Algonquin Township – Private vehicles on Township I-PASS account

McHenry Co. (ECWd) –

While reading court records, we found allegations of former Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller having accessed the I-PASS account in October of 2017 and making changes to the account as well as having used the I-PASS system for personal vehicles.

A Freedom of Information Request to the Illinois Tollway Authority provided us with some rather interesting documents.  For starters, the claim by Karen Lukasik that Bob Miller did nothing illegal, appears to hold water about as well as a stainless steel colander.

Records reflect at least five private vehicles were listed on the Township’s I-PASS account and one just happens to be a red Corvette.  Hey Mr. Miller, do you drive a red Corvette?  So far the only confirmation that he does comes from several local citizens, so for now, it’s hearsay that the particular red Corvette on the I-PASS system is his. We have FOIA’d the Secretary of State for the identity of the vehicle owners.

What we do know, while under Bob Miller’s control, the taxpayers of Algonquin Township appear to have been on the hook for toll expense for numerous private vehicles.  The BMG603 plate appears to have been used on several vehicles according to the records.

• 7379126 – Chevy Corvette 2004
• 82377S – Ford F-250 Truck – B-Plates- 2005
• BMG603 – Pontiac passenger car – 1998
• BMG603 – Chevy Suburban – 2002
• BMG603 – Cadilac Escalade -2004
• BMG603 – Acura MDX – 2011
• G234707 – Chevy Suburban – 2002
• 5340 XM – Dodge 2500 Ram – 1999

Of special interest is the fact Miller contacted I-PASS October 29th, 2017, well after leaving office.  It appears the Toll authority removed four vehicles from the Township account and placed them into a new account, which we can only assume is his personal account.  The license plates for those removed from the Township account are as follows:

• BMG603 -Acura MDX
  
• 220766 – B-Truck 2 axles
  
• 823775 -Ford F-250 Truck
  
• 7379126 -Chevy Corvette

See page 24 and 25 of the response from Illinois Toll Authority.  All indications are those four vehicles removed from the Township account were placed in another account at the direction of Bob Miller, thus we can assume he is responsible for those vehicles.

The record clearly reflects private vehicles were placed on the Township account formerly under the control of Bob Miller, the former Highway Commissioner for Algonquin Township.  Miller was also the past president of the Township Officials of Illinois who operates as an Association to provide guidance to Township Officials through their training seminars.  I guess Miller missed some important training seminars.

What authority did Bob Miller have to access an account for the Township 6 months after he was out of office?  What triggered his actions of October 29th, 2017?  Was it receipt of key court documents that exposed the allegation of I-PASS use for private vehicles, found in this document at page 12.  Although that document is dated October 30th, 2017, is it possible he caught wind of what was being prepared prior to that and took steps to remove those vehicles?

Lots of questions for law enforcement to get to the bottom of pertaining to who is responsible for private vehicles on a public I-PASS account.

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