Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Eating on your dime & where potted plants come from

By:  Diane Benjamin

Many City of Bloomington employees have a PCard.  It’s a cross between and credit and debit card.  All spending on Pcards is posted once a month after the Bills and Payroll report.   http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=242&parent=6058

I looked at just the Admin spending paid from August – December.

This section is miscellaneous interesting charges:

  • Viva La Flora Llc $ 37.50 Floral Arrangement for E. Bell Reception- 11/17/14
  • Kirlin’s Hallmark #207 $ 19.95 Guest Book for E. Bell Reception- 11/17/14
  • Jimmy John’s # 1408 $ 165.00 Business Meal – City Council Special Meeting – 10/13/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 225.00 9 Thank You Gift Cards for Ext. Interviews – $25 Denomination
  • Viva La Flora Llc $ 57.50 Memorial Flowers-Memory Of E.Bell’s Mother – Services 10/25/14
  • Widmer Interiors $ 821.76 Office Chair – Beth Oakley
  • Doubletree By Hilton Dbl $ 150.08 Lodging for Lynn Montei – Directors’ Mini-Retreat – 9/30/14 (retreat leader)
  • Panera Bread #601295 $ 298.89 Lunch for Directors’ Mini-Retreat – 10/1/14
  • Panera Bread #601295 $ 101.99 Continental Breakfast for Directors’ Mini-Retreat – 10/1/14
  • Jimmy John’s # 1408 $ 112.71 Business Meal for Hr Employees, Hr Director & N. Albertson- 10/29/14
  • VIVA LA FLORA LLC $ 56.95 Flowers for former EDC John Grabo funeral serv‐9/20/14‐Tuscon, Arizona
  • BIAGGI S $ 94.73 Business meeting – Mayors’ and Managers’ Lunch, David Hales, Tari Renner, Chris Koos, Mark Peterson, Bill Wasson – 8/14/14
  • LUCCA GRILL INC $ 154.40 Business meeting – Priority Based Pre-Meeting with senior directors, Bernie Sieracki and Rick Hoppe – 8/18/14 (IIT people)
  • POTBELLY 058 $ 94.75 Business meeting – Building and Trades Union Quarterly Luncheon meeting – 8/21/14
  • MONICALS PIZZA $ 140.00 Light dinner for City Council – 8/25/14
  • POTBELLY 080 $ 72.00 Business meal – HR Department Recognition Luncheon
  • JIMMY JOHN’S # 1408 $ 182.00 Business meal – Light dinner for 7/28/14 Special City Council Meeting

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 This section is Tari Renner spending

Why does Tari think it’s a business meal to eat with Democrat County Board members Rankin and Robustelli?  The names in RED are either Aldermen or City employees. (Note:  The potted plants)

