11192014 - News Article - Portage mayor claims late taxes a 'misunderstanding'
Portage mayor claims late taxes a 'misunderstanding'
NWI Times
November 19, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/portage-mayor-claims-late-taxes-a-misunderstanding/article_0fdbeefa-4e84-567d-831f-3bc19b5b4a9e.html
PORTAGE | Portage Mayor James Snyder said Wednesday he's taking action to make sure he pays his property tax on time in the future.
Snyder owes $1,827 in taxes and penalties on his family's home. He and his wife own a home on Laurel Street as well, but records indicate taxes are paid through a mortgage company and have been paid in full.
"I believe the payment on our Austin property is currently nine days late and the payment is in the mail and will be current as it is on our Laurel property," Snyder wrote in an email.
His property taxes were due Nov. 10.
"We have also paid the penalties and interest due without any questions," his Wednesday email states. "We intend to sign up for escrows automatically deducted from our checking so that we don’t have this problem or misunderstanding in the future as we understand we are held to a higher standard as public officials."
He didn't offer an explanation as to why he didn't pay his taxes on time last week.
It isn't the first time he's missed paying property taxes on time.
According to public records, Snyder ended 2011 owing $1,596 in taxes and penalties. He didn't make a payment until Aug. 14, 2012, indicating he didn't pay either the spring or fall tax installments on time that year, ending 2012 with a $1,777 debit to the county on his Austin Street property.
He took office in 2012.
In 2013, he made two payments to the county, one in January and a second in May. He missed the November deadline and ended the year owing $1,676 in taxes and penalties.
His tax bill, according to the records, entering 2014 rose to $5,327. His only payment of $3,500 was made Aug. 22, 2014, leaving the current balance.
Matt Baker, Porter County chief deputy treasurer, said taxpayers are considered delinquent if they do not pay their installments by the deadline. Once the deadline passes, they pay a 5 percent penalty for 30 days if they have no prior delinquencies. If they have previous delinquencies or they past 30 days, an additional 5 percent is assessed on the tax owed.
After three consecutive installments go unpaid, a property can go up for tax sale.
In addition, there is a state law allowing a government employee's wages to be garnished if they fail to pay their property taxes. The county treasurer's office is required to inform the government entity and the employee's wages can be garnished to pay the back taxes, Baker said.
However, he added, past practice has allowed the garnishment to be bypassed if the employee shows some kind of effort to pay the tax bill.
11052014 - VIDEO - Protecting Pets From Domestic Violence with Protection Orders
Renee' Harrington/Michigan OIDV
November 05, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnhBMGpG5qc
11052014 - News Article - Davich: Officials’ three magic words: ‘Off the record’
Davich: Officials’ three magic words: ‘Off the record’
Post Tribune
JERRY DAVICH
November 5, 2014
“Off the record.”
I hear this phrase on an almost daily basis from region officials who want me to know their insights about certain issues, but not with their name attached. I heard it more often as Election Day approached, with political candidates even more leery about controversial topics, campaign strategies or mudslinging gossip.
These behind-the-scenes insights forced me to look differently at many of the candidates who were running for public office in this past midterm election. I learned that one candidate struggles with bipolar-related anger issues (he won his race), another one is a delusional megalomaniac (he lost his office). I voted accordingly.
“Jerry, this is just between you and me – you know, off the record, so you know the truth,” a Northwest Indiana mayor told me recently.
He then told me what I needed to know to write my column, though he was never mentioned. This is a commonplace exchange for journalists. For many, their bread and butter. Always has been. We rely on such insights, information or confirmation of rumored facts.
Talking-head officials, especially the polished ones, know this and they’re quick to preface any conversation with those three magic words: Off the record. When I’m doing an interview in person, I will literally put down my pen and turn off my recorder, to show them I understand their concerns.
It’s my way to show respect, as well as appreciation of their trust in me. (If I was a public official, I would certainly think twice before talking with someone like me, that’s for sure.)
