Exelon among other contributors to Ogle sheriff’s tow fund
By Matt Mencarini, Daily Gazette, Sterling, Ill. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The board already has limited how the tow fund can be spent.
Last month, Sauk Valley Media reported that nearly a third of the revenue in the fund came from sources other than towing fees.
The tow fund, which was established by a county ordinance in 2011, allowed the
The ordinance's original intent,
"It's kind of how ordinances are written," Gouker said. "We try to look at scenarios and unintended consequences. At the time, it looked like it was sufficient, and it probably was. But our board felt that we needed to change it."
The tow fund, along with several other funds, doesn't appear on the county budget.
Documents obtained by Sauk Valley Media through Freedom of Information Act requests showed that between
However, a review of the 401 pages of tow fee receipts showed that only
The other
In an email on
"
There are three deposits into the tow fund from
On
There are numerous deposits from the
The reimbursements for prisoner transport were deposited into the tow fund, Harn said in an email, to got toward fuel purchases.
"Vehicle tires are bulk purchased by the
The
"None of which we have billed these other entities for," Harn said. "Expenses for these services are absorbed by the
County tightens grip
In December, Sauk Valley Media reported that Harn had used money from the tow fund to pay for repairs for department vehicles, a tent at the
The original tow fund ordinance allowed the sheriff to use the fund at his discretion, for a variety of department needs. Harn defended all expenditures from the fund, saying they were for department purposes.
In February, the
To go along with the restrictions from February, expenditures from the tow fund are now supposed to go through the county treasurer's office.
However, last week Treasurer
The restrictions on the revenue sources, which Gouker said could be implemented in April, will come from the Executive Committee and then must be approved by the full county board.
While Gouker said he didn't want to speak for the entire Executive Committee, the restrictions could limit the fund's revenue to tow fees and possibly funds for insurance reimbursements so vehicles could be repaired quickly.
Documents request has gone unfulfilled
The request, sent
Information about the grant was made available
By law, a public body has 5 working days to respond to a FOIA request or request an extension. On
On
If he wasn't in the hospital that following Monday, Harn said, he would check on the status.
In an email that Monday, Harn said he was in the hopsital, but not for something serious. He was responding to work emails on his phone, he said.
The next day,
The county's website lists Harn and Lt.
Getzelman didn't return a message
In an email
Harn didn't respond to requests for comment this week.
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