By: Diane Benjamin
Below is a list received under the Freedom of Information Act. The list only has two headings: Past Due and Name. There is no mention of how far past due or if the debt is collectible.
Back in 2013 I asked under FOIA for an explanation of why $513,722.534 was written off: http://blnnews.com/2013/10/24/bloomington-cant-collect-513722-53-but-they-dont-know-from-whom/
The explanation I was received wasn’t close to how the private sector handles money owed to them. First, numerous departments are in charge of collecting their own debts. It appears debts are never ruled non-collectable and removed from the books. The City just makes up a number to write-off they claim is based on history. How hard are they trying to collect when 1 person isn’t in charge of collections? Or is David Hales suppose to do that?
Midwest Illinois LLC 51,615.03
State Farm Mutual Auto 85,967.47
City Of Bloomington 22,956.23
Granite Investments 22,815.83
Fisca Oil Co Inc 71,131.06
Heartland Apartment Mgmt 10,811.61
Benton Christy 26,780.89
Edwards Travis 14,191.41
Brookridge Apts 15,574.38
Wildwood Industries 15,556.33
Current Resident 108,622.05 <<<< My favorite
Meadows Of Bloomington 10,076.25
Entech USB 21,544.27
Oakland Estates Assc 15,410.47
Smith Dave M 47,515.94
Busey Bank 10,266.69
Bloomington Twp Water District 16,942.25
McLean County Trustee 12,341.43
Colburn Andrew 70,439.38
MCLT TKG 17,662.04
McKay Kevin 39,273.56
OSF – Accts Payable 16,349.52
Hilltop MHP 23,521.70
Rice Ruth L 10,699.60
Barnett Brian 981,524.45
Total $1,739,589.84
Remember that when your taxes are raised.
CITY MANAGER: Chapter 2 : Section 39 : Same – Powers and Duties Generally.
A. The Manager shall have and exercise all powers and duties assigned to him by statute and such other authority as may be granted by the City Council. He shall be charged with the enforcement of all laws and ordinances within the municipality insofar as their enforcement is within the powers of the City. He shall exercise all powers conferred by law upon the municipality but not specifically conferred upon any official.
E. Every administrative department of the City established under Section 2-29 of this Code and the Office of City Clerk shall be under the supervision and control of the Manager, who shall have the power to remove from office any officer appointed by the Manager. He shall be responsible for the efficient and economical conduct of all such departments.
I. It shall be the duty of the Manager to see to it that all terms of any contract to which the City is a party are fully performed by all parties thereto.
M. It shall be the duty of the Manager to keep current accounts showing at all times the fiscal condition of the City, including the current and anticipated expenses, appropriations, cash on hand, and anticipated revenues of all municipal funds and accounts; and he shall see to the collection of all money due the municipality.
http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=262
That last line says it all!
I have been commenting on point A and M for a year now…NOBODY is listening!! He should be fired on this alone.
I’ve written a lot about Hales. We need a comprehensive list of his screw ups and why he should be fired. Can you help make one?
Wait until you see what I’m posting next! IMRF report – only took 2 days by FOIA.
I’m only aware of the Council screw ups since Oct 2014.
At least one (Hilltop MHP) and possibly two others (Meadows of Bloomington and Oakland Estates Assc. [remember that decrepit trailer court that in the 1960s-’70s sat behind where the Walgreen’s is now?] are or were mobile home parks. IIRC, Fisca Oil last had a gas station on S. Main across from State Farm Park in the 1960’s-’70s. Good luck collecting on Wildwood and some of these other defunct entities.
If these do stretch back that far, all those past (and present!) managers ought to be either dragged back from retirement or dug up and lined up for just one day on the historic Old Courthouse square for Bloomingtonians to line up and slap. That ought to enliven the downtown area.
Diane sent me a copy of that spreadsheet, and it was ridiculous. It had over 360k rows. Lots had a past due amount of 0. I think everyone in the city was in there. Ed Rust was on it for a few dollars! The city of Bloomington was listed as well. I personally had 5 or 6 rows totaling under $50 despite the fact that the only past due bill I have had is from a couple years ago where I had a water bill I forgot to pay. To me the real scandal is that nobody seems to know who owes the city what, and it sure seems to be a lot of money that is owed. Try running a private business without knowing who owes you money.