Fraud And East Dundee’s Home Rule Status

A press release from State Rep. Allen Skillicon:

Rep. Skillicorn Accuses East Dundee of Covering Up Financial Fraud

After receiving delays and denials to Open Records requests from the Village of East Dundee, I have grown convinced that something is seriously wrong, and questions need to be asked.

Since the Chicago Tribune-Courier News report, “Officials: East Dundee finances on road to recovery” (http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-east-dundee-finances-st-1108-20171107-story.html) back in November, I have been making inquiries of my own.

In the article, the Courier reported on “financial irregularities” that occurred under former Administrator Bob Skurla’s watch.

Here are a few of the more disturbing quotes:

  • “East Dundee is taking steps to offset financial irregularities that include overstated revenue, excessive spending and a lack of budgetary controls, East Dundee Village President Lael Miller said….”
  • “‘There were several things that raised my eyebrows,” Miller said.
  • “There were several problems that I would categorize as accounting issues,” Miller said.
  • “The way some monies were accounted for was not exactly clear.”
  • “He [Miller] then met with Village Administrator Jennifer Johnsen and Finance Director Zaida Torres, who raised their own concerns.”
  • “There were some spending patterns and other items the board wasn’t aware of,” Miller said.

What in the world is going on in East Dundee and why hasn’t the former Administrator, Bob Skurla, been prosecuted?

If wrongdoing has taken place and the Village doesn’t prosecute, they won’t be able to access municipal insurance for restitution which would be a monumental failure of their fiduciary duty to taxpayers.

In addition, if Skurla is found guilty, his pension should be taken away.

Allen Skillicorn

If that isn’t disturbing enough, in a conversation I had with the current Village Administrator, Jennifer Johnsen–who was fired from her previous position with Campton Hills in 2016 for alleged Open Meetings Act issues–she stated that Skurla kept “two sets of books” and misrepresented finances with the board.

Administrator Johnsen blamed Skurla for the $33 Million in debt according to the 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (if police pension debt is included, the Village of East Dundee population 3182, has over $40 Million of debt).

The specter of Dixon, Illinois’ Rita Crundwell $54M financial fraud is rising as a pattern of obstruction from the Village of East Dundee is growing. Timeline of my personal investigation:

  •  November 2017 – The Chicago Tribune-Courier News article first exposed the fraud allegations
  • December 2017 – My conversation with Village Administrator Jennifer Johnsen where she blames the $33 Million in debt and financial fraud on Bob Skurla.
  • January and February 2018 Open Meetings Act violations by the village (being investigated by the IL Attorney General).
  • February Freedom 2018 of Information requests being denied because emails between Bob Skurla and Trustees were deleted.
  • March 2018 Freedom of Information requests being delayed and denied looking for evidence between East Dundee Finance Director Torres and Administrator Johnsen. These denials are being investigated by the IL Attorney General.

I have asked for and received notice that the Attorney General’s Office is investigating the denial of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

There is also an Open Meetings Act (OMA) violation that is being pursued.

Our democracy depends on public servants who act with integrity and hold transparency in the highest regard along with a press that will hold them accountable.

Again, I have to ask, what is going on in East Dundee and what are they trying to hide?


Comments

Fraud And East Dundee’s Home Rule Status — 5 Comments

  1. I’m curious. Why didn’t Mr. Skillicorn raise any of these “issues” when he was an East Dundee Trustee? He was a trustee for six years, but we heard nary a peep. Could he just be trying to salvage a very tainted political reputation? That’t my bet.

  2. What is going on with Allen Skillkorn and what does he have to hide? Why doesn’t he answer for his voting record while he was an East Dundee Village Trustee? Why was it ok for him to vote to increase East Dundee’s debt then but he wants to talk about how destructive the debt is now? Why didn’t he do anything to call out Skurla at the time they were working together? Why is he, as a self professed tax payer advocate, running a campaign to raise my property taxes $1200 a year? Why does he block his constituents from his government social media pages?

  3. Well, Scott, allen sillycorn is much like antiAmerican joey, one and done walsh. allen hasn’t had an original idea in his life. His political model is based on throwing out bs and see what sticks. loser just like our blog host.

  4. Sillykorn doesn’t represent people, just himself. He’s got a fluffy opinionated vision of himself, while his public persona is that of a tantrum loving toddler. He’s a joke to his constituents, who should never have gotten elected.

  5. “I have asked for and received notice that the Attorney General’s Office is investigating the denial of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. There is also an Open Meetings Act (OMA) violation that is being pursued. Our democracy depends on public servants who act with integrity and hold transparency in the highest regard along with a press that will hold them accountable. Again, I have to ask, what is going on in East Dundee and what are they trying to hide?” – Allen Skillicorn

    While Allen Skillicorn lacks substance and character, he is at least consistent in his methods. His M.O. since his days as a Trustee in East Dundee has been to “work the system” via negative and misleading releases in the days before elections. This is no different. To address Skillicorn’s statements:

    1. Yes, I agree that our democracy depends on public servants who act with integrity and hold transparency in the highest regard–which is why Allen Skillicorn is not the public servant our community needs or deserves. Since his days as a trustee, and now in connection with the Home Rule issue, Skillicorn has relied on negative anonymous mailers, repeatedly presented false and misleading information, lied about his voting record, and used a host of other underhanded tactics to achieve his self-centered goals. He knows that his allegations about violations of FOIA and the Open Meetings Act are baseless and will be dismissed, but he doesn’t care. He just needs to create doubt in the minds of the voters on the eve of an election. DO NOT be confused by Skillicorn’s tactics.

    2. As regards the allegations of Open Meetings Act violations: the Village has reviewed these allegations with the village attorney and is confident that the Village did not violate the Open Meetings Act in any way. Anyone can file a complaint, regardless of the merits of the complaint. Skillicorn has not filed his complaint to be a public servant, but rather to serve his one personal political agenda.

    3. As regards the allegations of FOIA violations: The Village has at all times fully-complied with the provisions of FOIA. Skillicorn’s inability to receive documents is because he has refused to provide the Village with a search word or topic regarding his FOIA for all emails between Village personnel over a seven month period.

    It is unfortunate that Representative Skillicorn has chosen to serve himself rather than his neighbors in East Dundee– over and over again. He has shown us exactly who he is, and it is now time for East Dundee to show Skillicorn exactly who WE are. Do not fall prey to his tactics. Tell Skillicorn that his brand of dirty politics doesn’t work in East Dundee. Vote NO and SAVE HOME RULE on March 20th!!!!!

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