Some bureaucrats still remain leery, insisting for verbal confirmation that I will not attach their name to what I’m told. Others will quietly escort me away from any crowds to whisper in my ear, literally. I once had a police detective usher me away from any crowds three times during the same conversation involving his department. That’s how paranoid he was about talking to me in public.
“You can never be too safe about this stuff,” he told me, his eyes darting back and forth.
A couple weeks back, I was asked to meet with a well-known public officeholder who wanted to have an entire conversation with me off the record. He asked to meet with me for coffee somewhere and I had him choose the restaurant. Why? I knew he was nervous about being seen in public with me, or with any media type for that matter.
“How about this place?” he asked, referring to a national chain restaurant. “I don’t know of a lot of politicians who meet there.”
He’s right. Most pols seem to gravitate to local eateries, coffeehouses or bars where they know the owners, the servers and most of the customers. They feel like Norm from “Cheers.” Great for the ego, I’m guessing.
So we met at the national chain joint for breakfast and this guy told me how the FBI has been grilling him for months about his recordkeeping, his office and even his personal finances. He’s been a wreck over it, causing him enough grief to lose weight and, to a degree, lose his sanity.
“Jerry, it’s brutal,” he told me, shaking his head and stirring his coffee.
He explained to me about a parallel world existing in this region that swirls around targeted public officials under the feds’ microscope, whether they’re guilty of wrongdoing or not. This underworld soon includes questions for anyone remotely associated with the target, including their friends, family and even church pastors.
“Let me tell you, it’s the worst, it’s sheer terror,” he told me.
Or as one targeted public official once told me: “It’s un-American is what it is. They pull your credit reports, they scan your files, they ask for all your receipts, some dating back a decade.”
Some of these targeted officeholders get trained by the feds on how to take a bribe – with a wire attached to them – to catch any wrongdoing by others.
So why did this particular officeholder tell me all this over a 90-minute conversation?
“It’s not fair and someone like you needs to know what’s going on, just in case,” he said. “This isn’t only about me, but for anyone in this position. A lot of it is just perception.”
Perception is reality, especially in politics. For many public officials it’s all that matters anyway. This is why “off the record’ is used so often by so many of them, including ones who do nothing wrong. They don’t mind sharing information. They just can’t be held accountable for its origin or responsible for its consequences.
Keep this in mind when reading newspaper stories, media accounts or this column space. And if you want me to know something I otherwise wouldn’t, or possibly shouldn’t, don’t forget to first say those three magic words.
10012014 - News Article - FBI continues to request information from Portage officials
FBI continues to request information from Portage officials
NWI Times
October 01, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/fbi-continues-to-request-information-from-portage-officials/article_63645550-b9a0-5c79-9004-62609660568f.html
PORTAGE | Another Portage official has received a federal subpoena seeking information on city purchases.
Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham confirmed Wednesday that he received an electronic subpoena from the FBI seeking records of all payments and invoices from Circle R Electric between Jan. 1, 2008 and the end of September.
Stidham also confirmed that he was interviewed last month by an FBI agent for more than an hour. During the interview, Stidham said they discussed a "wide range of topics" involving the mayor's office, Redevelopment Commission activities, property purchases and relationships between various individuals.
Stidham said he was also asked to provide certified copies of Board of Works minutes by the city attorney's office involving contracts for the purchase of garbage trucks. The information was necessary, he said, to fulfill a subpoena the city's street department received last month.
Wednesday's subpoena was the latest in a string delivered by the FBI to various officials. In July the FBI requested Mayor James Snyder's campaign finance records and records from his political action committee Portage Mayor Elect 2011. The Utility Services Board also received subpoenas that month seeking documents related to a trip Snyder took to Austria he initially funded through the department, but then paid back the cost.
Snyder declined comment Wednesday afternoon, but has previously said the city will cooperate with all requests.