  • Hansen Center 10019966 $ 17.38 Business meal for Tari Renner and M. Sprague– 11/5/14
  • Jims Steakhouse $ 35.80 Business meal for T. Renner & M. Finlan, A. Quick– 11/06/14
  • Hansen Center 10019966 $ 19.45 Business meal for Tari Renner and E. Rankin– 11/7/14
  • Hansen Center 10019966 $ 19.50 Business meal for Tari Renner and I. Brexton– 11/10/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 28.25 Business meal for Tari Renner and C. Robustelli– 11/11/14
  • Biaggi’s $ 44.64 Business meal for Tari Renner and S. Black– 11/13/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 42.50 Business meal for T. Renner, P. Finch & C. Robestelli– 11/18/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 43.25 Business meal for T Renner, D Hauman & D Hauman– 11/1
  • The Garlic Press Cafe $ 18.18 Business meal for Tari Renner and J. Bentley– 11/22/14
  • Biaggi S $ 53.63 Business meal for Tari Renner and J. Centero– 11/25/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 27.00 Business Lunch – Tari Renner, Robert Porter – 10/2/14
  • Puran India Restaurant $ 47.93 Business Meal – Tari Renner, Carlo Robestelli – 10/4/14
  • Hansen Center 10019966 $ 20.90 Business Meal – Tari Renner, Aaron Barlow – 10/8/14
  • Rosies Pub $ 33.50 Business Meal – T.Renner, Joe Gorski, Ryan Winter – 10/14/14
  • Hansen Center 10019966 $ 22.04 Business Meal – Tari Renner, Jim Fruin – 10/15/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 25.50 Business Meal – Tari Renner, Nora Dukowitz – 10/21/14
  • Rosie’s Pub $ 28.00 Business Meal – Tari Renner, Chris Koos – 10/23/14
  • Hansen Center 10019966 $ 7.04 Business Meal for T.Renner With Michael Gorman – 10/29/14
  • Meatheads Normal L $ 26.00 Business Meal for T.Renner , R.Faszzini & D.Reichel – 10/30/14
  • Destihl $ 49.65 Business Meal for T.Renner, C.Robustilli, and S.Black– 11/2/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB 22.00 $ Business meal ‐ T. Renner, K. Piutrouski (student intern) ‐ Rosie’s, 9/3/14
  • GARDEN OF PARADISE INC $ 15.68 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner ‐ meeting with Jim Jordan ‐ 9/4/14
  • HANSEN CENTER 10019966 $ 18.42 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner and Liz Megli ‐ 9/5/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 27.00 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner, Javier Centeno ‐ 9/9/14
  • HANSEN CENTER 10019966 $ 26.35 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner, John Kamis ‐ 9/10/14
  • MERRY ANNS DINER $ 18.10 Bsuiness meal ‐ Tari Renner, Carlo Robestelli ‐ 9/11/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 27.25 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner, Dontae Latson ‐ Rosie’s, 9/16/14
  • DESTIHL $ 50.10 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner, Carlo Robostelli ‐ 9/18/14
  • GARDEN OF PARADISE INC $ 29.50 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner, Trisha Stiller, Ketlyn Hubbard ‐ 9/19/14
  • HANSEN CENTER 10019966 $ 34.23 Business lunch ‐ T. Renner, S. Malliot, R. Fazzini, D. Hauman ‐ 9/29/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 28.00 Business lunch ‐ Tari Renner, Van Miller ‐ 9/30/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 27.25 Business meal – Tari Renner, Joni Painter – 8/13/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 26.75 Business meal – Tari Renner, Scott Black – Rosie’s, 8/19/14
  • DESTIHL $ 49.40 Business meeting – Tari Renner, Carlo Robustelli – 8/22/14
  • LUCCA GRILL INC $ 26.65 Business meal – Tari Renner, Jeff Giebelhausen – 8/26/14
  • HANSEN CENTER 10019966 $ 23.54 Business meal – Tari Renner, Scott Preston – 8/27/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 26.00 Business meal – Tari Renner, Mayor Koos – 8/28/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 26.50 Business lunch – Tari Renner, Joni Painter, July 1 at Rosie’s
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 37.50 Business meal-T.Renner, B.Verricelli Jr, B.Verricelli Sr-Rosie’s, 7/8/14
  • JIMS STEAKHOUSE $ 25.45 Business meal – T.Renner, C.Moore – Jim’s Steakhouse, 7/11/14
  • DESTIHL $ 36.25 Business meal – Tari Renner, Carlo Robustelli – Destihl, 7/13/14
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 38.50 Business meal – T.Renner, Lib Board members B.Cornell & E.Helgham
  • MEDICI $ 31.25 Business meal – Tari Renner, Mboka Mwilambwe
  • ROSIE’S PUB $ 28.00 Business meal – Tari Renner, Karen Schmidt
  • LANCASTERS $ 48.00 Business meal – Tari Renner, Tricia Stiller, Mike Gardner

 

This section is David Hales spending

The names in RED are either Aldermen or City employees. (Note:  The potted plants)

