County Treasurer Still Waiting for Big Money “Found” by Jack Franks’ Patronage Employees

Back in March, I wondered if the Northwest Herald had been mislead by McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ patronage employee Oliver Serafini.

The Northwest Herald reported on February 24th that $134,000 of county money was lying unclaimed in Springfield and listed on the State Treasurer’s I-CASH web site.

When I asked McHenry County Treasurer Glenda Miller in mid-March if she had received any such money this is how she replied:

Glenda Miller

As for the I-Cash monies…most if not all of these funds are unclaimed funds that were submitted to the State by County Offices per the Unclaimed Property Annual Filing requirements.

For instances, my office submits unclaimed

  • r/e [real estate] refunds
  • jurors
  • disbursing
  • Deposit of Order of Court, and
  • Condemnation that are 7 years or prior

They are not County monies.

Since a couple of months have passed, I thought it was time to check again, so I asked the Treasuer whether any money had been received Franks’ staff’s efforts.

Here’s the update from Miller:

In answer to you question, NO I haven’t gotten any money from the findings.

Actually, I am still waiting for Bridgette [Geenen] to meet with me and she has cancelled three times and haven’t heard anymore for her.


Comments

County Treasurer Still Waiting for Big Money “Found” by Jack Franks’ Patronage Employees — 35 Comments

  1. Even if they did ‘find cash’ that’s not good enough reason for Frank’s illegal hires, and tripling the cost of the office he was elected to!!!!

    Tell him he has to do the job he was elected for and get rid of the lackey’s he hired to do his work, follow him around taking campaign pics and vids etc. DO YOUR JOB YOURSELF, FRANKS!

    Everyone else should cut spending while he TRIPLES his spending??!!

    ENOUGH OF THE GAMES, FRANKS!

    ENOUGH OF THE ROLLING OVER FOR THIS SCHMOOB, COUNTY BOARD!!!

    YOU ALL NEED TO DO YOUR JOBS SO YOU CAN GET ON WITH THE WORK WE PUT YOU IN OFFICE FOR!

    (And YES, I’m shouting!!)

  2. Glenda Miller is like a hound dog in a butcher shop, if there is any money to be found, Glenda will find it.

    She is a prototypical banker and will not spend a dime if she can avoid it.

    We are lucky to have her.

  3. What about all the really big money Franks found to line his padded campaign coffers from corrupt unions; crooked politicos; rotten, miseducating local school superintendents and
    dangerous gay zionists like Fred Eychaner? http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2010/10/19/jack-franks-has-744500-to-play-with/

    Was that Jack Franks on Eychaner’s privat jet before the big gay marriage vote in the house??? Destination: Bermuda

    http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2014/09/16/who-is-the-lefts-shadowy-probable-billionaire/

  4. You have got to be kidding me about Glenda Miller being lucky to have her.

    Talk about clueless in McHenry County.

    What a joke Jim.

    You people have no idea what that office does or does not do or the real work that goes on in McHenry County.

    Get realistic she is about to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on new software that does not even do what the county needs in all areas.

    They have spent countless hours with nothing but a lot of hot air all at the tax payers expense.

  5. Another name for patronage hires is Rutan exempt.

    What documentation can the county HR department provide indicating the Bridget Geenen and Oliver Serafini positions currently and formerly held are Rutan exempt.

    Both were hired into one position and then were to be transferred to another position.

    The Oliver Serafini hire is noteworthy in that half of his funding was to come from the County Transportation Department which was apparently not involved in the hire.

    ++++++++

    Republican Governor Bruce Rauner recently terminated some Illinois Department of Transportation employees who were hired as Rutan exempt, then transferred to union covered positions which were not Rutan exempt.

    Prior to the terminations, apparently such employees were transferred to union covered positions to protect them, a technique that apparently failed.

    Many of those Rutan exempt position were originally hired into the Staff Assistant position, a position that had come under scrutiny.

    IDOT patronage hires to the Staff Assistant position increased under Governor Rod Blagojevich, and increased to an even greater extent under Governor Pat Quinn.

    ++++++++

    The County could publish a list of Rutan exempt positions.

    The listing of State Rutan exempt positions is located in the State of Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal (ITAP).