10012014 - News Article - FBI continues to request information from Portage officials
FBI continues to request information from Portage officials
NWI Times
October 01, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/fbi-continues-to-request-information-from-portage-officials/article_63645550-b9a0-5c79-9004-62609660568f.html
PORTAGE | Another Portage official has received a federal subpoena seeking information on city purchases.
Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham confirmed Wednesday that he received an electronic subpoena from the FBI seeking records of all payments and invoices from Circle R Electric between Jan. 1, 2008 and the end of September.
Stidham also confirmed that he was interviewed last month by an FBI agent for more than an hour. During the interview, Stidham said they discussed a "wide range of topics" involving the mayor's office, Redevelopment Commission activities, property purchases and relationships between various individuals.
Stidham said he was also asked to provide certified copies of Board of Works minutes by the city attorney's office involving contracts for the purchase of garbage trucks. The information was necessary, he said, to fulfill a subpoena the city's street department received last month.
Wednesday's subpoena was the latest in a string delivered by the FBI to various officials. In July the FBI requested Mayor James Snyder's campaign finance records and records from his political action committee Portage Mayor Elect 2011. The Utility Services Board also received subpoenas that month seeking documents related to a trip Snyder took to Austria he initially funded through the department, but then paid back the cost.
Snyder declined comment Wednesday afternoon, but has previously said the city will cooperate with all requests.
10012014 - News Article - Feds subpoena more Valparaiso records
Feds subpoena more Valparaiso records
Post-Tribune
October 1, 2014
Updated: October 2, 2014
VALPARAISO -- Clerk-Treasurer Sharon Swihart has been served with a federal subpoena for records, City Economic Development Director Patrick Lyp said Wednesday.
“This is the only subpoena received by any entity associated with the City and no other subpoenas were served on anyone, nor have the FBI agents interview(ed) (or asked to interview) anyone associated with the City,” Lyp stated in an email Wednesday.
The subpoena ordered that the city turn over documents related to the Eastgate project, now known as University Promenade, a pair of condominium complexes.
The complexes sit on either side of University Drive between Lincolnway and Valparaiso University.
The FBI requested all documents on the sale of the land to Al Krygier, the developer who bought the land, from January 2008 through July 2014.
This included minutes from the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission meetings, records of bids and requests for proposals, all contracts and purchase agreements and records for advertising the sale.
In a statement Wednesday, Lyp and the city stated Valparaiso’s policy of full cooperation with the FBI remains.
The city adopted this police in August when FBI agents requested information on University Promenade from the Porter County Assessor’s office. At that time, the city gave FBI agents a seven-page narrative of the project from 2006 on, including information on the original Eastgate project.
Some of the documents the subpoena requested were ones the city handed over already, according to the statement.
The Assistant United States Attorney in the case “apologized for the unnecessary public action,” according to the city’s statements.
When the city originally handed the seven-page narrative to the FBI in August, it also released a press release stating the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission and its staff would “fully cooperate with the FBI.”
Lyp said the city did that because “it seemed pretty apparent they’d want to request documents from us.”
Eastgate was a project to beautify east Lincolnway by razing older buildings and offering grants for new facades in 2006.
The block now has seven university-style apartment buildings and with retail stores on the bottom and a Horizon Bank branch.
The Plan Commission currently has a request for a four-lot subdivision of the University Promenade property.
10012014 - News Article - Valpo receives subpoena for University Promenade project
Valpo receives subpoena for University Promenade project
NWI Times
October 01, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valpo-receives-subpoena-for-university-promenade-project/article_23604651-6aeb-5947-91c3-c28b2d2c847b.html
VALPARAISO | The FBI delivered a subpoena to the city clerk's office Tuesday asking for documents related to the University Promenade project.
A statement issued by city Economic Development Director Patrick Lyp said the city is cooperating with the investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office but that much of the material requested previously was presented to the federal authorities.
