CARLINVILLE, IL. (ECWd) –
Just when I thought nothing could top last nights meeting which was one of the most unprofessional meetings I had ever attended, and all at the hands of Mayor Deanna Demuzio, and both the city attorney and the attorney for the electoral board/TIF District (who blamed distrust of city gov’t on other trustees instead of the Mayor and attorneys where it belongs) – more on this meeting in a later article to more fully explain the lies spewed out by the attorneys.
The city decided to try and hide their credit cards from the prying eyes of the public – to keep you from knowing what they have been spending your money on.
What did they purchase that they do not want you to find out about?
I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for copies of 6 month’s worth of credit card and cell phone bills, proof of Open Meetings and FOIA training of those requiring it, and City Council Meeting Minutes. I was once again unlawfully determined to be a “commercial requester” even though the state law provides for the very exemption I claimed in the FOIA request.
It is my firm opinion that something bad has been happening with the financials of the City of Carlinville and Mayor Demuzio, along with the Clerk and attorney, are doing whatever they can to keep from releasing any information until after the election.
You and I have a right to know how your tax money is spent, and you would think a former State Senator would also know – but maybe that’s why she lost her bid at that election.
This is a violation of the Freedom Of Information Act and cannot be tolerated. As a result, more of your tax money will be spent on attorneys to defend this indefensible decision of theirs. It is their choice to keep these credit card bills secret in violation of law, and they will use your money to help them delay producing these records.
I will get the records, and you will pay the attorney bills placed on you by these “public” officials who are doing everything they can to protect their jobs instead of doing the rights thing.
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7 Comments
Jody Reichmann
Posted at 10:31h, 24 MarchIt was brought to my attention yesterday of your recent FB post expressing your concern and “firm opinion” that “something bad has been happening with the city financials”, and specifically that Mayor Demuzio is hiding credit card bills. Well now, Mr. Edgar County Watchdog, you are infringing on my reputation as the Treasurer of Carlinville. Mayor Demuzio has nothing to do with the monthly payment of bills, that is MY job. Every credit card bill is gone over ITEM BY ITEM with corresponding receipts attached that have been turned in during the month.The mayor is the least user of the general fund credit card, and except for the annual allotment of the mayor buying candy to be thrown out during our Halloween parade, I really don’t know when the mayor has last used the credit card. And before you jump on your FB page and quickly write another article about the mayor spending taxpayers money on candy, the candy purchase is approved every year by the city council. So let me assure you again, there is not one credit card bill missing from its appropriate file folder, ALL are present and accounted for. Also, just for total clarification, the credit card bills, along with every other bill the city pays, are gone over every month by the city council. If they have a question about a charge, they can ask, although with receipts being attached, the charges are usually pretty much self explanatory. Considering you sent the FOIA request for these credit card statements on Saturday, March 18 and the day you jumped on FB to give your “firm opinion” on the hiding of credit card statements was March 21, you are not even giving the allowed 5 business days for your FOIA to be answered and proof that your “firm opinion” is totally and absurdly ridiculous. Again, your statement is accusing me of wrong doing, and I will not be accused of something that is simply not true, just so publications like yours can continue to stir the pot and keep you working for another day. Jody Reichmann, Treasurer City of Carlinville
jmkraft
Posted at 10:50h, 24 MarchMs. Carlinville Treasurer: Our answer is here: http://3.133.133.226/2017/03/carlinville-treasurer-jodi-reichmann-posts-false-information-in-comment/
Tony Bologna
Posted at 16:32h, 22 MarchMayor Greg Davis of Southaven Mississippi, and his credit card bills.
Just saying!
jannie
Posted at 14:04h, 21 Marchkeep digging.
Warren J. Le Fever
Posted at 13:58h, 21 MarchThe key question is: Once you find out all the monetary wrong doing, CAN YOU GET ANYONE (ANY RESIDENT WILL DO)TO PRESS CHARGES and LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WILL actually ARREST???
Danni Smith
Posted at 11:29h, 21 MarchJust one more of the hundreds of reasons, all related to corruption, why Illinois is the Land of Leavin’.
Madison Black
Posted at 11:00h, 21 MarchInteresting, the mayor already has a law
firm involved. That should tell you
something from the start. This is sort of the way the investigation with Auditor General Mautino began. My advice. Keep digging with the Mayor and don’t let a lawyer scare you off.