted the Edgar County taxpayers out of $2,640.20 in the past two years. I understand they are poised to receive another payment of at least $844.00 each before the end of this year bringing the grand total of ill-gotten gains to at least $4,328.20.
For argument’s sake:
Additionally, these payments represent an increase in compensation during their term of office (although all amounts violated the law). In 2013 the rate for opt-out was $500/year plus $30/mo for Oct and Nov – in 2014 the rate for opt-out was $500/year plus $30/mo. – this represents an increase of $344.00 per year (see the Constitution). So, even if, for the sake of argument, they had been authorized to receive the opt-out (which they are not authorized to receive), the rate was increased during their term of office creating a Constitutional violation as well.
I tried to contact Alan Zuber for a comment, did not receive a response.
The question of the day is: “Will the Edgar County State’s Attorney, Mark Isaf, act to recover these funds and prevent future unauthorized payments?”
Answer: – Highly unlikely – he is also receiving them and will be featured in a future article.
There are more, and future articles will report on them.