"Back in August, and without the need for a subpoena, the city's Redevelopment Commission voluntarily produced to the FBI a seven-page narrative of the entire Eastgate project dating back to 2006, including all relevant documents," Lyp said in the statement.
"As part of that voluntary submission, it was agreed that any further document request would be handled between lawyers and without need for a subpoena.
"Although subsequent inquiries were made by the city to the FBI as to whether additional documents were needed, no response was received and no documents or information was ever requested.
After the subpoena was served (Tuesday), it was discovered the agent who served the subpoena had not spoken to the original agent assigned to the matter and had not reviewed the file, which included the narrative and relevant documents, some of which were the same documents requested in the subpoena."
The city's statement concludes, "The city respects the difficult job undertaken by all law enforcement officials and recognizes that as part of any investigation, resolution will not be immediate. The city will stand by its commitment to operate in good faith and provide whatever information is requested in order to bring the city's involvement to a close."
Items requested Tuesday included "all contracts, purchase agreements, leases, redevelopment agreements associated with the sale of the property," "any and all records of advertising done by the city regarding the request for proposal associated with the property sale" and "meeting minutes of the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission or any other relevant commission or board associated with the city ... wherein the sale of said property was discussed."
Lyp said many of the items requested were given to investigators in August when the FBI went to the Porter County Auditor's Office. The information from the auditor's office including aerial images of the site and sales disclosure on the six parcels involved with University Promenade. A copy of the check for the sale and a copy of the unsuccessful bid were among those items still to be provided by the city.
Although the request was made to the clerk-treasurer's office, Clerk-Treasurer Sharon Swihart said she was not in the office at the time the FBI appeared. No other subpoenas were delivered to any other offices or individuals. The subpoena covers the period between Jan. 1, 2008, and July 31, 2014.
The commission twice put the property up for sale. The first deal fell through when the recession hit, and the developer was unable to follow through with the agreement. The deadline for second agreement with Al Krygier had to be extended before it proceeded to completion.
09302014 - News Article - Auditor’s deputy admits sending campaign email on county computer
Auditor’s deputy admits sending campaign email on county computer
Post-Tribune
September 30, 2014
Updated: October 1, 2014
VALPARAISO – The chief deputy in Porter County Auditor Bob Wichlinski’s office used his work email in late September to send a candidate questionnaire, apparently at Wichlinski’s behest.
The federal court system has statutes against campaigning during business hours, said Bob Ramsey, supervisory special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“It’s an offense that could be charged if it’s proven. It has caused problems for politicians and impacted their political life and their personal life,” he said. “Is it proper to do? I think you’re flirting with some danger there, given what’s happened to politicians in the past.”
Wichlinski did not return a call seeking comment.
In Lake County, former Surveyor George Van Til is awaiting federal sentencing for using employees in his office to campaign during the work day, among other offenses.
The Post-Tribune received a copy of the email, sent during the workday on Sept. 19 from Ryan Kubal’s Porter County email address, through a public records request to County Attorney Elizabeth Knight.
The email contains the subject line “Robert J. Wichlinski Candidate Questionaire” (sic) and is addressed to Joe Wszolek, chief operating officer for the Greater Northern Indiana Association of Realtors. It was sent at 1:04 p.m.
The attachment is a three-page response to the Realtors Political Action Committee trustee candidate questionnaire, used by GNIAR to determine which candidates to support for the Nov. 4 general election.
Kubal confirmed that he sent the document.
“Bob asked me,” Kubal said. “He gave me something earlier in the day, so I scanned it in and forwarded it to (Wszolek). I have no clue what it is. Bob asked me to scan it in and send it, so I did.”
Wszolek said his office often speaks with political candidates looking for endorsements at election time, as do other organizations.
His role is to gather that information, which is confidential, so members can decide which candidates to support, he said, declining to confirm or deny he received the email. GNIAR’s membership includes real estate agents throughout the area, including Porter County.
The incident also may be a breach of the county’s personnel handbook.
