quote:

but a staff member, who is no longer there, was responsible

Could this be R. Max Richter? Ya think?

I didn't mean to bait the board with my comment as what I heard is scuttlebutt (rumors) and I don't need to be accused of slander, etc by posting unsubstantiated rumors. But you don't need to hire $500/hour attorneys and financial consultants because you forgot to balance your check book.

Nor do I want to jump the gun on any unfounded accuations. We do read, however, where Robert Martin, an actual employed manager at the DWC, was quoted as getting "false information" from his finance manager, R. Max Richter.

quote:

"The information I received (from Richter) did not show that this was taking place," Martin said. "I got false information."

Getting "false information" from someone responsible for "accidently" spending down $19 million, is, how to put this?

Highly suspect?

That is indeed the beginning of it.
Your quick with the gun BTN

I wonder if R. Max is related to Conan O'Brien's sidekick, Andy?

LOL!

quote:

He said the plan was to deplete money from the fund that got drained(a little water humor) by selling for below cost.

So, the "plan" was to delibrately "deplete money from the fund" by selling the water for less than it cost the Commission? Umm, and maybe keeping the 1/4 cent sales tax law on the books?

Not being a barrister, I have to ask: Isn't that a form of collusion? Or at least, price-fixing. Especially, since we know that each "Charter Member" town marks the price of the water up anyway. Some, nearly 300%, like buying at $1.25 per K and then selling at, oh say, $4.92 per K.

For those who don't know Greg — he was Village President from 2001-2005. His campaign site is archived online, which includes his credentials (as of 2000). —Ted E.

Who's to blame for water commission mess?

What do these "board members" do anyway? That Carol Stream mayor? Frank Saverino? Sounds like a Grade-A dope.

They sat on their a** and collected their per diem I would guess.

I wonder who the auditing firm is? Would be nice if they would report that. That's a pretty big screw up -or that Martin guy was really good at hiding the evidence (could be actually). Doesn't quite make sense though- why overspend to start with- you just tell the board the $ ain't there. Not your fault.

Why overspend to start with?

Well, according to Frank Saverino, village prez of Carol Stream:

quote:

The state legislature granted the county access to the $75 million through $15 million increments over five years, and the funds were used to help plug the county's budget gap.

Commission board member and Carol Stream Village President Frank Saverino said that was a bad move on the legislature's part.

"I think the problems started there because the commission was afraid the county was going to do that again," he said.

See? Accoring to Frankie, the water commission was afraid that the county was going to raid their stash again! THAT'S why they had to blow the dough! So Big Bad Bobby wouldn't be backing up the DuPage Brinks truck at the Watah Commishun bank vault.

If that's what they did then they all need to go. Deliberately wasting tax money to say "Hey I told you so" should land you in prison.

"'The board did nothing wrong, and it's possible they were actually misled by staff,' he said."

Really, Schillerstrom? The last time I checked (Management 100, I believe) it was part of the board's responsibility to ensure that accounting issues such as this don't occur....missing this is a HUGE error on the board's part. This is like Kenneth Lay claiming that he didn't do anything wrong because he didn't know anything about anything with the Enron thing. IT WAS HIS JOB TO KNOW.

Hahahaha, BTN....Big Bad Bobby. Sometimes you crack me up.

Bio: It SHOULD land you in prison. More often than not, it doesn't *shakes head*

Yes, the Lay/Skilling comparison is not far off. Good one GESM.

WC

All I can say is WOW!
Commissioner: "Someones got to watch the checking account" Huh? I thought that WAS the board's job- to decide how $ will be spent.
WOW.

Or this quote form another commissioner: "I have very serious concerns about the decision-making process going on here."

Double WOW: Aren't they the decision makers?

quote:

In an effort to shore up its finances, the board approved a one-year $30 million loan from West Suburban Bank. That money will keep the commission from levying a property tax. The commission receives funding by selling Lake Michigan water to a number of DuPage communities and from a quarter-percent sales tax in those communities as well.

Oh, I see. A property tax? They haven't levied a property tax in DuPage County since 1990. The 1/4 cent sales tax has raised over $650 million since 1985.

Just what are they doing with all this money?

Anyone know Debra Fulks? She sure summed up the money problems in a very succinct manner!

Something is very, very wrong over there in Water World.

Well, I guess that this is a Daily Herald editorial?

Robert Martin is being called out, as he should be.

quote:

Martin's management must be scrutinized. Until we understand how the general manager could miss a $19 million error, he should not be overseeing the day-to-day operations.

The board last week took away Martin's power to manage the agency's finances after discovering $3 million shuffled from one fund to another. The move wasn't considered improper, but board members scoffed because it happened during the investigation. "I have very serious concerns about the decision-making process going on here," said board member Don Zeilenga.

So do we.

This is Debra Olson's take on the DuPage Water Commission debacle.

quote:

The Water Commission situation IS a debacle. Currently an investigation is underway, and I have been following its progress. They hope to have it finished by the end of January to prepare a February report. I would like to see a change in the structure of the oversight there, so that the Finance Director reports to the full finance committee as well as the Executive Director, and that there is more accountability for his reports. Also, I am mystified how the auditing firm could have failed to find problems. So I am waiting for answers, and I believe the people at fault definitely need to be held accountable.

Does anyone know what here role is/was over her eight years on the County Board in re: The Water Commission?

DPWC
County Board members don't have a role except of course their electorate is effected by what the commission does. Unless of course S. has appointed one to the WC board.

DuPage water commission rates jump more than planned

quote:

The new rate will be $2.08 per 1,000 gallons. Currently, the commission charges customers $1.77.

"Customers", in this context refers to charter member towns [like Glen Ellyn] and a few private water companies.

I support this increase. In fact, they should raise it a bit more to something like $2.25 per thousand gallons.

Why?

The Water Klowns initially wanted to raise the rate to $1.95 per thousand. OK, but Chicago, City of, charges then $2.01 per thousand gallons - still selling at a loss with the $1.95 rate.

At least with the $2.08 per thousand rate, they will be TAKING IN MORE than what they pay for the water.

Some charter member towns might use this opportunity to mark-up their "per thousand" rate that they are currently charging their "customers".

In this context, "customers" refers to individual homes and businesses. Many towns and villages use their water revenue as a major funding source. Some rely on it for nearly 30% of their gross revenue.

Other charter towns, "pass-through" the per-thousand charge but add on all kinds of piggybacked upcharges based upon the number of thousand gallon units used on a monthly basis

Either way, we will all be paying more for Lake Michigan water in the near future.

How much more is the question.