Taxpayers Pick Up $1000 Lunch Tab for 41 to Attend Broda's "State of the Village" Address

More Waste of Public Funds in Lisle

Lisle taxpayers were stuck picking up the tab for 41 local elected officials, government employees, spouses and guests to attend Mayor Broda's 2014 "State of the Village" address presented at a Lisle Chamber of Commerce 2.5 hour luncheon held at the Hilton Naperville-Lisle on Jan 16, 2014. 

The "2014 State of the Village" address could have been presented at the Village Hall Board room (Lisle's $10M Taj Mahal) in the evening and broadcast live for the convenience of Lisle residents, taxpayers and citizens to attend for free in person or watch it live on cable or internet from home. Not to mention that holding this event at Village Hall in the evening would have allowed all of the boys in Boy Scout Troop 108 ( who were presented with an community service award on a school day during school hours) to attend. 

More than 50% of the people who attended the 2.5 hour event received lunch on the backs of taxpayers. 

A Lisle citizen would have been charged $35 to attend the luncheon event at the Hilton Naperville-Lisle. An edited video of the 45-minute speech portion of the 2.5 hour event was posted online by the Village of Lisle 11 days after the event. The video was later removed from YouTube and re-posted on Feb 4, 2014.

In response to FOIA requests, Lisle Watchdog obtained public records from the Village of Lisle, the Lisle Park District, the Lisle Library, the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District and Lisle Community School District 202 that included the costs for employees, elected officials and guests to attend the 2.5 hour luncheon to hear the 45-minute "State of the Village" address. Each public body was asked to provide the names of those employees who were paid to attend and to provide the documents that contained the public purpose and public benefit of the taxpayer funds expended. 

The Village of Lisle responded that they had no records that contained the public purpose and/or the public benefit of the expenditure of public funds for this purpose. 

Village of Lisle picked up the tab for 28 people:  
   13 Village employees were paid salary to attend during regular work hours.
     7 Village of Lisle Elected Officials (all elected officials except Trustee Mandel)
         (Open meeting violation?)
     9 Guests, including the mayor's wife, an employee from Benedictine University 
         and the scouts/leaders who received an award. 
     Mayor Broda was given a "free" lunch ticket. A gift from the Chamber.   
     * Cost $700.00

Lisle Park District picked up the tab for 4 people:
     3 Park District employees were paid salary to attend during regular work hours.
     1 Park District Elected Official (Buchelt)
     * Cost: $100.00

Lisle Library picked up the tab for 3 people:
     2 Library employees were paid salary to attend during regular work hours.
     1 Library Elected Official (Flint)
     * Cost: $75.00

Lisle Community School District 202 picked up the tab for 3 people:
     1 School District employee was paid salary to attend during regular work hours.
     2 School District Elected Officials. (Alhmann, Narot)
     * Cost: $75.00

Lisle-Woodridge Fire District picked up the tab for 2 people:
     2 LWFD employees were paid salary to attend during regular work hours.  
     1 LWFD Trustee, Tom Althoff attended the event, but LWFD did not pay for 
            his lunch  - Mr. Athoff is the president of the Lisle Chamber. 
     * Cost: $50.00

_____________________________________________________________

                                  TOTAL COST  = $1000.00
 (not including salary/benefits paid to employees to attend a 2.5 hour event)

                                Benefit to Taxpayers = ZERO 

                   Public Purpose of Expenditure of Funds = NONE

_____________________________________________________________


Article VIII Illinois Constitution:

    (a)  Public funds, property or credit shall be used only
for public purposes.
    (b)  The State, units of local government and school
districts shall incur obligations for payment or make
payments from public funds only as authorized by law or
ordinance.
    (c)  Reports and records of the obligation, receipt and
use of public funds of the State, units of local government
and school districts are public records available for
inspection by the public according to law.
(about 10 tables of 7 persons  = 70 attendees)
Records:
Response from Village of Lisle HERE. 
Response from Library HERE.
Response from Park District HERE.
Response from School HERE.
Response from Fire District HERE.

