LAW AND DISORDER

Mr. Jack Lavin, Director
Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
100 W. Randolph St., Room 3-400
Chicago, Illinois, 60601


RE: GRANT 07-203387

Dear Mr. Lavin:

While I have spoken with everyone to whom I am sending this letter, I have yet to receive any satisfaction from my inquiries. I want a written report on the legality of what was done by Mr. Fred Burgess, Highway Commissioner for Aurora Township.


As of yet I still have not seen a receipt for the cost of the signs that were installed at the corners of Farnsworth and Fifth Avenue or the date they were installed and the cost of the labor.

As I read the contract no signs could be bought or installed without prior approval from you. To do otherwise was in violation of the contract. There was no letter requesting permission for the Township to purchase and install the signs.
"Condition: The Grantee (must) obtain prior written approvals from the Dept. for material changes from the performance of the activities described in the Scope of Work."
A request for the signs was not part of the bidding process and is never mentioned in any correspondence.

As of yet the funding of $80,000 for the Grant has not been received by the Highway Department. Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia obtained $20,000 from Rep. Michael Madigan in response to a request from Mr. Burgess for "Road Rebuilding". Letters dated March 26, 2007 were sent to all area (local) legislators. The Grant was obtained on Feb. 1, 2007 for installing temporary traffic lighting. Several months prior to receiving the funds from Rep. Madigan.

Will the $20,000 be repaid to the "Road Rebuilding" fund once the $80,000 is given to the Aurora Township Highway Department?

Giving Rep. Chapa LaVia public credit for obtaining the Grant was illegal campaigning for her using public taxpayers money,especially if the money is to be returned to the "Road Rebuilding" account.

An amount of $30,866.50 was paid to Gaffney's PMI for services performed in response to a Waiver of Lien. In reviewing the file on March 14, I did not see where the Grant money had been otained from the state so I assume the #30,866.50 was paid out of general revenues. Mr. Juan Thomas, clerk (lawyer) was present while I was reviewing the file, but was unable to answer any questions I put to him.


I expect a written report on this matter. If Mr. Burgess is in violation of the contract as I am charging him with, what is the penalty? No penalty will suggest that the law and contracts are meaningless when dealing within government bodies or for Mr. Burgess, Rep. Chapa LaVia and Mr. James Murphy, the Township Supervisor.

I include Mr. Murphy in mycharges as experience tells me that these transactions did not happen in a cacuum. Mr. Murphy had a chance to explain orcondemn My Burgess's actions at the Township meeting and he did not. It was obvious that he was aware of the situation and called for an executive meeting to discuss it with the other members of the Board.

Even if Mr. Murphy had no knowledge of the signs that were to be erected, to cooperate with this wrong doing shows a lack of character and honesty on his part. What I am expereiencing is all too typical of government run departments. Longevity produces complacency and license. I expect a higher standard from all of you.

Please remit to me a complete report on this case as soon as possible. I want something in writing.

Joan Solms

copy: Betsy Flood, Asst. State's Atty.
copy: Mr. Stryker, Atty.

Why is the BEACON Affraid of Joan Solms

Mr. John Barsanti, State Atty. Civil Division, 100 S. Third St., 4th Floor, Geneva, Il. 60134

RE: COMPLAINT REGARDING AURORA TOWNSHIP SIGN

Dear Mr. Barsanti:

Following up on my personal investigation of Grant 07-203387. I was finally able to review the Grant file on Thursday, March 13, 2008. I am satisfied that the $5,630.00 was spent legitimately. The file still does not include any letter asking to purchase the four signs nor approval for them. The file does not indicate the cost forthe signs or the labor to install them. The report covering the period of Jan. 1 through Feb. 29, 2008 had not been submitted by Mr. Burgess yet.

As I reviewed the file agains what should have been obvious to me was not. You may have already concluded what I had missed
A letter was sent to every area legislator seeking funding for "Road Rebuilding" due to the harsh winter of 2006-2007. Copy attached. Sen. Lauzen suggested that Mr. Burgess contact rep. Chapa LaVia for funds. Rep. Chapa LaVia went to Rep. Madigan and was able to secure $20,000 which was supposed tobe sued for road repairs. The funds were switched to the Grant and Rep. Chapa LaVia given public credit for the Grant. There is no mention of this transfer of funds in the file, it obviously was done by word of mouth which all parties agreed to. Mr. Burgess, Mr. Murphy, Rep. Chapa LaVia and Rep. Madigan.
Had Sen. Lauzen secured funds as requested by Mr. Burgess faor "Road Rebuilding" would a sign have been erected in his honor. No, the funds would just have used for road repairs.
Rep. Chapa LaVia last year received $350. in campaign funds from the Township Officials of Illinois, PAC.
I expect the signs be taken down and the expense for the sigtns and cost for labor tobe recouped and put back into the Grant funds.

Questions at the Township Highway Dept.

Grant 07-203387 Temporary Traffic Signals for corners of Farnsworth and Fifth Avenue


Four signs have been erected crediting Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia with obtaining the grant for the Township. Not so! Grant obtained Feb.1, 2007 for $80,000.00. Rep. Chapa LaVia got a check for $20,000 through Rep. Madigan's office to begin the project. Township used x amount of money to erect the four signs. Cannot get any information from Mr. Burgess as to the cost of the signs, when they were put in, who authorized their purchase and installation and for what purpose did the Township Highway spend $5,630.00 as reported on Mr. Burgess's 4th quarterly report.
Right now this reads as an illegal use of funds. electioneering on behalf of Chapa LaVia, and fraudulent use of $5,630 which cannot be accounted for. State's attorney Barsanti has been asked to investigate into this matter. How long is it going to take him? Good question. Mr. Jack Lavin, Director of the office of Commerce & Economic Opportunity has been asked to investigate the misuse of grant funds. Awaiting word from both of these offices. JS