The following is from a comment on McHenry County Blog. Kirk Allen of Illinois Leaks (Edgar County Watchdogs) replies to criticism levied at him and Illinois Leaks’ publications.
Kirk Allen of Illinois Leaks addressing the McHenry County Board.
If people want a discussion, then please let’s have one but if this is going to turn into a bunch of mud slinging without back up I am not going to engage.
Below are my comments to questions raised and statements made.
Nob:
It was unethical of Gasser to give the Dog’s the video
– Gasser did not provide the video.
Stephen Pokorny :
“they are picking on me.”
– has nothing to do with any concerns of being picked on nor was that the point being made in the article.
It deals with well-established law on publication of information related to government.
Pentagon papers were stolen.
They ended up in the hands of the paper.
Those papers were top secret yet our courts made it very clear, the freedom of the press is sacred and as long as they were not a party to the theft of those records, they can publish.
The video is no different.
“Does not the court order say ”a protective order is entered that no distribution of the information will be made outside of this litigation unless given leave by the court?”
– Yes, it does say that, and that has nothing to do with the Township trying to have a video removed from our YouTube account.
That court order DOES NOT apply to us or anyone else that copies it and shares it online.
It applies to the parties in the case.
John has all the details that reflect the court order was on the subject of the video in the basement, not the one in the office but unless people have read the transcripts they would not have that information.
Did you receive a letter requesting that you not publish or distribute the video?
– NO we did not.
How actually is he trying to censor you?
– By attempting to have material we have legally published removed. That was his attempt at censoring our publication.
This went to You tube.
– Yes it did.
It’s always about you guys.
– This is about a free press, not just us.
Why no talk about Compass Minerals threatening litigation for not receiving payment for the “expensive salt”?
– Be happy to but understand the litigation for not paying is going to be against the Township, not the Road District as he submitted the bill and the trustee and Supervisor refused to pay it.
Now it is on them and case law supports that.
I received those records last week and reading the entire chain of communications it appears the Township may be facing an emergency order to pay the bill, which is a proper invoice.
Sorry, we did not get to things as fast as you think we should.
Looking at the chain of emails it appears the Peterbilt bill is going to be the bigger story.
It takes time and the Townships games have cost more money on that one as well.
They are looking for full payment.
– They are entitled to full payment and late fees under the prompt payment act.
Kirk told us this was all just BS and was rectified in past blogs.
– I did not say it was BS.
What was rectified was the failure to bid.
What is a lie is the NWH reporting salt was “purchased” without bidding.
That is not true.
The analysis we provided was based on a substantial amount of legal research and so far numerous attorney’s have agreed with that research.
What part of the research do you disagree with?
Doesn’t seem to be true now does it?
– What doesn’t seem to be true? You need to be specific and not speak in such general fashion as we have no clue what you’re pointing to as not being true.
What about the legal fees to rectify this if you are interested in wasting money on legal fees?
– I have said they should pay the bill to avoid legal fees. I have also said this will be a Township problem as they pay the bills not the Road District. Even Gooch said the Road District has no power to pay bills so who’s problem is this now?
But then it must be quid pro quo for receiving a copy of the video in the first place.
– What must be a quid pro quo? We have never operated on any quid pro quo for any of our work.
We’ll just excuse Gasser for incompetence costing the taxpayers money.
– You say excuse when in reality, all the legal research we have done on this type of thing the courts are pretty clear.
If you don’t like the performance of an official you have a vote.
His screw up cost the taxpayers money.
Board members screw-ups cost the taxpayers money.
Hell, the government in general costs the taxpayers’ money.
Unless it rises to the level of criminal, there is nothing that can be done except expose it and vote them out.
How much did salt cost us in 2017?
– $57.37 a ton.
I do have some Miller numbers that show he paid even more in the past.
He paid $131.90 a ton in 2009 on one of three purchases.
Combining all three they paid an average of $126.47 a ton and while we are still trying to confirm, it is being claimed by past employees that it was not bid out.
If it was bid out, great, he bid it out.
If not, then it’s another example of failing to follow the law.
That subjects him to scrutiny, just like Gasser and a proper evaluation to determine if it rises to the level of criminal.
Did he bid it or not then?