10 Things Mayor Broda Failed to Tell the People of Lisle, Part 1

On January 16, 2014, Lisle Mayor Joe Broda gave a 45 minute "2014 State of the Village" address at a Lisle Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the Hilton Naperville-Lisle hotel. The cost for a Lisle resident to attend the midweek event was $35 per person.

You can watch the edited version of the speech on You Tube HERE. The video was posted online 11 days after the event.


10 Things Mayor Broda Failed to Tell the People of Lisle:


#1. The Village has no master plan to fix the river levees and no stormwater management plan to address a 100 yr flood. 

Broda stated that the Village of Lisle was caught "off-guard" in April 2013 when heavy rains caused the East Branch of the DuPage River to overtop the levee ... and that's OK because?

Fact of the matter is that way back in 2006 DuPage County issued this report. (more background HERE)

The Village and the County were well aware of the deteriorating condition of the river levee, the desperate need for repair of the levee, the complications of acquiring easements and the need to acquire funding. That was 2006. 

From 2006 to 2013 the Village made absolutely no progress on levee repair. It clearly was not a priority. There was no budget to set aside funds annually to fix the flooding - but millions were spent on "beautification" projects and "the pond."

The Village did not have an emergency plan in place should the river overtop the levee. This is why the Village was caught "off guard." The Garfield pond has no role in mitigating a 100 yr flood. The original levees that are now settled and deteriorating, were designed for a 50 yr flood not a 100 yr flood event. The Village knew that a 100 yr event would overtop the river levee, even if the levee were in good condition. The "pond" does not provide any mitigation for a 100 yr flood event caused by the river overtopping the levee. The pond merely detains stormwater that eventually flows INTO the river.

While we can look back and be thankful there was no loss of life or severe injuries and rightfully praise the efforts of those who worked, volunteered or donated funds and supplies to help in any way, it is unacceptable to stand before the people of this town who pay taxes and say that the Village was caught "off guard" for a known high risk event with potentially devastating consequences.

What actions has the Village taken since April 2013 to prepare for the next flood that overtops the levee? Have easements been acquired, funding obtained, engineering documents completed? Nope.

There is no master plan to fix the flooding underway. 

The "big news" presented at the 2014 State of the Village address is that we now have CodeRed emergency notification service to call you when you are underwater. Why Lisle did not have Code Red years ago is anyone's guess, but its been around since 1998.

Part 2 of "10 Things Mayor Broda Failed to Tell the People of Lisle" coming soon...  

Preview - Sales Tax Revenue in Lisle has been Falling for YEARS. 

Broda would like you to believe that the drop in sales tax revenue in 2013 is due to the loss of 2 car dealerships. Fact is sales tax revenue has been falling for years - long before car dealerships left Lisle.  

Lisle Taxpayers Fund $ Thousands in Print Advertising .. or is it Covert Propaganda?

Since Sept 2012, the Village of Lisle, the Lisle Library and the Lisle Park District have collectively purchased over 90 full pages of paid "advertising" in a relatively new publication called "Neighbors of Lisle." There is no record of any public discussion regarding the need for expenditure of public funds for this for-profit publication in the minutes of the open meetings of these three public bodies. 

Each page of submitted material or "advertising" costs $400 per issue. Collectively, Lisle taxpayers have spent about $36,000 over that past 18 months to provide themselves with so-called "FREE" advertising. No problem spending thousands of tax dollars on unnecessary advertising, but submit a FOIA for a copy of a public record regarding budgets and taxes and your name will be posted online on the "citizen hit list" for using 1 hour of a government employee's time and valuable government resources. Hypocrisy? You bet. 

Some might chose to call this submitted content "information" or "news." 

Others are calling it "propaganda" in a for-profit publication that would likely not exist at all but for the taxpayer funding that props it up. If you run a publication and the primary sources of funding are from government funds, are you influenced to please your advertisers and write what they want written? Of course. 

A detailed review of the content submitted by the Village of Lisle, the Lisle Park District and the Lisle Library shows that all of the submitted content is already available on the websites of those public bodies. In addition, the Lisle Library and the Lisle Park District spend tens of thousands of tax dollars per year printing their own full color direct mailers to taxpayers. In the case of the Lisle Library, that annual printing exceeds $25K and is done on a no-bid contract.  