  6. Northwest Herald

    Simple Search by McHenry County Board Chairman Staff Finds $130,000 in Unclaimed Funds

    by Kevin Craver

    February 24, 2017

    “Franks, D-Marengo, who ran on a platform of reducing the property tax burden and cutting the county budget, said the find is money ‘we now don’t have to take from the taxpayers.’

    ‘Apparently, [the county] hadn’t checked the couch cushions in almost two decades, and when you’re the sixth-largest county in Illinois, a huge amount of change slips out,’ Franks said.”

    “He has instructed county staff to work with the treasurer’s office to recoup the funds.”

    http://www.nwherald.com/2017/02/23/simple-search-by-mchenry-county-board-chairman-staff-finds-130-000-in-unclaimed-funds/awywog0

    ++++++++++++++

    Jack Franks was claiming McHenry County Treasurer’s hadn’t checked the couch cushions in almost two decades?

  7. “County Treasurer Still Waiting for Big Money “Found” by Jack Franks’ Patronage Employees”

    If I were the County Board I wouldn’t be spending any of this ‘Mystery Loot’ just yet.

    Why you ask?

    https://www.lyingjackfranks.com/

  8. I think Chuck Wheeler should ask Mr. Franks how the County is coming along in getting back those missing funds.

    He’s about the only one on the Board with the balls to ask in a public session.

  9. These hires may be committing fraud.

    In order to hold any professional position one needs a clearly defined role, results expected and hours to be worked.

    In a public position, such as the one Bridgett was hired to do, there is an expectation of work to be done.

    If this person has cancelled three meetings it may be presumed she is fantastically busy doing The People’s business.

    An industrious person might find Bridgett and follow her through her fantastically busy day recording her work on behalf of The People to show just how necessary Jackie’s hirelings were for the good of the county.

    Should Bridgett not be found in the county or doing work on behalf of the McHenry County taxpayer she would be committing fraud and she may be charged.

  10. Are we stuck with these hires?

    Were these positions approved at the County Board level?

  11. The State Treasurer’s iCash website lists the following units of McHenry County government as “owner”:

    Owner Name – Reported By – Relationship to Owner – Property ID – Property Type

    Clerk of the Circuit Court of McHenry Co – Hinshaw & Culbertson – Sole Owner – 99918287471 – Vendor Checks

    Mc Henry County Recorder – American Bank & Trust – Payee – 99920603899 – Other Outstanding Official Checks

    Mc Henry County Sheriffs Departmen – Progressive Universal Ins Co – Sole Owner – 99908568916 – Vendor Checks

    Mc Henry County Sheriffs Departmen – Progressive Universal Ins Co – Sole Owner – 99909224437 – Vendor Checks

    McHenry Clerk of Court – Allstate Insurance Co – Sole Owner – 99918720408 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry Co Clerk of Ct Traffic – Montgomery Ward Auto Club – Sole Owner – 99905588946 – Miscellaneous Outstanding Checks

    McHenry Count Clerk of the Court – Allstate Insurance Co – Sole Owner – 99918719543 – Group Policy – Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County – HSBC Financial Corporation – Sole Owner – 99916180629 – Miscellaneous Outsanding Checks

    McHenry County Circuit Clerk – Hinshaw & Culbertson – Sole Owner – 99916652792 – Vendor Checks

    McHenry County Circuit Court – Allstate Fire & Cas – Sole Owner – 99917354718 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County Circuit Court – Allstate Fire & Cas – Sole Owner – 99917354719 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County Clerk – Professional National Title Network – Sole Owner – 99917585252 – Drafts

    McHenry County Clerk – Fidelity National Title Ins Co – Payee – 99918548934 – Funds held in Fiduciary Capacity

    McHenry County Clerk – State Bank of the Lakes – Sole Owner – 99918791559 – Cashier’s Checks

    McHenry County Clerk of Court – Allstate Property & Casualty Ins Co 65 – Sole Owner – 99917347057 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County Clerk of Courts – Allstate Property & Casualty Ins Co 65 – Sole Owner – 99917347062 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County Collector – Fidelity National Title Ins Co – Sole Owner – 99916916906 – Funds held in Fiduciary Capacity

    McHenry County Collector – Citibank N. A. – Sole Owner – 99918464959 – Cashier’s Checks

    McHenry County Collector – Chicago Title Insurance Co – Payee – 99918567151 – Funds held in Fiduciary Capacity

    McHenry County Collector 12 2 – Professional National Title Network – Sole Owner – 99917585253

