By: Diane Benjamin Refer back to this story from yesterday: https://blnnews.com/2022/02/22/normal-council-wouldnt-be-normal-without-koos-being-a-jerk/ The specific part that applies to this story is Koos’ attack on Stan Nord for wanting to know why only one bid was received in response to a Water Department request for bids. Stan mentioned citizens can not know they are getting a good […]
Chief Carter informed me he does not drive this car to work. By: Diane Benjamin In 2001 the Village of Stanford reportedly had over 700 residents. Stanford is now at 580. Why does a tiny town need a police chief? Is crime rampant? Remember when the Danvers police patrolled and Stanford didn’t have the higher […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this Edgar County Watchdogs story for background: http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/09/stanford-village-attorney-falsified-original-easement/ Click on any images below to enlarge. Short recap: A homeowner in Stanford signed a temporary easement for drainage work on his property in 2010. In 2015 the Village of Stanford attorney, McGrath, filed a document changing the status from temporary to permanent […]
By: Diane Benjamin Continuation of this story: Did Village of Stanford’s Attorney File Fraudulent Easement Documents? New Problem: The original TEMPORARY easement contains this statement: Temporary Easement The Village of Stanford President and Village Clerk signed the document in the presence of a Notary. So, what’s in the May 20, 2010 meeting minutes? FOIA […]
By: Diane Benjamin From the Illinois Comptroller website: Allin At a Glance In 2016 they borrowed $103,309 and paid back $39,131 http://warehouse.illinoiscomptroller.com/ProcessSearchResults.cfm In 2015 they borrowed $45,000 and paid back $10,000 Source: 2015 In 2014 they borrowed $90,000 and paid back $68,000. Source: 2014 Anybody see a problem? (These are numbers Allin Township gave the Comptroller!) […]
By: Diane Benjamin Metcom Stanford Police list: Metcom activity report for 11/28 – 12/12 Note ST1 only worked 1 day for 7 1/2 hours. What did ST1 – Ed Petrey get paid for 11/28/16 – 12/12/16? This gets a little tricky because his pay stub doesn’t include […]
By: Diane Benjamin Every house in Stanford has been paying $5 per month since August of 2009 in hopes someday the Village will get a sewage treatment plant. The cost estimate in 2009 was $6,250,000: The sewer piggy bank is most likely still under $100,000, last August it was around $80,000. http://blnnews.com/2015/08/15/stanford-games-with-your-money/ Since the magic […]
By: Diane Benjamin The video from the November 11th accident that totaled the Stanford Police Car has been received under the Freedom of Information Act. I have the video starting right before the car hit a tree in the road, start it at the beginning if you want to see more driving. Turn the sound […]
By: Diane Benjamin Many officials and government employees are required by law to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The statement reveals conflicts of interest that could taint public service. If the law is ignored by a public servant, what does that say to citizens? James Bridgewater should have filed his by May 1st. He […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember this story about police in Stanford? http://blnnews.com/2015/08/10/stanford-please-explain-this/ John Owen claimed they couldn’t afford to pay Danvers for policing anymore, so now you pay more than double for your own police! Less than 700 people live in Stanford, seems like sharing police with Danvers was a much better idea. It gets better […]
By: Diane Benjamin Stanford has a regular meeting tomorrow night. See agenda here: http://stanfordil.org/id464.html I’ve written about many issues both with the Village and the Fire Protection District. Taxpayers deserve answers, especially why your police chief hasn’t turned over investigations to the Sheriff. Here are the issues your Village needs to explain: About the $5 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when I wanted to know where the $5 per month added to your water bills for a future sewer plant is? http://blnnews.com/2015/08/06/stanford-wheres-your-money/ The Town lawyer decided to deny my request on nefarious grounds, but he decided not to mess with the Edgar County Watchdogs when they did the same, There is […]
By: Diane Benjamin According to this bird-cage liner story from 2007, Allin Township Fire Protection District Trustee Mick Owen was superintendent of the Bloomington division of Entler Excavating. http://www.pantagraph.com/news/company-submits-new-plan-for-asphalt-plant/article_32724b55-645f-5c85-96e7-c12d061031f6.html In 2008 the Trustees awarded a $12,000 no-bid contract for demolition of a house to Entler Excavating. At least Mick didn’t make the motion himself. Did Mick […]
By: Diane Benjamin When citizens trust the people who run government, but fail to watch their actions – you get this: Scott Eidenmiller is a trustee who voted for his own raise. In fact, they all voted to raise their own pay. Scott’s $3000 is a problem though. According to the law, trustee salaries for […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this story from yesterday: http://blnnews.com/2015/08/11/more-that-stanford-needs-to-explain/ The Allin Township Fire Protection District has the right to bill out of district victims for any assistance provided, like vehicle accidents requiring EMT services. Illinois law states that an ordinance must be on file allowing these billings. I filed the following Freedom of Information Request […]
By: Diane Benjamin Fire Protection Districts are allowed to bill for services performed inside the district for people who live OUTSIDE of the districts. It makes sense because the people served aren’t paying taxes to them. The one catch is: an ordinance is required to be passed and signed before the billings can be enforced. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Police service used to be contracted with the Village of Danvers. In 2012, it was $5400 per month – $64,800 per year. In 2012 the Village of Stanford decided they couldn’t afford that anymore, so they terminated the agreement. Note: One of the McGrath lawyers was present, I wonder if he billed […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois Freedom of Information Law intro: (5 ILCS 140/1) (from Ch. 116, par. 201) Sec. 1. Pursuant to the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of government, it is declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding […]
By: Diane Benjamin First, why is the Freedom of Information officer for Stanford a lawyer? How much is it costing taxpayers to get information through a lawyer that you are entitled to under the law? Is the FOIA officer a lawyer to hide information? Stanford residents have been paying an extra $5 per month tacked […]
By: Diane Benjamin The former Allin Township Fire Chief (Standford) is being prosecuted for theft. His name is Josh Deterding. Allegations are he stole over $10,000. I’ve been investigating and filing Freedom of Information Requests for documents for the last month. Josh did reach out to me because he had no one who would listen […]