– No, he did not bid it out in 2017, however it was purchased at a bid price, which was obtained by Miller and the company provided it at that bid price from that contract done by miller. He paid $57.37 a ton that year. We are working on getting the contract.
You only pick and choose what you want to report.
– Are you suggesting we should have someone else make the determination as to what we report?
We actually do have a priority list we work from on numerous projects and Algonquin is not our only project.
I understand it is easy to sit back and take such a position when there is something you want reported but just because we don’t report what you think we should does not mean we are ignoring it for some ulterior motive as some have insinuated.
For example, there is some things reported by other folks that does not justify us repeating them unless they are so off base that they need to be exposed for failing to disclose key points.
With that in mind, we publish what we know and can prove.
From that, some say we failed to report this or that, failing to understand or accept we may not have had that information for numerous reasons.
Every article leads to more tips that expand the story and we do our best to keep telling it.
Never all the facts.
– Easy to say but not exactly a standard anyone can meet in this type of exposure.
Even the best of the best in journalism never have all the facts.
They have most and may even think they have all but more often than not, after they publish, there is more information that trickles in that expands the story.
Sometimes its worthy of going back and writing an update, other times it does not change the overall point made in the original story. Of what we have published, our facts were supported with documents and statutes.
And you call the NWH slanted.
– I don’t recall calling them slanted.
What I have seen, is a pattern of avoiding anything of significant negativity on certain people for reasons I can’t explain.
An example is found in the fact they have not FOIA’d a single thing for Bob Miller yet they have piled on for Gasser stuff.
While I have no problem holding current officials accountable by checking the records for their actions, you can’t ignore the past just because it is the past.
There is a HUGE story in those time cards!
Since the paper has not reported on the time cards does that mean they are picking and choosing?
Shouldn’t they too be reporting on it or do they get a pass now that we reported on it?
If you go on NW Herald’s site Pokorny spends a lot of time arguing on there.
It’s like him and two other people with no lives arguing with each other all day long.
Sad little men.
Kirk Allen is a bad writer. He’s too emotional. Too floral. And this post proves he’s a solipsistic jerk.
Need more proof? Here’s a paragraph from a recent, non-McHenry County post:
Allen wrote, “It appears the recently appointed Township Clerk, Kulsum Ali, does not understand her duties as Clerk and ignored proper requests for a meeting by two trustees while honoring a later request by two others.”
Journalistically, Allen should say, “DuPage Township Clerk, Kulsum Ali, ignored a legal request for a meeting from two trustees, then honored a later request by two others trustees.”
Journalistically, that’s factual, direct, uses fewer type space and far-punchier a byline.
But Kirk don’t care about journalism, he wants everyone to know how much smarter he is – passive voice and all.
But how smart is Kirk?
Looking at the same article, Kick, buddy, you need a comma after prepositional phrases like, “Based on the communications [comma] it appears the new Clerk…” C’mon Buddy. Cannot is one word, not two. Kirk, you used an improper comma after “It is our opinion.” And last paragraph, you used there, instead of their. C’mon buddy! I could go on…
I hope that Kraft comes to his senses and moves on from Allen’s toxicity. The ECWds are an otherwise great idea, but Allen needs to be reigned in – or at least please, PLEASE for the love of God, use spellcheck.
Re: “Kirk Allen is a bad writer. He’s too emotional. Too floral. And this post proves he’s a solipsistic jerk.”
You are entitled to your opinion.
Kirk is entitled to write what he likes also.
It is up to each reader to decide whether he/she reads posts or not.
Kirk tells the angry barking circus seals, that the time has come and gone when cheap jack scum, can get away with the scams they’ve enriched selves with in the past and they hate him for it.
“Gasser didn’t provide the video” is nonsense, a member of his Team did and he had to know or it would not of happened.
No matter it was unethical to share and piling on with FOIA is also.
It’s kind of amazing that it’s so cold here with all the hot air coming out of Edgar County.
The Dog’s and Cal have been riding the NWH for not reporting this or that and for being fake news.
So the NWH who has been lagging and as bias as the Dog’s have been, FOIA what the Dog’s FOIA to catch up, the Dog’s say oh look at the NWH, they make us look like Angles.
Wow the BS just keep rolling out of the Edgar County outsiders.
Isn’t the nutty nob Bobby Miller “hisself”?
I applaud Mr. Allen’s great efforts at exposing the cupidity and stupidity of Illinois politicians.
