Blue Island’s Vargas sinks attempt at investigation
When bitterly cold weather breaks a water main, clear water gushes into the street.
But a rupture in the political system is like a break in a sanitary sewer that brings the disgusting stench of waste to the surface.
Many citizens and taxpayers in Blue Island believe something stinks and that it’s going to cost them no matter what officials decide to do about it.
“This is a fine kettle of fish,” resident Michael Mech said during public comment at a special city council meeting Monday night. “Harm has been done.”
Aldermen Fred Bilotto, Candace Carr and Nancy Rita called the special meeting for the council to consider hiring an outside law firm to investigate connections between Mayor Domingo Vargas and the recent purchases of two Chevy Tahoes.
The vehicles are registered to the city, and the city is in possession of titles for them, City Attorney Cary Horvath said.
“It’s my opinion the city owns them,” Horvath said.
After about 90 minutes of debate and political theatrics, the council voted 8-6 to hire Miami-based Akerman, LLP. Council members heard from Sergio Acosta, a former federal prosecutor who co-chairs Akerman’s white collar crime and government investigations practice. But Vargas opposed the move, which Horvath said needed the mayor’s approval to proceed.
“The state statute requires that the mayor and board act together,” Horvath said. “The mayor is going to have to execute and concur.”
Some residents in the audience of about 30 people booed when Vargas killed the measure.
“I have not done anything wrong. I don’t believe anyone else has done anything wrong with regard to the purchase of these trucks,” Vargas said. “The suggestion of the appointment of a special investigator I personally believe is unnecessary.
“My understanding is it would cost a significant amount of money,” Vargas said. “I believe it’s not a wise use of assets.”
Vargas said he would provide written answers if written questions were submitted to him about the purchases.
City officials revealed several new details about the purchases, which first came to public light in a
The documents showed Vargas endorsed a cashier’s check payable to the city for $76,899 on Aug. 28. A Niles police officer investigating a hit-and-run collision in late October determined that one of the vehicles involved was registered to the city of Blue Island.
Further investigation determined that the two Tahoes were bought from Currie Motors in Frankfort “directly by the office of the Mayor of Blue Island,” the Niles report said. Augustino Korkis, of Chicago, was in possession of the Tahoe involved in the collision, according to Niles police.
On Monday night, city officials said Korkis had a city of Blue Island email address, even though he was not employed by the city. Ald. Fred Bilotto alleged that Korkis created an unauthorized website designed to appear official.
“There’s a website that’s not our website with a dot gov address,” Bilotto said.
Additionally, one or both of the Tahoes racked up numerous toll violations and parking tickets sent to the city because the municipal license plates showed the vehicles were registered to Blue Island. Both vehicles were equipped with red and blue emergency lights that, by law, may only be used for official purposes, Ald. Alicia Slattery said.
“Who has the audacity to use municipal plates?” Slattery asked. “When police run the plates, who is going to pull them over?”
Also, Horvath revealed that since the city took possession of the Tahoes last week, the vehicles have been stored at Airline Towing in Calumet Park. State campaign disclosures show that Airline Towing gave $3,000, or 100 percent of receipts for Vargas’ Blue Island First Party.
City Treasurer Carmine Bilotto said the city contracts with the company for police tows and asked if Airline Towing was charging the city a storage fee. No one had an answer.
“How much are they charging for storage?” he asked. “Why are they stored there when we have a police department garage?”
City Clerk Randy Hauser said he spoke with FBI investigators about the purchases, in addition to providing a written account and documentation to the public integrity unit of the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
Some aldermen said they wanted to hire an independent investigator because neither government agency would confirm nor deny whether the purchases were being investigated. A state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny an investigation, and the FBI’s Chicago field office did not immediately respond Tuesday to an email and phone message requesting comment.
“An investigation by our own police department or city attorney at this point would, at best, be held suspect,” Carr said. “As aldermen it is our duty to our citizens to make certain all the facts are revealed and any wrongdoing be addressed in accordance with the law.”
Some members of the divided council, however, balked at the potential cost. Some residents and council members suggested the city sell the Tahoes to pay for an investigation.
Others said the council should seek bids from multiple outside legal firms and that the matter should be referred to the council’s finance and judiciary committees.
“I didn’t have input,” Ald. Leticia Vieyra said.
“This is not something to be rushed,” Ald. Bill Fahrenwald said.
Ald. Jairo Frausto wondered if the three council members hadn’t called the special meeting whether any committees would initiate discussion of the matter. “If this wasn’t before us, when was this going to be brought up?” he asked.
Bilotto, Carr, Frausto, Rita, Slattery and Ald. Kevin Donahue, Ken Pittman and George Poulos voted in favor of hiring Akerman. Fahrenwald, Vieyra and Ald. Tom Hawley, Jan Ostling, Dexter Johnson and Nancy Thompson opposed.
Some residents called for Vargas to resign because of the controversy.
“No, I am not resigning,” Vargas replied.
After some heated exchanges and sniping among council members, some public speakers said they were disappointed by the lack of decorum.
“The way some of you are acting today is repulsive,” former Ald. Chris Buckner told the council.
The controversy over the Tahoe purchases could affect Blue Island’s aldermanic elections in about two months. Vargas supports candidates in some of the city’s seven wards, while candidates who challenge Vargas are perceived as allies of state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island.
Early in Monday night’s session, Hauser recited an account of how he learned about the Tahoe purchases from Niles police and how he proceeded to inform authorities.
“I gave them facts, no opinion,” Hauser said. “If I’d wanted to make it political I’d have sent the packet right to state Rep. Bob Rita.”
Near the meeting’s close, Fahrenbacher tried to tie Akerman to Rita, a political power broker aligned with Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Donahue held up his hands in mock fright.
“Ooh, Bob Rita is the boogeyman,” he said.
“I gave them facts, no opinion,” Hauser said.
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