    McHenry County Ecorders Office – Bank of America North Carolina Hldr 001 – Sole Owner – 99916924873 – Cashier’s Checks

    McHenry County Recorded – First American Title Ins Co – Sole Owner – 99918591715 – Accounts Payable

    McHenry County Recorder – CitiMortgage Inc – Sole Owner – 99917877026 – Escrow Taxes & Insurance

    McHenry County Recorder – FNTG Holdings Inc – Sole Owner – 99918639334 – Miscellaneous Outstanding Checks

    McHenry County Recorder of DE – Fifth Third Bancorp – Sole Owner – 99918501229 – Vendor Checks

    McHenry County Recorder of Deeds – Hinshaw & Culbertson – Sole Owner – 99918287589 – Vendor Checks

    McHenry County Recorder of Deeds – Citizens NA DBA Charter One – Sole Owner – 99918542761 – Other Outstanding Official Checks

    McHenry County Recorder of Deeds – Suntrust Mortgage – Sole Owner – 99918621152 – Other Outstanding Official Checks

    McHenry County Sheriff – Progressive Northern Ins Co – Sole Owner – 99917018948 – Individual Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County Sheriff Dept – Artisan And Truckers Casualty Co – Sole Owner – 99917177628 – Individual Policy Benefits or Claim

    McHenry County Sheriff Police Dept – Progressive Northern Ins Co – Sole Owner – 99917018949 – Individual Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    McHenry County Treasurer – Chicago Title Insurance Co – Sole Owner – 99916911623 – Funds held in Fiduciary Capacity

    McHenry County Treasurer – Fidelity National Title Ins Co – Payee – 99918548935 – Funds held in Fiduciary Capacity

    Vernon W Kays Clerk of McHenry County – Allstate Property & Casualty Ins Co 65 – Sole Owner – 99917349073 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    Vernon W Kays Clerk of McHenry County – Allstate Property & Casulaty Ins Co 65 – Sole Owner – 99917349074 – Group Policy Benefits or Claim Payments

    https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov

    +++++++++

    There may be others.

    The Treasurer’s office does not normalize names of the units of government (use one name per entity…as you can see some words are misspelled).

  12. The County Board has not approved these positions.

    In fact, a resolution that attempted to do so was defeated by two separate committees and the Chairman has declined to advance it to the full Board.

    Board members would need to call for a Special meeting to have it voted upon.

  13. Can the taxpayers do anything to right this wrong in a more immediate manner than voting out Franks, et al, in the next election?

  14. Ricky Ricardo must have his big, fat RINOs mixed up.

    Glenda sure ain’t big or fat!

  15. What can taxpayer do?

    A civil suit must be filed to enforce a statutory $200 per incident per County Board Member fine for failing to enforce County Code.

  16. If there is a claim, it the responsibility of the office who the claim is in the name of to claim it.

    Franks cannot go in and sign for monies not related to the Chairman office, nor can the Brigette sign for the Treasurer’s office.

    Here’s the link – go get it, Glenda. icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/app/claim-search

  17. “Are we stuck with the hires?”

    Not if the County Board would call a special meeting!

    They need to right this wrong against county policies, taxpayers, and employees of the County who themselves were hired through the proper procedures!

  18. So, having gotten the good press, Jack Franks’ minions should not share where they think over a $100,000 lies waiting to be claimed?

  19. This is ridiculous, even for this website.

    Any money submitted to the Treasurer that belongs to another individual or entity is held in their name, otherwise those taxpayers/entities who would own the money would have no way of getting it back.

    Glenda is pissed that she got beat to the punch – plain and simple.

  20. Here’s the link – go get it, Glenda. icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/app/claim-search

  21. Cal,
    You asked for it- Here’s the link – go get it, Glenda. icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/app/claim-search

  22. Glenda,

    You don’t need a meeting to hop on the website and claim the monies.

    Why do we need more time spent when you can just get in this website and claim the money?

    You asked for it- Here’s the link – go get it, Glenda. icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/app/claim-search

  23. An NBC 5 report about iCash aired on February 21, 2017.

    The Northwest Herald article about Jack Franks’ patronage hires “finding” iCash money was February 24th.

    Coincidental?