While employees can engage in political activity when they are not at work, the manual prohibits employees and elected officials from using “county materials, funds, property, personnel, facilities or equipment for any purpose other than for official county business.”
The manual also states that employees and elected officials “shall not engage in or direct others to engage in work other than the performance of official duties during work hours.”
Wichlinski, a Republican, is seeking a second term in office against Democrat Vicki Urbanik.
The matter troubled Urbanik.
“The issue is, did Bob direct his employee to do this on county time?” she said. “To me, it’s an absolute violation of common sense and ethical behavior of an official.”
09092014 - News Article - FBI visits Portage street department
FBI visits Portage street department
NWI Times
September 09, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/fbi-visits-portage-street-department/article_f07989c4-6fcd-5028-8df8-b06ae1ee53bd.html
PORTAGE | FBI officials made their second visit to the city Tuesday.
This time they visited the city's street department requesting documentation related to the purchase of automated garbage trucks from Great Lakes Peterbilt, said Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham who confirmed the agency's visit.
City Attorney Gregg Sobkowski confirmed the FBI issued a subpoena for all bid packages received by the city for garbage trucks purchased from 2012 to the present.
"The city is going to comply with all the requests," said Sobkowski, adding they were given a Sept. 17 deadline to provide the information.
In late July, the agency visited the city's Utility Services Department requesting documents related to Mayor James Snyder's travel expenses for a city economic development trip to Europe.
The FBI also requested copies of Snyder's campaign finance records and records from his political action committee from the Porter County Administration Center in July.
According to minutes from a Board of Works meeting, the board approved the purchase of "solid waste collection vehicles" from Great Lakes Peterbilt on Jan. 28, 2013. While the minutes don't reflect how many garbage trucks were purchased or their cost, they do state that Street Superintendent Steve Charnetzky told the board that Great Lakes Peterbilt was the only responsive bidder and that other bids should be rejected.
Board of Works minutes from Dec. 23, 2013, also reflect the city bought two additional trucks from Great Lakes Peterbilt for $425,355. In that round of bidding, there were three other bids received, and Great Lakes Peterbilt appeared to be the lowest bidder.
The FBI has made frequent visits to Porter County this summer, most recently to the town of Hebron last week along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
They also visited offices of the Porter County auditor's office in August seeking information on a commercial development in Valparaiso.
08182014 - News Article - What's the Matter With Portage?
What's the Matter With Portage?
Indiana Federation of Democratic Women
Posted by Alison Zuidervliet
August 18, 2014
http://www.ifdw.org/what_s_the_matter_with_portage
Though I currently live in Indianapolis, I am proud to call Portage, Indiana my hometown. If you don’t know where Portage is, it is in the Region, northwest Indiana. It is the largest city in Porter County and sits on Lake Michigan between Chesterton and Gary. It is a city of hardworking people with steel mills and other blue-collar jobs dominating the landscape. Up until 2011, it had a successful string of great Democratic mayors.
In 2011, the people of Portage elected a young Republican, James Snyder, to be Mayor. It was a U-turn for the city. Snyder pursued familiar Republican policies and politics, including privatizing services, fighting with unions, and slowing the city’s progress. All the while,Snyder was mismanaging his campaign funds and the city’s tax dollars. He did this so blatantly that he is currently being investigated by the FBI. Their agents are making weekly trips to the county courthouse to pull documents and strengthen their case against Snyder.
Snyder, for his part, seems to not even realize he’s done anything wrong as the case against him grows stronger every day. This is a symptom of the disease that is the Indiana Republican Party.
Since the Republicans have come to their current position of overwhelming power in Indiana, they have systematically lined their own pockets and those of their buddies. The lineup of GOP criminals includes corrupt politicians like Tony Bennett who changes grades for cash, Rep. Eric Turner who stands to make over $900 million after asserting his power and lobbying against bills that would hurt his business deals, and Mitch Daniels who used his own Governor-appointed Purdue Trustees to make him president of the university.