The bi-monthly print publication "Neighbors of Lisle" claims to be delivered "free" to every household in Lisle, however the borders of the Lisle Library and the Lisle Park District extend beyond the borders of the Village of Lisle into parts of unincorporated Naperville that do not receive the taxpayer funded publication. 

There are no disclosures printed on the pages that are submitted by the Village of Lisle, the Lisle Library and the Lisle Park District that the content is paid advertising funded by taxpayers.   

The "Neighbors of Lisle" publication came under fire recently on Facebook when members of the group of Lisle puppy mill protesters took issue with the recent coverage of pet rescues while ignoring the huge "elephant in the room" - i.e. Lisle's very own puppy mill right on Main Street. A group of animal rights activists have been protesting on Main/Ogden for over a year and calling on the village to take action to prohibit the retail sale of puppies from puppy mills in the Village. The subject of the protests is a retail establishment on Main Street that was named on the list of "Top 100 Worst Puppy Mills" in the country by the Humane Society of the U.S. 

You can read the Facebook responses from "Neighbors of Lisle" HERE.

The local publisher of "Neighbors of Lisle" is Paula Gleason who is also the Chairman of the Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Gleason also works for Bensidoun USA the company under contract with the Village of Lisle to manage Lisle's French Market. Isn't that cozy? 

Perhaps we need a Taxpayer Transparency Act in Lisle that ends covert propaganda and would require that any advertisement in print, online, on radio or television post a disclaimer at the bottom denoting its use of taxpayer funding with the phrase "Paid for at Taxpayer Expense." 

Recommended Reading:
"Covert Propaganda," Cornell Law
Congressman Seek To Lift Propaganda Ban
Publicity or Propaganda, Cornell Law

Lisle Watchdog Predictions for 2014

1. Sadly, 2014 will bring another flood to Lisle. Good news, however, is that the flood will not be as bad as 2013 despite higher rainfalls. Residents will again question the impact of the Rt 53 -St. Joseph's Creek bridge construction as cause for the severity of the 2013 Lisle flood.

2. Although 2014 is not a election year for local government, there will be a change on the Board of  Trustees of the Village of Lisle. At lest one of the 7 members will resign, possibly the mayor. The Village manager will announce his retirement and the finance director will be appointed as the new Village Manager.

3. The Lockformer property will remain vacant for yet another year but interest in using the property for production of medical marijuana will cause controversy.

4. The Lisle Library will plan a $20 Million referendum for a new library (community center) even as more residents switch to reading e-books. Residents will form opposition groups. The library director will resign to take a job in another state.

5. The Lisle Park District will pass its first ever flat or lowered tax levy in December 2014. The park District will sell the land purchased on Leask Lane to a land developer who wants to build more apartments in Lisle.

6. Lisle residents will learn that local governments have been monitoring and tracking personal data.

7. Navistar will file bankruptcy.

8. The puppy protestors will ramp up their efforts, but the Village of Lisle will continue to do nothing.

9. The Village of Lisle will implement another TIF District... On Main Street.. The Village will purchase the closed Marathon gas station and begin eminent domain legal action to take the shopping center on Main St (where Weldon's and that puppy place are located) for the purpose of economic
development.

10. There will be much talk of a "Strategic Plan" in the Village of Lisle in 2014, but there will be no priority or plan to fix the flooding.

12 Days of Christmas in Lisle

On the 1st day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

…one golden opportunity.

On the 2nd day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 3rd day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 4th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 5th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one  golden opportunity.

On the 6th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 7th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...seven closed meetings, 

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one  golden opportunity.

On the 8th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...eight government galas, 

...seven closed meetings, 

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 9th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...nine percent tax rate increase, 

...eight government galas, 

...seven closed meetings, 

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 10th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...ten protesters protesting, 

...nine percent tax rate increase, 

...eight government galas, 

...seven closed meetings, 

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

On the 11th day of Christmas our Village gave to us…

...eleven flood bonuses, 

...ten protesters protesting, 

...nine percent tax rate increase, 

...eight government galas, 

...seven closed meetings, 

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one  golden opportunity.