    ++++++++++++++++

    NBC 5 Chicago

    Billions in Unclaimed Cash Due to Citizens, Businesses and Governments in Illinois

    NBC5 Investigates found piles of cash unclaimed by the governments of Chicago, Cook County, even the state itself – much of it sitting around for decades.

    by Katy Smyser and Phil Rogers

    February 21, 2017

    Includes 3:17 video.

    The video states the Treasurer has been running TV commercials about iCash.

    “The Mayor, the Obama’s, even Oprah and Kanye, all appear to have cash waiting for them.

    So do most towns, counties, even the State itself.”

    http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Billions-in-Unclaimed-Cash-Due-to-Citizens-Businesses-and-Governments-in-Illinois-414435703.html

    +++++++++++++++

    Here is a summary of the County departments listed in the State Treasurer’s iCash website as “Owners”:

    – Clerk of the Circuit Court of McHenry County

    – McHenry County Recorder

    – McHenry County Sheriff’s Department

    – McHenry County Clerk of the Court / McHenry County Circuit Clerk / McHenry County Circuit Court / Vernon Kays Clerk of McHenry County

    – McHenry County Collector

    – McHenry County Recorder / McHenry County Recorder of Deeds

    – McHenry County Treasurer

    Sometimes the names are misspelled, so it is helpful to search in various ways, for instance, by City or Street Address.

    ++++++++++++

    Each County office can search the database, or they can all talk and develop a plan.

    ++++++++++

    Every state has an unclaimed property program.

    The Illinois program has been around since the 1960’s.

    It was previously called “Dash for Cash” or “Cash Dash.”

  24. Glenda,

    You don’t need a meeting to hop on the website and claim the monies.

    Why do we need more time spent when you can just get in this website and claim the money?

    You asked for it- Here’s the link – go get it, Glenda. icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/app/claim-search

    You are welcome

  25. What don’t we understand about the money not belonging to McHenry County?

    The County files reports annually with the State regarding these funds.

    Frank’s people didn’t find anything.

    The County knows it’s there.

    The money belongs to individual tax payers.

    To claim the money as the County’s would be fraudulent and the documents to submit a claim clearly indicate that signing the form knowing you’re not entitled to the money would be committing purgery.

  26. if the county knew the funds were in iCash, why didn’t they redeem them, Sue?

    Food for thought….

  27. Again- because it doesn’t belong to the County.

    It belongs to the people that the County made checks payable to that were not cashed.

    The County files reports with the state and notifies the recipients at the last address on file.

    Just like the banks and other businesses do.

    It’s called following the law.

    Cal – can we get a box of crayons so we can draw pictures?

    Maybe Moderate will get it with pictures.

  28. So Cal wrote a bogus post about funds now redeemable by Glenda or Sue is wrong.

    Which is it?

  29. Just email the URL of this article to the elected officials to be sure they are aware of the unclaimed property.

    – McHenry County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Katherine Keefe

    – McHenry County Recorder, Joe Tirio

    – McHenry County Sheriff’s Department, Bill Prim

    – McHenry County Clerk, Mary McClellan

    – McHenry County Treasurer, Glenda Miller

    ++++++++

    Sure is a coincidence the NBC 5 investigative report came out 2 days before the Northwest Herald article about the state holding unclaimed property for citizens, local government, and state government.

    No mention of the NBC 5 investigative report in the Northwest Herald article.

  30. Sue,
    Are you going to again claim it is not the responsibility of the elected officials to claim the iCash money?

    Mark and I seem to think so….

  31. Yes Moderate. Try to understand since I didn’t bring my crayons and Cal doesn’t have a crayon option yet.

    The Circuit Clerk refunds a persons bond money and that check doesn’t get cashed. The Cleek notifies the state and it becomes unclaimed money. It’s not the County’s. it belongs to the person that didn’t cash the check.

    Taxes are over paid on a piece of property and the Treasurer issues a refund. The check isn’t cashed. The Treasurer notifies the state and it becomes unclaimed money. It’s not the County’s. it belongs to the person that didn’t cash the check.

    A former employee doesn’t cash a reimbursement check or a payroll check. The Auditor notifies the state and it becomes unclaimed money. It’s not the County’s. it belongs to the person that didn’t cash the check.

    It’s just like if a bank closes your account and sends you a check for the balance or you close a credit card with a credit balance and they send ou a check. If you don’t cash it, it’s not the their money. They notify the state and it becomes unclaimed money. It’s illegal for them to keep money that isn’t theirs.

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