The Indiana Republican Party is acting like it is straight out of a mafia movie. They are an organized crime syndicate, systematically stealing our money and hurting our state while they get richer and become more and more destructive. We should just call them what they really are: the Indiana Republican Mafia.
I need you to help the Indiana Federation of Democratic Women stand up to this corruption and call it out when you see it.
Have you seen an instance of political corruption in your community? Do you know of an official that has violated the public trust without consequence?
Please email me at ali@ifdw.org and let me know about what you see going on in your county. Enough is enough.
Onward to November!
08132014 - News Article - Valpo Promenade project getting FBI scrutiny, auditor says
Valpo Promenade project getting FBI scrutiny, auditor says
Chesterton Tribune
August 13, 2014
http://chestertontribune.com/PoliceFireEmergency/valpo_promenade_project_getting.htm
Porter County Auditor Robert Wichlinski told the Chesterton Tribune this morning that FBI agents have been regularly coming to his office to collect copies of various contracts, payroll information, sales disclosures and other documents since their investigation into local governments began a little less than a year ago.
“They let me know when they want to see something. I just give them what they ask for and don’t ask questions and they don’t tell me anything,” said Wichlinski.
Their most recent visit to the Auditor’s office, late Monday morning according to Wichlinski, was to obtain information related to the Promenade development, located between Lincolnway and LaPorte Ave. to the north of Valparaiso University.
Specifically, the FBI obtained two sales disclosures on the six parcels that make up the promenade and various aerial images of the property generated by the County’s GIS System.
According to Wichlinski, the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission is listed as the seller on sales disclosures and a private developer as the buyer.
The project has been under development since 2010.
Wichlinski said the FBI also asked for a “handful” of other “stuff” Monday, but would only confirm the documents related to promenade as what the FBI sought.
The Auditor’s Office holds copies of tax information from the assessor and recorder’s office, deeds and records for sales transactions across the county, which Wichlinski said is why the FBI frequently consults his office. All the information at the auditor’s office is public record, said Wichlinski, adding that the FBI has not accused him of any wrongdoing.
He said agents make requests for documents “typically every other week” from his office.
Wichlinski in April reported that the FBI asked him for copies of 2013 payroll records of the Expo Center.
The FBI has reportedly visited other offices within the Porter County Administration Building. Last month, agents stopped in at the Voters Registration Office to collect campaign finance reports for Portage Mayor James Snyder.
In March, agents collected copies of building permits for Porter Regional Hospital, and its adjoining medical center, from the Porter County Plan Commission. They also downloaded records from the Plan Commission office from the County’s computer server in the IT office.
In addition, the bureau has sought documents related to the December 2012 contract between the County Commissioners and Porter Hospital for clinical services in the County’s Employee Health Plan, conflict of interest disclosure statements filed in the County Clerk’s office from 2007 to 2013, and project bid proposals related to 2010 and 2011 contracts with the County Highway Department.
August 13, 2014
http://chestertontribune.com/PoliceFireEmergency/valpo_promenade_project_getting.htm
Porter County Auditor Robert Wichlinski told the Chesterton Tribune this morning that FBI agents have been regularly coming to his office to collect copies of various contracts, payroll information, sales disclosures and other documents since their investigation into local governments began a little less than a year ago.
“They let me know when they want to see something. I just give them what they ask for and don’t ask questions and they don’t tell me anything,” said Wichlinski.
Their most recent visit to the Auditor’s office, late Monday morning according to Wichlinski, was to obtain information related to the Promenade development, located between Lincolnway and LaPorte Ave. to the north of Valparaiso University.
Specifically, the FBI obtained two sales disclosures on the six parcels that make up the promenade and various aerial images of the property generated by the County’s GIS System.
According to Wichlinski, the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission is listed as the seller on sales disclosures and a private developer as the buyer.
