Shelby County – Chairman Bruce Cannon embarrassed – Now seeking to “legally” hire Ed Flynn – Admission hiring was illegal?

Shelby Co., IL. (ECWd) –

As the Shelby County Board tries to figure out their next move in their effort to pay a private attorney hired in violation of the law, improperly closed session discussions included an interesting admission from County Board Chairman Bruce Cannon.

“I haven’t talked to Ed since this began, I’m frankly, I’m embarrassed”

Making a mistake is no reason to be embarrassed, however, refusing to follow the law is.  The Board continues to seek ways to force the Treasurer to pay the bill of the Attorney, even though there are now two lawsuits pending that will eventually rule on that issue.

Part of the improper discussion included a comment by Chairman Cannon indicating they need to “legally” hire Ed Flynn.  Such a statement appears to be an acknowledgment he was hired illegally, otherwise, there would be no need to hire him “legally”.

Ed Flynn has sued the County and Treasurer for payment of his invoices, however, with such a statement from the County Chairman being on record it will surely throw yet another wrench into Flynn’s efforts to be paid.

Several other comments confirm that Cannon has absolutely no clue what he is doing.

He wants the County to hire Flynn legally yet no such hiring can be legal.  Only the State’s Attorney can hire an attorney for legal services.

He wants a resolution created for that hiring, again failing to accept the fact it is not an action the County Board can take, whether in a resolution or any other fashion.

While the law is crystal clear on the limited avenues a State’s Attorney can hire an attorney, it’s also crystal clear Cannon is not reading the law on the matter.

Much like prior discussions we exposed, this recording also continues with attacks and lies about the current County Treasurer, Erica Firnhaber.

Cannon claims the Personal Director, which is the Treasurer, has drawn two lawsuits.  That is not true.  While Ed Flynn has named the Treasurer in his suit against the County, there is no other lawsuit naming her.  While the County is facing two suits related to Ed Flynn, the second suit was brought by a future County Board member that beat Bruce Cannon in the primary, 77 to 23.

Additional comments by Cannon had to be corrected by the County Clerk who stated Cannon’s statements about the Treasurer were not true.

Discussions that should concern every taxpayer is the way taxpayer money is being given away for compensation for time not worked.  It sounds like the County paid people for not working during the COVID-19 shutdown, which should not have happened as that is what unemployment is for, and now those department heads are giving ‘comp’ time to those who did work since they did not get paid time off like others.

They confirm these people have not been disadvantaged and such payments are not in their contract.  Such payments could well bring yet another lawsuit from a taxpayer.

Stay tuned for exposure of more closed session discussions.