SULLIVAN, IL. (ECWd) –
The Moultrie County Inter-Agency Council, Inc. has been dissolved for 16 years, and is apparently still operating. They recently sent a letter to the Moultrie County Board asking for a donation.
The Moultrie County Board voted last night to “donate” $500.00 to the “Moultrie County Inter-Agency Council” – an alleged not-for-profit who has been dissolved and unable to legally operate in Illinois since November 15, 2002, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s corporate registration database.
This dissolution was voluntary, meaning someone in the organization filed the paperwork to dissolve it in 2002.
I could find no contact information, no address, no other information on this alleged “Council” – so there is absolutely no way to figure out what they do or if they think they still exist.
Why are they still operating? What other public bodies have gifted tax money over to them without statutory authority to do so?
After talking with the County Board Chairman, he stated that he would look into the MCIAC legal status and also look into the question of whether a county board could donate to a nonprofit.
We encourage all County Boards, and all public bodies, prior to donating any public funds, to first determine under what statutory authority they have to make such donations, and second, if the organization they are donating to is a legitimate organization properly registered to conduct business in the state of Illinois.
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6 Comments
Brett Weir
Posted at 16:56h, 16 OctoberLets see the letter that was sent asking for the money!
Did someone sign it, or maybe it was an anonymous request?
IDK but seems like at least on person on the Moultrie County Board must have been pushing for this request since it was approved. So, a look at the minutes after they are approved should be interesting.
They do have board minutes, don’t they?
jannie
Posted at 08:23h, 15 OctoberDon’t these Board members ask questions when things like this are brought up – Board members have some responsibility to question things. And, don’t they have a lawyer at the meetings?
Danni Smith
Posted at 13:35h, 14 Octoberclaw it back, board. it can be done. Do it, you guardians of the public trust. Get that cancelled check. I tell you where to start as you are obviously limited-very.
Citizens for Government Accountability
Posted at 14:58h, 12 OctoberI don’t think anyone donated to a charitable cause – that’s the whole point – in my opinion. If the entity didn’t reorganize as another 501c3, under a different name, etc., (which I highly doubt) then someone made off with an easy $500.00 to use for who knows what, with full approval of the county board. Also, it appears by the info in the story that the county board chairman completely dodged the most serious of the underlying issues which include 1- how the hell does the chairman and the board not know the status of an entity to which they are donating? Me thinks they know very well the status. 2 – Why was there no background, foundation or reason provided in discussion to be memorialized in the minutes to justify same? This transaction reeks, and it merits an independent investigation by an outside agency – one which is free from the influences of good ol boy county politics and the associated back scratching.
Elizabeth Gruber
Posted at 13:09h, 12 OctoberYou have got to be kidding. Who suggested donating to a defunct organization? Did someone need some extra cash and bingo this group will give them some with no investigation or knowledge as to “why”?
Dave
Posted at 12:49h, 12 OctoberWow, just when you think you heard it all. Forcing taxpayers to donate to a charitable cause they may not support is immoral. No governmental body should be making a donation to any charity…. never ever! Its not within government’s pervue to donate taxpayer’s money.