He answered his inane detractors deftly.
Don’t let the mopes get you down Kirk, you’re a hero.
Front Page, thanks for your input. If the day comes when we can hire an editor, it would be great.
I have no problem with being corrected and criticized.
It makes me better as I do my best to fix my screwups.
Please also understand, what we do is meant to inspire others to the fact they too can make a difference and you don’t have to have a degree in English or journalism to expose problems in their local government.
When the attack is targetted at the writing style or the person and not the message, it appears we are on target with the message.
I will try to do better!
Thanks
Hey Nob (Robin Mohr), first you said Gasser gave us the video and now you say someone on his team did?
Does that mean you lied the first time?
@Out of Towner – Did you accidentally use commas incorretly or was that on purpose?
By in large, language is a tool for concealing truth. George Carlin.
Kirk
Allen for Governor.
The phony “nob” is actually a niblet, a kind of repulsive troll, probably on relief.
Attn Nob: I think you mean ‘by and large’
And there are programs to help people like you with trolling addictions and dangerous addictions to Candy Crush.
Good job, Kirk, keep the hyenas hissing!
That proves your right.
Front Page:
Kirk Allen is a bad writer
He’s too emotional.
Too floral.
his post proves he’s a solipsistic jerk.
Kirk don’t care about journalism
Yet you read our work on a Township over an hour from McHenry County! LOL
Thank you!
Front Page? You are an idiot! There is a place for can not and a place for cannot. Comments like this are a huge reason I cannot abear reading foolish opinions anymore. I broke my silence because you are such a supercilious pretentious fool. Spell check is NOT the be all end all of our English language. And YOU are NO authority. (And yes, my description of my feelings is British slang from decades long gone; so don’t bother correcting my spelling!)Nob regularly slaughters the language and no one seems to care yet you want to call out Mr. Allen. (Pompous and pretentious is too good for you Mr. Fake Front Page.)[Thank you, Rebel, for caring.]
Hi Cindy, we miss you!
I always have admitted I’m weak with spelling and grammar, and at times people do give me crap about it, in fact you just did.
An american- I do this not because I’m a sad little man.
I do this because it really amuses the hell out out of me.
I am not against the Dogs per se.
I don’t like the methods that they use.
Half truths and illogical conclusions.
Unlike the rag NWH they interject themselves into the story, It is always about them.
When one official doesn’t dot the Is and cross the Ts they cry foul but excuse the same behavior in the people they support.
They are never consistent and lie constantly about what they said or imply, then say we aren’t smart enough to know any better.
They twist the words to support a narrative and then deny it.
Yes Kirk you called the salt issue BS when I pressed you about it.
You and I quote “not the BS salt issue again.”
Allen for Governor, why not he talks in circles just like every other politician.
You never get a straight answer.
The above post is the first time he has attempted straight answers, but still always a twist to justify the narrative.
For all those that think Kirk is objective and noble, he is talking to you like you’re a nitwit.
Front Page says:
“Kirk Allen is a bad writer. He’s too emotional. Too floral. And this post proves he’s a solipsistic jerk.”
I had never seen that printed word, “solipsistic”, nor heard it spoken. I had to look it up.
solipsistic:
“of or characterized by solipsism, or the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist”
Then Front Page says:
“But Kirk don’t care about journalism, he wants everyone to know how much smarter he is – passive voice and all.”
That is an incorrect use of the word “don’t”. The proper word is “doesn’t”. Also, a period rather than comma should be used after the word “journalism”. Then, the word “he” should be capitalized.
Looks like a commenter on this blog needs a remedial 8th grade writing course.
I did not say it was BS.
What was rectified was the failure to bid.
What is a lie is the NWH reporting salt was “purchased” without bidding.
That is not true.
The analysis we provided was based on a substantial amount of legal research and so far numerous attorney’s have agreed with that research.
What part of the research do you disagree with?
This is what I’m talking about.
You talk in circles and leave us with more questions.
Did he bid the salt purchase prior to entering into the purchase from Compass?
How did he rectify the bidding process if we are still on the hook for $91.00 a ton.
If he rectified the bidding process why is the board not paying the bill if everything is on the up and up?
Dan Shea refuses to be a co-conspirator.
Co-Conspirator to what?