  • Cracker Barrel #125 Blm $ 20.96 Business meal for David Hales and A. Fyanf-Jemez– 11/4/14
  • Jims Steakhouse $ 12.45 Business meal for David Hales with J. Fruin– 11/3/14
  • Noodles & Company 9501 $ 11.49 Business meal for David Hales and M. Mwilambwe– 11/12/14
  • Ihop # 5429 $ 25.04 Business meal for David Hales and F. Koehler– 11/13/14
  • Ihop # 5429 $ 17.20 Business meal for D Hales, B Wasson & M Peterson– 11/17/14
  • Jimmy John’s # 1408 $ 14.85 Business meal for David Hales and D. Sage– 11/17/14
  • Jims Steakhouse $ 27.60 Business Lunch – David Hales, Karen Schmidt – 9/30/14
  • Monicals Pizza $ 25.00 Working Lunch – David Hales, Rob Fazzini – 10/7/14
  • Jimmy John’s # 1408 $ 15.00 Business Meal – David Hales, Dave Sage – 10/14/14
  • Kelly’s Bakery and Cafe $ 8.11 Business Meal – David Hales, Mboka Mwilambwe – 10/15/14
  • Ihop # 5429 $ 17.20 Business Meal – D.Hales, B.Wasson, M. Peterson – 10/20/14
  • Meatheads Normal L $ 16.46 Business Meal – David Hales, Brett Lueschen – 10/23/14
  • Applebees 42600601 $ 40.71 Business Meal – David Hales, Leslie Yocum – 10/22/14
  • Applebees 42600601 $ 35.85 Business Meal for D. Hales & Stephen Rasmussen – 10/27/14
  • GOLDEN DRAGON CHINESE $ 13.37 Business meal ‐ D. Hales ‐ meeting with G. Koos and B. Whisman ‐ 9/2/14  (History Museum)
  • JIMMY JOHN’S # 1408 $ 14.10 Business meal ‐ David Hales, Dave Sage ‐ 9/5/14
  • APPLEBEES 42600601 $ 51.03 Business meal ‐ David Hales, Jeremy Haley ‐ 9/8/14
  • IHOP # 5429 $ 15.29 Business breakfast ‐ David Hales ‐ 9/22/14
  • APPLEBEES 42600601 $ 27.65 Business lunch ‐ David Hales, Lynn Montei ‐ 9/22/14  (retreat leader)
  • NOODLES & COMPANY 9501 $ 9.77 Business lunch ‐ David Hales ‐ 9/23/14
  • MONICALS PIZZA $ 22.00 Business meal/working lunch ‐ D. Hales, P. Silva, C. Murillo ‐ 9/29/14
  • SHANNON’S 5 STAR $ 11.66 Business meal – David Hales, Alderman Karen Schmidt – 7/31/14
  • APPLEBEES 42600601 $ 32.36 Business meal – David Hales, Tom Dabareiner – 8/1/14
  • JIMMY JOHN’S # 1408 $ 14.00 Business meal – David Hales, Dave Sage – 8/12/14
  • IHOP # 5429 $ 15.24 Business breakfast – David Hales, Bill Wasson – IHOP, 8/18/14  (County Mgr)
  • JIMMY JOHN’S # 1408 $ 7.50 Business meal – David Sage – meeting with David Hales, 7/8/14
  • SWINGERS GRILLE $ 24.46 Business meal – Central Illinois City Manager’s monthly luncheon – David Hales, Sue McLaughlin, 7/9/14 (Asst City Mgr)
  • IHOP # 5429 $ 21.96 Business meeting – David Hales, Carlo Robustelli
  • IHOP # 5429 $ 14.64 Business meal – David Hales, Mark Peterson, Bill Wasoon
  • SUBWAY 00292458 $ 16.02 Business meal – David Hales, Frank Koehler

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Don’t you wish you could eat at Biaggi with somebody else paying? How about DESTIHL or Jim’s Steak House?

Some totals look like Renner and Hales paid for everybody, some just for themselves.  If you know who some of the misc people are, let me know.  I don’t have time to research them.

Keep in mind:  This is YOUR money.

15 thoughts on “Eating on your dime & where potted plants come from”

  2. This is obvious abuse of tax dollars. The City Council should eat their own dinners before a City Council Meeting and the tax payers shouldn’t have to foot the bill, but Renner could argue  that he has the prerogative to have the city pick up the tab for a work session during the dinner hour prior to the Council meetings. He could also probably get away with the city providing meals during training sessions, workshops, etc. But the other crap? I doubt it and I’d like to see this investigated by some authority as you’re right! The city shouldn’t have to pick up the tab for his meals eating with some of these Democratic County Officials, City Employees, and Councilmen. I thought the council was non partisan, lol!!,What, no Republicans or Libertarians? Smells like good ol back door politickin to me. So, I think my schedule will be cleared AFTER Jan1, then I’ll send an FOIA request for EACH meal requesting a copy of the receipt, and a brief reason to justify why the city should pay for the expense, and the purpose for each meeting.. More than likely they will respond back with “go blow it out your ear”. What do you think?

    Reply

  4. Least they could do is spread it around to the many different tax paying restaurants instead of the same old, same old. But no matter how you look at it, this is another tax payer rip off!

    Reply

  5. Some of these expenditures don’t even make sense. For example re: David Hales,◾APPLEBEES 42600601 $ 51.03 Business meal ‐ David Hales, Jeremy Haley ‐ 9/8/14 & ◾GOLDEN DRAGON CHINESE $ 13.37 Business meal ‐ D. Hales ‐ meeting with G. Koos and B. Whisman ‐ 9/2/14 (History Museum)—– Now, the Applebee’s, meal seems lie they ate heartedly for a meal for two, but what about the meal at the Golden Dragon? David must of ordered a Mandarin Pine Float all around! What a silly guy! FOIA requests will be forthcoming for his expenses too!

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