By: Diane Benjamin
I read more of the massive FOIA request I received from the Town of Normal concerning the failure of Chris Koos to appoint a representative to the Connect Transit Board.
In addition to the FIVE people listed in this story: https://blnnews.com/2019/06/26/koos-fib/
I found a few more forwarded to Koos by Judy Buchanan who is on the Board now.
Marc Tiritilli and Pat Turner were on the previous list, adding two more brings the total to seven Chris Koos had to choose from. Keep in mind he claimed only one expressed interest and that person was unavailable. Instead of ONE PERSON as Koos claimed, he had SEVEN.
Marc Tiritilli sent me this screen shot from text messages he had with Chris Koos – note the dates:
Fib? Or should I change it to a stronger word!
I found this gem included in the FOIA. If you remember, Stan Nord wanted more discussion on Koos’ appointment to Connect Transit’s Board and their operations. Nord also noticed the Town of Normal had been paying property taxes FOR YEARS on properties that should have been exempt.
Mr. McCarthy, from the above asking Koos for an update won’t get the truth. I hope you now realize that Koos has misled everyone because he hasn’t found his “right fit” yet. If you want to trust answers you receive from Chris Koos you are doing it at your own peril.
Also Mr. McCarthy, you fail to understand your role as a representative of the people of Normal. Do you even review what bills are paid? You never questioned property tax bills? Stan Nord did and found a huge waste of money that dates back to when Mark Peterson was City Manager. Where else is money being wasted? Does the Town just pay every bill that comes in without questioning any of them?
The Town Trustees don’t work for the City of Normal. They are not the “Board of Directors” even though most of them think they are. They are the last line of defense for citizens. Their “professional staff” failed to notice they were paying bills they didn’t owe.
Pam Reece needs to push a reset button. Every bill, every contract, and every vendor needs examined. Running the Town the same way it’s always been run led to paying bills the Town didn’t owe. What else will be found?
If the City Manager doesn’t take this seriously I bet Stan will. I’m also betting Kevin McCarthy won’t.
This is a link to the FOIA I received. I am WAY behind on reading everything else I’ve received recently. Feel free to see if anything else is here: Diane_Benjamin_Redacted
What about Preston’s response to the same email. It’s just as irresponsible as McCarthy’s. They’re more or less cut from the same cloth.
PDF pages 68 and 69 if anybody wants to read it. He thinks the Council have limited responsibility too. Even a Board of Directors can be held accountable for maleficence they missed. I hope he is in two years.
Thank you for all of your hard work so we can make informed, intelligent decisions when we vote.
You can just feel the contempt that McCarthy has for Nord in his email reply. McCarthy clearly wants to cover for his pal, Koos, and sweep the tax payment under the rug, as its an embarrassment that can’t be explained away and is indefensible even to establishment voters. For the life of me, I can’t understand why Koos won’t just pick someone for the CT board. Makes me wonder if they’re possibly hiding something over at CT. So much so that perhaps even a “right fit” candidate couldn’t ignore. Hmm…
Dear Kevin – IT IS THE ELECTED COUNCIL’S ROLE TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS FROM WASTE & FRAUD!!! We have learned we certainly cannot trust the town employees to protect the taxpayers and their hard earned dollars from blatant waste. City employees seem to feel they are operating a for-profit business using taxpayer funds. It is unfortunate that the horrible real estate deals and paying for taxes on nontaxable items decisions can’t be deducted from the paychecks of those making such choices!
And they wonder why Nord and Smith were elected!!!
Diane! Thank you for reporting this. I don’t know how any of the other local “journalist” can live with themselves. Why is this stuff not being reported?
McCarthy: “I don’t feel either topic needs a public discussion.”
What other topics does this man “feel” should not be discussed publicly ?
Are there topics that We the People should not know about ?
Is the venerable Town of Normal Illinois governed secretly ?
Do we need to localize the term “McCarthyism” ?
Citizens awaken.