How does the moron go from paying 53.37 a ton in 2017 to paying 91. a ton in 2018. a 70% increase without doing some investigation.
The first question I would ask is what did we pay last year, never mind that he broke the law by not bidding it.
Why did he apologies if he bid it.
“What is a lie is the NWH reporting salt was “purchased” without bidding.”
How is this a lie?
We got salt for 91 per ton, Gasser apologized for not bidding, and we owe the $105000.
Being an accountant that is a purchase.
Again you talk in circles and won’t give us all the info.
Just blind support to Gasser.
Cleon Said
Isn’t the nutty nob Bobby Miller “hisself”?
I applaud Mr. Allen’s great efforts at exposing the cupidity and stupidity of Illinois politicians.
He answered his inane detractors deftly.
Don’t let the mopes get you down Kirk, you’re a hero.
Do you realize Cleon, he writes for nitwits?
You buy it hook, line and sinker.
@Kirk –
The irony of reading your sit is not lost on me either! 🙂 I selected an alternative article to offer suggestions to improve the article content in hopes a non-McHenry based subject matter would place more emphasis on the writing style and not McHenry. Respectfully, your writing relies heavily on passive voice and otherwise injects opinion where the facts you unearth would suffice to stand and probably resonate STRONGER if you simply removed your opinion from the post.
For further clarification, from the paragraph above, you wrote, “It appears the recently appointed Township Clerk, Kulsum Ali, does not understand her duties as Clerk and ignored proper requests for a meeting by two trustees while honoring a later request by two others.”
“It appears recently appointed Township Clerk, Kulsum Ali, does not understand her duties,” is an OPINION [emphasis added].
“[Kulsum Ali] ignored proper requests for a meeting by two trustees while honoring a later request,” is a FACT [emphasis added] – and a glaring one at that.
In the above paragraph, you lead with your OPINION, yet your FACT is far stronger, more glaring and admittedly alarming, but your HARD WORK in unearthing this FACT is diminished because you inject your OPINION. That’s my critique.
I don’t agree with you all the time, but respect your philosophy of holding government accountable.
You do great work and I think your work would resonate even more and appeal to a broader audience if you just allowed facts to speak for themselves.
I at least respect what you are trying to do enough to offer and honest critique that is admittedly an OPINION! 🙂
But in my time as a journalist (where I get my username), as a writer and as someone who appreciates hard work in keeping government accountable, want to challenge you to do better and let your HARD WORK speak for itself.
Yours in Truth,
Front Page
Mr Allen when did you first meet Andrew gasser simple easy question
Stephen, the new king of half-truths and word manipulation.
“purchased” without bidding.
Show me the payment that was made prior to bidding.
He did not purchase salt until after it was bid.
His action of “ordering” it is void ab-intio.
After it was bid, then the bill or part of it was paid.
There was a point that it was purchased but the NWH said it was purchased without bidding and that is not the case.
It was ordered without bidding and until there is a financial transaction from one hand to the other, it was not purchased.
Even if it was purchased before bidding, the courts have ruled that there is no valid purchase and the public body can not pay the bill until the law is followed.
Rectifying the bidding process was done by advertising it for bids.
Just because the price is the same does not mean he did not rectify the bid issue.
No one has disputed that it was not put out for bid.
No one is disputing that he admitted to not putting it out for bid.
We all know, he did not put it out for bid. (is that horse dead yet?)
We also know multiple factors play a role in the price.
One is bulk buying and being able to access that pricing.
The group that purchased it and had the NWH compare their prices to his would not permit him to participate in that purchase.
Another factor is the market.
And yes, another is bidding and the size of the circulation for bids.
My suggestion was to reverse bid it online.
That would have probably ensured the lowest price overall but who knows.
If you want me to answer questions, please don’t change the question and or modify the way you word it after I answer it the first time and claim I did not answer it or play games with the answer.
As far as all the info, why don’t you tell us what ALL the info is as it appears you know since you claim I am not giving you all the info.
Be direct and stop with the BS insults and you might find there are answers to the questions and they are not always what you think.
Absolutely love these two.
What a great organization.
If there were more watchdogs and more justice….
Kirk, I thank you for exposing so much utter corruption.
Lani, there will be justice.
And the evildoers will pay for their crimes in ways very difficult to understand in 2019.