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.
9 Comments
Lisa Hill
Posted at 13:08h, 22 OctoberWe are talking about Edgar county, are you really surprised?
Peg Bailey
Posted at 16:56h, 22 OctoberThis is happening in other counties so my question is this – if the States Attorney will not take action can a group of taxpayers file a complaint for official misconduct against the board or council that is allowing this to happen? What are options for taxpayers if they are fed up with this entitlement attitude?
Kelly
Posted at 12:30h, 25 OctoberAre these elected positions?
jmkraft
Posted at 12:44h, 25 OctoberYes.
Robert O. Bogue
Posted at 06:39h, 23 OctoberOF these two, and in at least Heltsleys case this isn’t the first time he’s been caught sticking it to the Edgar County Taxpayers. He was in attendance at the December 6th, 2013 Edgar County Airport Advisory Board/County Board Committee meeting along with Daniel Brunner, Karl E. Farnham, Ben Jenness and Jeffery Voigt. That meeting; was determined to be an illegally held meeting by the Illinois Attorney General.
Heltsley along with the board members noted: have repeatedly refuse to return the funds they claimed and received for this meeting. Flat out refused, and they’ve been asked. So insurance premiums or benefits or cash for insurance really aren’t a big deal to him.
So, yes, Heltsley doesn’t have a problem with sticking it to the Edgar County Taxpayers, AND his record demonstrates, that he believes the Edgar County Taxpayers want to pay for his illegal activities.
AND these examples show that Heltsley isn’t concerned with spending taxpayer money or increasing real estate taxes, county debt or other, particularly when it comes to paying for his personal illegal activity or for his personal benefit. He has no regard for Edgar County Taxpayers and no regard for the law.
Barney Fife needs to return the money….
Watchdog watcher
Posted at 18:02h, 25 OctoberSpeaking of sticking it to taxpayers…. Did you get caught up on your property taxes John? Or will that be a future story?
jmkraft
Posted at 18:29h, 25 OctoberNo. At least you are finally paying attention. But I will write about it when I sue the mortgage company for not paying the taxes when they were due. That’s what escrow accounts are for.
Watchdog watcher
Posted at 21:35h, 25 OctoberI always pay attention….your track record with lawsuits isn’t good.
jmkraft
Posted at 22:39h, 25 OctoberWhy do you say that? We haven’t lost one yet.