McHenry Co. (ECWd) –
With ongoing criminal investigations, lawsuits that involve unfulfilled requests for records, and reports of record destruction by Township officials, we have to admit we never thought we would find what we found today.
We first exposed the record destruction issue in Algonquin Township in December of 2017 in this article. What is important to note is the fact the Local Records Commission’s response to our FOIA reflected no Certificates of Destruction for Algonquin Township, meaning they have not been given the authorization to destroy records. The document provided is a record disposition approval from 1978. Once a disposition is approved, a certificate for destruction must be requested and issued prior to actual destruction. The state had no Certificates of Destruction.
Is someone lying?
Recently obtained Township Minutes dated June 11, 2014, reflects a much different tail than the one provided by the Secretary of State’s Local Records Commission.
According to the minutes, former Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner, Bob Miller, informed the board of two very interesting things during that meeting. The first item dealt with records destruction and it appears clear, either Miller lied to the Township Board or the Secretary of State Local Records Commission lied to us?
- “The Township received a Certificate of Destruction for the shredding event held June 6th.”
Really?
How is it that the state had no such record of issuing Certificates of Destruction yet Miller claims they received them?
Now for the mind-blowing revolution
- “Six tons of paper was shredded.”
Yes, six-tons of paper, 12,000lbs!
One can only wonder what incriminating evidence was destroyed that day. Of interest is the fact it was Miller providing this update to the Board and not the keeper of the records, the Township Clerk, now current Township Supervisor Charles Lutzow.
How do that many records get destroyed without any input from the keeper of those records?
For those that are not aware, it can be a felony to destroy public records.
(50 ILCS 205/4) Sec. 4. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section, all public records made or received by, or under the authority of, or coming into the custody, control or possession of any officer or agency shall not be mutilated, destroyed, transferred, removed or otherwise damaged or disposed of, in whole or in part, except as provided by law. Any person who knowingly, without lawful authority and with the intent to defraud any party, public officer, or entity, alters, destroys, defaces, removes, or conceals any public record commits a Class 4 felony.
And for those that will try to say there is no evidence these were public records, can you provide a reason why Miller would claim to have a certificate of destruction, an item not needed for non-public records?
Don’t take our word for it. Read the minutes for yourself by downloading them at this link or view below.
2014.06.JUNE (002).
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8 Comments
Mike
Posted at 10:57h, 26 SeptemberThere are 3 types of services offered by shredding companies: rotation service (locked bin that is shredded monthly or whenever scheduled), One-time service – requested service to shred by the lbs, box or bin at set rates, and finally shredding event – used when you don’t know how much will be shredded and need 2-4 hours at a rented rate for people to show up. One shred truck can hold 400 standard boxes (each weigh up to 30lbs). Takes 2 hours to fill a truck, An average 4 hour event with 100 people averaging 4 boxes per person would make the most sense. It would make no sense to have 400 boxes shredded by the hourly rate.
Just FYI – a certificate of destruction is created automatically in all cases – the software creates it based on the order and emails it once the job is closed – I would only be shocked if someone didn’t have a COD.
Legal Eagle
Posted at 05:00h, 26 SeptemberYou people realize that’s the “shredding event” referenced in the June 2014 minutes was a public shredding event, right? The Township holds those events periodically as do other townships In the area. Do some simple research before getting your panties in a bunch next time. Or don’t, and continue to write fake news articles which make you look foolish.
jmkraft
Posted at 08:27h, 26 SeptemberThe meeting minutes are the public record used. No mention of a “public shredding event” and as people who look towards the statute to figure out if it is permissible for a local public body to do something, we find the statute lacking on any public purpose for expending taxpayer funds on a “shredding event” that would be open to the public.
So you should look towards the Township’s meeting minutes and shout “fake minutes” instead of falsely claiming “fake news” for reporting exactly what the minutes reflect.
Michael Tauler
Posted at 18:29h, 25 SeptemberOr you know it was just one of those events that the township has where citizens can bring documents to be shredded….
Like this one:
https://www.algonquintownship.com/event/shredding-event/
That happened April 14th 2018.
Or this one:
https://www.facebook.com/events/448973062206873/
in McHenry Township
Or this one:
https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/Home/Components/News/News/10623/17
from the McHenry County Department of Health
It is standard practice when a document destruction company does a shredding event to provide a certificate, and then that certificate SHOULD be presented to the board so it becomes public record and the citizens are aware that the documents they brought to the event were destroyed as promised.
Are you aware of what a begging the question fallacy is?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question
Jack
Posted at 14:52h, 25 SeptemberThis is going to happen at DuPage Township unless someone acts quickly. There have already been secret meetings the new IT company. Reports being changed.
Rick Parry
Posted at 11:30h, 25 SeptemberOoops!
Robert O. Bogue
Posted at 08:06h, 25 SeptemberHoly Cow, how does that happen? The brazen audacity; the destruction of pubic records and where is law enforcement? The Certificate of Destruction alleged to exist, is now a public record. Where is it? Should Illinois residents no longer expect the criminal activity of public officials to be punished by arrest and conviction? I say, Illinois public officials “in charge” need to just follow the law and LOCK HIM UP.
jannie
Posted at 07:37h, 25 SeptemberNothing surprises me anymore!