Neil Buchelt, elected to the Lisle Park District Board of Commissioners in April 2013, has received over $5,700 in no-bid work to the company he owns and operates - Advanced Imaging, Inc. - from the same governmental body he was elected to oversee.
Buchelt and guest at 2014 Lisle Chamber Dinner Dance Gala
$80/pp Tickets paid for by taxpayers.
(via facebook - fair use, tickets paid by taxpayers)
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Buchelt disclosed the blatant conflict of interest on his 2015 Statement of Economic Interest filed with DuPage County. We inquired for records with a FOIA submitted on July 17, 2015.
Since elected, the Lisle Park District has steered $5,756 of work for printing art canvases to Buchelt's company.
The Lisle Park District also paid Advanced Imaging, Inc. for goods that were given away as gifts - including gifts to employees who resigned and a gift to an other elected Park Commissioner.
Summary of Lisle Park District No-Bid Payments to Advanced Imaging, Inc.
since Neil Buchelt was elected Park Commissioner in 2013.
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In 2013, the Lisle Park District paid Advanced Imaging, Inc. $359.00 for a framed print that was given to Lisle Park Commissioner Margaret Hough as a "gift." Since State laws require that Park District Commissioners shall serve without compensation, Lisle Watchdog submitted a FOIA for all records regarding this expenditure of public funds. We did not receive any record that Hough paid for this "gift" nor did we receive a copy of a W2 reporting the $359 gift as "compensation."
Advance Imaging, Inc invoice for $359 "Gift" for
Lisle Park District Commissioner Margaret Hough
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In addition, the Illinois Constitution states that public funds can only be used for a public purpose. There is no public purpose for the use of public funds to buy "gifts" for individuals.
Buchelt's Filed Statement of Economic Interest - 2015.
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Since each of the payments to Advance Imaging. Inc. is under the threshold for "mandated" bidding, (anything can be bid) the payments are presented on a voucher log and required approval by the Board to pay the invoices.
Purchases of goods and services under $5000 can be made without bidding, without a purchase order, with only the request from one person - a department head. Purchases over $5000 require a purchase order and submission of at least 2 competitive quotes. ALL payments require the Board approval of the voucher log to pay the monthly invoices.
Buchlet Votes to Approve Payments to Himself
At the June 18, 2015 Park District Board of Commissioner's meeting, Buchelt voted "yes" to approve payment of $1178.00 to the firm he owns and operates - Advanced Imaging, Inc - on the payment voucher log.
At the May 21, 2015 Park District Board of Commissioner's meeting, Buchelt voted "yes" to approve payment of $992.32 to the firm he owns and operates - Advanced Imaging, Inc. - on the payment voucher log.
First page of the Payment Voucher Log May 2015 Board Meeting Packet.
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First page of the Payment Voucher Log June 2015 Board Meeting Packet.
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In fact, we found no records showing Buchelt abstaining from voting on approval payment of vouchers to his own company - despite the glaring conflict of interest.
We found no records showing the Lisle Park District attempted to obtain competitive pricing quotes or sought pricing quotes from any other vendor.
Oath of Office, Neil Buchelt
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Link to Public Records:
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