By Adam Andrzejewski -
Since Ralph Hinkle started for me he has reported to me on a daily basis, in person, about his activities. We discussed daily goals, and accomplishments and set agendas…” -- Milton Township Supervisor Chris Heidorn (photo right), June 1, 2012
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We’ve all heard the excuse that “everybody does it” when we read about Illinois’ special brand of government malfeasance.
If that’s true, we have more units of government, which means more employees, more bosses, more trustees, and more contractors “doing it” with less oversight, than any state in the union. Perhaps it’s time to stop saying “everybody does it.”
Perhaps it’s time to stop them from “doing it.”
In our first post, What’s The Matter With Milton Township?, we proved that;
- Milton Township was cash rich
- The Top Ten Employees Make $1 Million in total compensation
- The property tax levy continues to be hiked
- For 8 years the Supervisor had virtually no formal employee management system.
In our last post, Debating Milton Township Management, we answered Supervisor Chris Heidorn and his defense of township employee Ralph Hinkle (photo right). Hired in 2004 as a part-time $16,000 per year employee, Ralph Hinkle “morphed” into “full-time” perks, pay and benefits costing taxpayers $304,000 over the next seven years.
As the township attorney disclosed and Chris Heidorn admitted, Ralph Hinkle was a man without a job activity report, time card and job description for the first eight years of township employment. When asked to produce Hinkle’s personnel file, Supervisor Heidorn didn’t even know if it existed.
So, how’s Milton Supervisor Chris Heidorn’s “laissez faire” management style working out?
Ralph Hinkle’s Junket: A six hour workshop from 11am-5pm on September 6, 2011 in Springfield, IL was an excuse for Hinkle and two Milton employees to stay for two nights/three days in Jacuzzi suites at the Crowne Plaza. Review the taxpayer funded binge including Hinkle’s dining receipts and credit card charges. Here’s the Illinois Citizen Corps Workshop Agenda.
Day One: At Sebastian’s Hideout, Hinkle’s team feasts on rack of lamb, crème brulee, cheesecake, and consumes top-shelf liquors. Day Two: Hinkle runs up a Mahogany Room bar tab and Alexander Steakhouse receipt for NY Strip, top sirloin and ribeye. Day Three: Hinkle charges taxpayers for his dinner at the Longhorn Smokehouse in Bloomington on the return trip home, plus $52 in gas!
Three Serious Allegations are explored in this post regarding employee Ralph Hinkle covering: 1.) Use of a township credit card; 2.) Use of township cell phone and email; and 3.) Liability for Township and taxpayers.