County Auditor Pam Palmer Echoes County Board on FOI Denial of Special Prosecutor’s Bill

Saturday afternoon at the Nunda Township Republican Picnic, I asked McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer if she had gotten the Freedom of Information request that I sent just before closing.

The two women you can see clearly in the chow line are McHenry County College Board member and County Board candidate Donna Kurtz and McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer.

She was on top it.

She said she didn’t have any bills that Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan had submitted, but did have the court order.

So, I expected to receive a copy of the court order that had been denied by the County Board.

But I didn’t.

Here’s Palmer reply:

Per your Freedom of Information Request received by my office on Friday, September 24, 2010, specifically requesting all “documents submitted to justify any payments to Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan, his staff and consultants”,  I am denying this information request based upon the following:

Reason for denial:  All documents requested are subject to the ongoing investigation exemption and the case seal.

Statutory Reference for Exemption Claimed:  Freedom of Information Act 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(c)(viii)

I’ll give her credit for promptness in her reply.  Less than one working day.

But, our County Board and our County Auditor are unwilling to show us how much documentation was received that resulted in the payment of tens of thousands of dollars to lawyers and, presumably, their consultants.

Having spent more of my life income on attorneys’ fees than any other category, I can tell you I have never paid a legal bill that was not itemized.

Wouldn’t you think someone in county government would realize that the days of

Trust me

went out with Jimmy Carter’s failed presidency?

We are even past the

Trust, but verify

approach of President Ronald Reagan.

Today, we should be verifying before we pay.

And trusting taxpayers enough to show them what the bill is for beyond the indictments issued by the grand jury…which is still in session.


Comments

County Auditor Pam Palmer Echoes County Board on FOI Denial of Special Prosecutor’s Bill — 2 Comments

  1. There is no valid reason for not providing the billings in response to your FOIA Request.

    What are they hiding?

    Unless the legal bills are being investigated on an on-going basis? Having topped $100,000, maybe they are.

    But didn’t I read that the County Board coughed up another $100,000 to keep the night lights burning?

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