Former DeKalb County administrator Gary Hanson attended his first court hearing yesterday on the grand jury indictment that sets out 15 counts against him of concealment and destruction of public records and official misconduct. If he’s convicted, sentencing could include prison time as well as fines, thanks to legislation inspired by Rita Crundwell’s theft of…
Category: County Watch
The simple (but not easy) answer is to bring our rural townships back into the loop
There are at least two elected boards in DeKalb County that have so far failed to attract candidates for the Consolidated Election of April 1, 2025. Both are part of the local education infrastructure. Both operate under state rules that restrict how many board members can come from each township in their districts. Some are…
Be more like Shelby County
It was nice to see the [Shelby County Board’s] discussions on numerous matters including not paying certain invoices which had no public purpose. The committee pulled those bills and took it upon themselves to reimburse the source of the invoice from their own pocket to the person who submitted them. They did so because that…
County housing authority paid for employee’s bridal event
Public funds, property or credit shall be used onlyfor public purposes. Constitution of the State of Illinois, Article VIII. Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb (HACD) reimbursed a housing authority employee $250.00 for a bridal event thrown for another employee. Payment records obtained via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) show HACD reimbursed then-employee Jennifer…
Letter: County board member Scott Campbell explains his votes this week
On Wednesday evening, DeKalb County Board held a special meeting to vote on three items: Placing a referendum on the November ballot asking county residents to approve a property tax levy to maintain DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center (DCRNC). Accepting Saba Healthcare’s Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase DCRNC. Accepting Illuminate HC’s LOI to…
DeKalb County and the prospect of multiple and unknown buyers of its skilled nursing facility
On Facebook, I promised this week to trace the connections between the Hunter Properties people and Saba Healthcare, LLC, one of the companies interested in purchasing DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing (DCRNC). The connections may be an issue for people in the area, because City of DeKalb spent a lot of time and money pursuing…
A sexual harassment complaint against a housing authority employee
***UPDATE 7/6/22*** Housing authority has released the complaints as the PAC requested. They’re the same as the ones I obtained from an alternative source, except the authority has redacted personal information from them. I’ve placed the file in the FB group, here. In January 2022, on a tip, I sent a Freedom of Information Act…
Determination: housing authority must release complaint against its employee
The Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (PAC) has informed the local housing authority that it must release a sexual harassment complaint against one of its employees. Last winter, it came to my attention that a sexual harassment complaint against an employee of the Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb (HACD) had been sent…
Series: DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center Spotlight
I’m gathering the DCRNC posts into one place chronologically (just as I’ve done for the housing authority posts). The DCRNC series began November 2021 as a way to explain development of the county home’s financial crisis. It has since evolved into coverage of the debate and decisions that will determine its future. I’ve also created…
Housing authority sends termination notice over alleged unreported income
This continues the story of Robert S. The Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb (HACD) wanted Mr. S to sign a repayment agreement, saying Mr. S had failed to report a change in income. Mr. S has not signed the agreement, so HACD has sent him a notice of termination from the Housing Choice…