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)

.

Value of Lisle's First TIF District Declines in 2013 per Assessor

In his 2013 State of the Village address given earlier this year, Lisle Mayor Joe Broda noted the milestone completion of the construction on the Village's first TIF Redevelopment Project and mentioned Navistar's $188.5 Million investment in the former 1.2 million square foot Lucent campus on Warrenville Road. 

$188.5 Million. Remember that number. 

2010
The Lisle Township Assessor placed the property's EAV (equalized assessed value) at $36.34 Million as of Jan 2010 before Navistar began any  renovation or construction on the property. 

• This equates to a 2010 fair market value of about $109 Million.

2011
By 2011, part of the office campus renovation had been completed and some employees moved in. The assessor decreased the EAV a bit to $36.32 Million. 

• This equates to a 2011 fair market value of just under $109 Million. 

2012
In February 2012, Navistar completed construction and renovation and held a grand opening. The assessor increased the EAV slightly to $39.95 Million for 2012. 
Despite a reported $188.5 Million investment in the property, the 2012 assessed value was only about 10% higher than the assessed value 2 years earlier prior to any renovation or construction in 2010.

• This equates to a 2012 fair market value of about $120 Million. 

2013
The Lisle Township Assessor recently released the 2013 EAV (*) for this property. The assessor has lowered the EAV to $38.45 Million, a reduction of 3.75% from 2012.

• This equates to a 2013 fair market value of about $115 Million or about $95/sf. 

The projected 2013 EAV from the "Village of Lisle Preliminary TIF Projections" document was $43.31 Million. The TIF Redevelopment Project was expected to increase the property value about 20% by 2013. 

By 2013, the TIF was supposed to be generating revenue to cover redevelopment costs, including reimbursement of the Village's cost to acquire about 3 acres of property from the DuPage Forest Preserve to use as a public right of way.

The incremental revenue available to use toward redevelopment costs is based on the revenue generated from annual property taxes levied on the portion of the EAV above $36.34 Million. 

Remember that $188.5 Million investment number? 

Records show the Village of Lisle issued several construction permits totaling approximately $70 Million for renovation construction on the former Lucent campus between 2010-2011. 

By comparison, just across the street from Lisle TIF District #1 sits Central Park of Lisle. 

In 2013, the 690,000 sf building located at the corner of Naperville Road and Warrenville Road sold for 58% more than its 2010 price. The 2013 sale price was $125 Million, $180/sf. $180/sf compared to $95/sf.

 
* Assessed values are subject to changes pending appeals and approvals of the county supervisor of assessments. Final assessed values are released in Spring 2014. 

Lisle Library's $900 Holiday Staff Party at Mullen's Bar & Grill Lacks Documentation

Lisle Library District taxpayers footed the bill for 50 people to attend a "holiday staff party" held on Saturday night, January 12, 2013, 7:30-10:30 pm at Mullen's Bar & Grill in Lisle. 

The $896.80 bill for the party was was placed on a Lisle Library District credit card assigned to Director Shannon Halikias. The expenditure was authorized by the credit card's user and the Lisle Library's Director, Shannon Halikias.  

The Lisle Library "holiday staff party" expense for the event at Mullen's Bar & Grill was recorded as "employee recognition." There are no records of the names of the employees who were invited to the event, no records of the names of the employees who attended the event, and no records of which employees were, in fact, "recognized." There are no records of the number of guests (non-employees) who attended the "staff party" at the public's expense. 

Documentation of the "party" event is lacking. 

Lisle Watchdog comes to this conclusion after submitting a FOIA to the Lisle Library on Oct 9, 2013 seeking ALL of the documentation, including correspondence and email, related to this taxpayer-funded Saturday night "holiday staff party" event.  The responses from the Lisle Library reveal not only a lack of documentation and accountability for the expenditure of public funds for a "holiday staff party," but raise important questions regarding poor records management systems and possible destruction of public records. Also a concern is the justification and priority of use of public funds on a "staff party" or on "employee recognition" (as if one could reasonably call a Saturday night party at a bar "employee recognition") in lieu of spending public funds on more important government functions  - such as the need for improvement of records management.

LW specifically requested a copy of the invitation to staff announcing the details of the event - date, time, place, costs, etc.  LW specifically requested copies of ALL email between and among staff regarding this event. LW expected to receive, at minimum, a blast email to the entire staff announcing the event details asking for RSVP's in order to make party reservations. 

Library's response on Oct 15, 2013 from Library Director Shannon Halikias: 

Library:   "Invitations - No invitations printed, no documents responsive to this request.    A sign was posted in our staff room, and that is not something we would retain as a record."

LW wondered ... No invitation? No documents? No blast email with event details? No RSVP's? Who attended? The sign was destroyed? 

Library: "The record of the location is on the receipt and contract as well as date and time."

LW: Records provided show that on Dec 27, 2012 the Library Director signed a contract to reserve the 'pool room' at Mullen's Bar & Grill for 50 people. (how did she know 50 people planned to attend?) The reservation notes a "cash bar."  The reservation deposit amount of $820.00 was secured with a library credit card.  The final count for the party attendance was due on Jan 9, 2013.  

Two weeks before signing the contract, on Dec 13, 2012, the Library Director had emailed two employees involved in the planning of the "holiday staff party": 

Library Email to Staff: "We are confirmed for 1/12/2013 for our staff party at Mullen's. We get the room for 3 hours actually! It is reserved from 7:30-10:30... Love & Money is the band playing that evening and they should start about 10:00.... Cash bar for beverages."