On the 12th day of Christmas our Village gave to us… 

...twelve loaded gift cards, 

...eleven flood bonuses, 

...ten protesters protesting, 

...nine percent tax rate increase,  

...eight government galas, 

...seven closed meetings, 

...six million TIF dollars, 

...five dozen sick puppy mill puppies, 

...four hundred flooded homes, 

...three rounds of golf, 

...two lost car dealerships 

...and one golden opportunity.

Mrs. Lisle Librarian Goes to Washington

Lisle Library Board's "Priceless Moments"

Cost to fly Library Director to Washington D.C..................... $  257.80
Cost for hotel for Library Director 3 nights in Washington D.C.......1,130.13
Cost to register for Legislative Day in Washington D.C.................100.00
Cost to check bags on airplane .........................................50.00
Cost for taxis.........................................................153.35
Cost for meals, snacks, misc...........................................310.11
Cost of 4 days librarian salary/benefits.............................2,027.27
Cost for companion to accompany librarian on trip........................0.00

Total Cost to Send Lisle Librarian to Washington D.C........$4,028.66

• The looks on Lisle taxpayers faces when they find out the Lisle Library sent a librarian to Washington D.C to lobby the U.S. Congress when the Lisle Library has not, and does not, receive any federal funding - PRICELESS.

• The looks on Lisle taxpayers faces when they learn that less than 350 libraries out of over 119,987 libraries throughout the United States (0.29%) also paid to send a librarian to lobby in Washington D.C. - PRICELESS.

• The looks on Lisle taxpayers faces when they learn that Lisle taxpayers paid over $4,000 for lobbying but the Library did not report the costs as lobbying on financial reports. - PRICELESS.

• The looks on Lisle taxpayers faces when they hear that the Lisle Library does not have any paid employees who are registered to lobby the U.S. Congress on behalf of the Lisle Library nor the American Library Association. - PRICELESS.

• The looks on Lisle taxpayers faces when they find out that there was a "Virtual Legislative Day" held the same day so that people from the other 119,637 libraries throughout the United States that chose not to spend public funds to send an employee to lobby in Washington D.C. could participate remotely free of charge.   - PRICELESS.

• The looks on Lisle taxpayers faces when they open their next property tax bill and see another increase in the property tax rate from the Lisle Library. - PRICELESS. 

• Value of the Freedom of Information Act in holding local government accountable. - PRICELESS.

Link to documents. HERE.

Lisle Village Board Approves 2013 Property Tax Hike

Without discussion or comment, the Village of Lisle Board of Trustees approved a maximum possible property tax hike for 2013 on Monday, Dec 2, 2013. Property tax bills corresponding to this tax levy approval will arrive in homeowners' mailboxes in Spring 2014.

Here is how they voted:

• Mayor Broda.........Yes
• Trustee Boyle........Yes
• Trustee Carbalo..... Yes
• Trustee Mandel.......Yes
• Trustee Hettich......Yes
• Trustee Getz.........Absent, did not call in.
• Trustee Cawiezel....Absent, did not call in.

Here is an historical view of the property tax rates and property tax levy increases since 1996:

Year	Tax Rate	Tax Levy
96	0.4855	$2,628,363
97	0.4675	$2,678,954
98	0.4626	$2,785,754
99	0.4464	$2,840,222
00	0.4245	$2,909,656
01*	0.4054	$3,087,666
02	0.3862	$3,210,338
03	0.3859	$3,357,881
04	0.3803	$3,546,175
05	0.3762	$3,616,093
06	0.3641	$3,795,406
07	0.3576	$3,923,979
08	0.3566	$4,110,122
09	0.3649	$4,127,462
10	0.3997	$4,252,095
11	0.4289	$4,325,810
12	0.4682	$4,467,769
13	0.5009**	$4,600,509

Graphs of Historical Property Tax Data:

• Property tax LEVY & Property tax RATE since 1996, click HERE.

 *  2001 first levy year under Mayor Broda

**  estimated 
     (note added 3/25/2014: DuPage Co Clerk's 2013 tax rate for Village of Lisle = 0.5021)

.