30% of children in Lisle Schools are at Poverty Rate and this is what Lisle Officials do...
While our property tax bills are soaring and serious and important issues go unaddressed (including: alarming increasing poverty rates in our Lisle schools, crippling pension crises at local and state levels, aging Lisle population, decreasing retail tax revenue in Lisle, people moving out of Lisle, and an absence of any plan to mitigate the single worse infrastructure problem in Lisle - i.e. flooding) our local officials from the Village of Lisle, the Lisle Park District, the Lisle Library and the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District prioritized the spending of $3,140.00 of our tax money for $80 tickets for themselves and their chosen guests to forget all their troubles and "have fun with friends and dance the night away" at the "Luau in Lisle" dinner dance.
* It should be noted that several local elected/appointed officials attended this event but not all of them used taxpayer money - some purchased their own tickets.
"Luau in Lisle"
An illegal tax-payer funded "fun" night out on the town. Alcohol included (open bar).
No government business conducted. No public purpose.
No authority to use public funds for this purpose. $80/person.
The Lisle Chamber of Commerce hosted a "Dancing with the Chamber Stars" luau-themed dinner dance at the Hilton Naperville-Lisle on February 7, 2014, 6 pm - 11 pm.
Lisle Chamber Board President Kitty Murphy (who also happens to be an appointed Lisle official on the Lisle Planning & Zoning Commission) described the event:
"This event is a first-class exciting evening with hundreds of people and alot of laughs!"
President Kitty Murphy (left) at 'Luau in Lisle' (facebook)
Tom Althoff, Lisle Chamber CEO (who also happens to be a recently-appointed Lisle Woodridge Fire District Trustee) described the event:
"This annual event features amateur dancers paired with professional instructors who prepare for this exciting event. It includes a silent auction to benefit the Chamber along with a gourmet dinner and beverages and entertainment. It is truly a highlight of the year."
Tom Althoff at 'Luau in Lisle' (facebook)
The event was advertised in the January 2014 edition of the tax-payer funded "Neighbors of Lisle" publication:
"The highlight of the winter season will be the annual Lisle Chamber Dinner Dance featuring amateur dancers with professional instructors...This very popular program will have a luau theme this year and will include appetizers and open bar, dancers, dinner with wine service, silent auction and raffles, and some great music from our very popular D.J."
President, & Village of Lisle vendor Paula Gleason (center) at "Luau in Lisle"
Summary of Tax-Payer Funded Expenditures for "Luau in Lisle"
$ 500.00 Sponsorship - Village of Lisle
$ 1,280.00 Tickets - Village of Lisle
$ 1,200.00 Tickets - Lisle Park District
$ 80.00 Tickets - Lisle Library District
$ 80.00 Tickets - Lisle-Woodridge Fire District
$ 3,140.00 TOTAL
Village of Lisle Expenditures
The Village of Lisle paid $500 for a "sponsorship." The Village obtained 2 "free" tickets with the event sponsorship which documents state were used by Mayor Broda and his wife. The Village purchased an additional 16 tickets at $80/each. The Village stated that no goods or services were provided to the taxpayers for this expenditure of funds. The Village FOIA Officer Kristine Curran also stated in an email that the Village had no records that contained the public purpose of the expenditure of these funds, no records that contained any public business conducted at this event paid for with public funds, and no records that contained the statutory authority for the Village to expend public funds for this event. Total expenditure $1,780.00
Taxpayers purchased tickets for the following people:
- Mayor Joe Broda & guest
- Clerk Tim Seeden & guest
- Trustee Mark Boyle & guest
- Trustee Brad Hettich & guest
- Trustee Bob Mandel & guest
- Trustee Tony Carballo & guest
- Village employee, Manager Jerry Sprecher & guest
- Village employee, Police Chief Dave Anderson guest
- Village employee, Admin. Services Director Eric Ertmoed & guest
Lisle Park District Expenditures
The Lisle Park District purchased 15 tickets at $80/each. The Park District expenditure for this event was disguised in the monthly board voucher logs as an expenditure of $1,200 for "public relations." Park District Director and FOIA Officer, Dan Garvy initially stated that the public purpose of the expenditure of funds was for "professional conferences, seminars" but quickly back-peddled to a purpose of an "outing" when pressed for copies of the seminar/conference materials. The Park District also had no records that contained the public business conducted, had no record of the goods and services provided to the taxpayers for this expenditure of public funds for and "outing". The Park District did not provide any records that contained the statutory authority for the District to expend public funds for this event.
Total expenditure $1,200.00
Taxpayers purchased tickets for the following people:
- Commissioner Don Cook & guest
- Commissioner Margaret Hough & guest
- Commissioner Neil Buchelt & guest
- Commissioner David Richter & guest
- Commissioner Kari Altpeter
- Park District Director Dan Garvy & guest
- Park District employee Lisa Leone & Park District vendor Roger Leone
- Park District employee Mike Toohey & guest
Lisle Library Expenditures
The Lisle Library District purchased 1 tickets at $80/each which was purchased for Library Trustee and Board President Richard Flint. The Library Director, Shannon Halikias was only government official to accept $149.00 of gifts - a "free" ticket (value $80.00) to the event plus a "free" hotel room for the night (value $69.00). The Library also had no records that contained the public business conducted, had no record of the goods and services provided to the taxpayers for this expenditure of the public funds. The Library did not provide any records that contained the statutory authority for the Library to expend public funds for this event. Total expenditure $80.00
Lisle Woodridge Fire District Expenditures
The Lisle-Woodridge Fire District purchased 1 tickets at $80/each which was purchased for Chief Thomas Freeman who has announced that he will be retiring this year. The LWFD also had no records that contained the public business conducted, had no record of the goods and services provided to the taxpayers for this expenditure of the public funds. The LWFD did not provide any records that contained the statutory authority for the District to expend public funds for this event. Total Expenditure $80.00
*Records were provided to Lisle Watchdog by the Lisle Citizens Research Group.
- Lisle Park District Documents
- Village of Lisle Documents
- Lisle Library Documents
- Lisle-Woodridge Fire District Documents