LW was concerned when this following response was provided by the Lisle Library Director: 

Library: "E-mail - I extracted ones that still exist from my e-mail box that are relevant to the request."

"Still exist???"  

LW to Library:  

"Please explain the statement: "E-mail - I extracted ones that still exist..." This seems to imply records were deleted.... To be clear, the request was for copies of ".. records of ALL correspondence/email between and among staff regarding the "Employee Christmas Event." 

Presumably, the public body has data backup to disk and to tape for disaster recovery and archiving purposes in conformance to law that will facilitate the retrieval of all email, including any inadvertently deleted from a workstation.  Also, please provide a copy of the sign posted for this event - an event paid for with public funds."

Library Director:  "Subject to possible supplemental emails located by our IT Administrator (our IT Administrator is out of town), you have my emails responsive to your request."

On Oct 22, 2013 - nearly 2 weeks after the FOIA request was submitted - the following response from the Library (after the return of the IT administrator) raises more concerns about records management and destruction of public records: 

Library: "1.  Re: correspondence/email, we contacted Microsoft (Technical Support) for assistance and expect to have more information from Microsoft later today or tomorrow.  2. Re: a posted sign, we have no documents responsive to your request."

LW followed-up again and asked the Library Director if the "sign," a public record, was destroyed and inquired about tape and disk back-up of public records:

LW to Library:  "Are you saying you don't have a tape or disk back-up records management system for disaster recovery and archiving? Are you saying that you destroyed public records without a disposal certificate from the local records commission?"

Without answering the questions, the Library Director "found" and provided a copy of another one of her email's regarding the event: 

Nov 9, 2012 email from the Library Director to 56 of the library's 63 employees regarding the "holiday staff party":

Library Director:  "...The Library will contribute to nice appetizers and the staff will have access to a cash bar .... I need to know how many people might like to come, guests, and if costs get nutty, if you would be willing to kick in a few bucks."

At the February 20, 2013 Board of Trustees Meeting, the Library Director Shannon Halikias reports:

"The staff wishes to thank the Board for the first annual staff holiday party."

The "Board"? 

The Library Board did not pay for this "holiday staff party" - the Lisle Library taxpayers did.  


Questions: 

1. What is the public purpose of this expenditure of public funds for a "holiday staff party" on a Saturday night at a local bar & grill? Per the Illinois Constitution, public funds can only be used for a public purpose. What was the public purpose?

2. Why isn't there ANY documentation of the names of the persons who attended this event paid for with public funds?

3. Why is it so hard to locate and retrieve email in response to a FOIA? Is the library not in conformance with laws regarding e-discovery? 

4. Why would email  - public records - at a public body ever be deleted or destroyed? Why would email no longer "exist?" Is it reasonable to believe that none of the 63 library employees emailed each other regarding a "holiday staff party?" 

5. Why was the sign announcing the staff party destroyed without approval from the State?

6. Why is spending on a "holiday staff party" a priority over spending on proper records management systems or other government functions and responsibilities?

7. Should there be an investigation regarding destruction of public records?

8. What policies and procedures has the Board put into place regarding documentation and accountability for expenditures such as "holiday staff parties?" Should the Board revise their policies? What improvements need to be made?

9. Should the "First Annual Holiday Staff Party" also be the "Last Annual Holiday Staff Party" at the Lisle Library? How did the Lisle Library survive for 45 years from 1967 to 2012 without the expenditure of public funds for a "Holiday Staff Party"?

10. Should "social committees" and "social events" be funded by tax dollars or with voluntary employee donations? 

(originally posted Oct 25, 2013 on Lisle Patch)

Assessor Slashes 2013 Taxable Value of Lisle Hotels

The 2013 average assessed value of ALL property in Lisle Township was lowered by about 3.75% by the township assessor (before appeals). However, Lisle Watchdog has recently learned that the 2013 average assessed value (EAV) of Lisle's three  hotels on the corporate corridor - the Hilton, Hyatt, and Wyndham (now Sheridan)  - was slashed nearly 9.3%, in just one year.  

As will be shown in detail below, this year's drop in the assessed value of Lisle hotels primarily due to a significant drop in assessed value of the Lisle Hilton.

Specifically, the cut in assessed value breaks down as follows:

Lisle Hilton  Cut 17.47%

                2013 EAV  = $ 3,794,300    Fair Market Value = $ 11,382,900

                2012 EAV  = $ 4,597,440    Fair Market Value = $ 13,792,320

Lisle Hyatt  Cut 3.75%

                2013 EAV  = $ 3,528,810    Fair Market Value = $ 10,586,430

                2012 EAV  = $ 3,666,300    Fair Market Value = $ 10,998,900

Lisle Wyndham Cut 3.75%

                2013 EAV  = $ 2,999,300    Fair Market Value = $ 8,997,900

                2012 EAV  = $ 3,116,150    Fair Market Value = $ 9,348,450

TOTAL  (Hilton + Hyatt + Wyndham)

                2013 EAV  = $ 10,322,410  Fair Market Value = $ 30,967,230

                2012 EAV  = $ 11,322,890  Fair Market Value = $ 34,139,670

The 2013 total combined fair market value total of the three hotels is 33% less  - loss of $15,353,040 -  compared to the 2008 value. 

On average, the 2013 assessed value of single family residential properties is about 16% lower than in 2008.  

The net result is a shift in the property tax burden from commercial properties to residential properties. Even in years with a flat tax levy, home owners can expect to pay more as commercial property owners pay less.  

Numbers are still subject to change pending appeals before the DuPage County Board of Review. Final numbers are released in Spring 2014.

Sources: 

Lisle Township Assessor

DuPage County Treasurer