The project has been under development since 2010.
Wichlinski said the FBI also asked for a “handful” of other “stuff” Monday, but would only confirm the documents related to promenade as what the FBI sought.
The Auditor’s Office holds copies of tax information from the assessor and recorder’s office, deeds and records for sales transactions across the county, which Wichlinski said is why the FBI frequently consults his office. All the information at the auditor’s office is public record, said Wichlinski, adding that the FBI has not accused him of any wrongdoing.
He said agents make requests for documents “typically every other week” from his office.
Wichlinski in April reported that the FBI asked him for copies of 2013 payroll records of the Expo Center.
The FBI has reportedly visited other offices within the Porter County Administration Building. Last month, agents stopped in at the Voters Registration Office to collect campaign finance reports for Portage Mayor James Snyder.
In March, agents collected copies of building permits for Porter Regional Hospital, and its adjoining medical center, from the Porter County Plan Commission. They also downloaded records from the Plan Commission office from the County’s computer server in the IT office.
In addition, the bureau has sought documents related to the December 2012 contract between the County Commissioners and Porter Hospital for clinical services in the County’s Employee Health Plan, conflict of interest disclosure statements filed in the County Clerk’s office from 2007 to 2013, and project bid proposals related to 2010 and 2011 contracts with the County Highway Department.
08132014 - News Article - Valpo commission vows to cooperate with FBI
Valpo commission vows to cooperate with FBI
NWI Times
August 13, 2014
August 13, 2014
VALPARAISO | The city's Redevelopment Commission issued a statement Wednesday promising full cooperation with the FBI investigation of the University Promenade project.
On Tuesday, the FBI got aerial images of the project site and sales disclosure information from the Porter County auditor's office on the six parcels along University Drive between Lincolnway and LaPorte Avenue that were part of the sale to developer Al Krygier.
The finished project will provide a north entrance to Valparaiso University and includes two mixed-used buildings with commercial uses on the ground floor and condominiums on the upper two floors. A small park was built at the northwest corner of Lincolnway and University Drive and sold to the city.
In its statement, the commission said, "Redevelopment efforts (including public improvements) commenced on East Lincolnway in 2006 with the East Lincolnway streetscape beautification project. As a result, the area has seen a transformation with the construction of seven 'university style' apartment buildings and a Horizon Bank branch location.
"Other property owners have taken advantage of facade grants (matched by private investment) to enhance the outside appearances of their buildings. As to the University Promenade project, all agreements were publicly approved by the redevelopment commission and executed on Aug. 13, 2010. The closing on the real estate took place on or about Sept. 24, 2010.
"All records as to University Promenade are public and available for inspection. If asked, the redevelopment commission and its staff will fully cooperate with the FBI."
08122014 - News Article - Valpo's Promenade Development targeted by FBI
Valpo's Promenade Development targeted by FBI
NWI Times
August 12, 2014
August 12, 2014
VALPARAISO | The University Promenade development in Valparaiso is the latest local target of an FBI investigation.
FBI agents visited the Porter County auditor's office on Monday seeking aerial images of the site and sales disclosure information on the six parcels between Lincolnway and LaPorte Avenue, Auditor Bob Wichlinski said Tuesday.
The auditor's office maintains records of county property descriptions, ownership and tax billing.
The Promenade development, at the north entrance of the Valparaiso University campus, was developed by Al Krygier, who purchased the 2.8-acre site from the city's Redevelopment Commission.
Krygier said Tuesday he knew nothing about the FBI investigation and said he wanted to look into it before commenting.
Calls placed Tuesday to the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission and other Valparaiso city officials were not returned.
The University Promenade development has a mixed use of retail, commercial and condominiums.
The development is the latest target in what has been a growing investigation by the FBI into local government.
Federal agents have recently been digging into Portage Mayor James Snyder's use of campaign funds to reimburse the city for plane tickets and other expenses related to a city economic development trip to Europe.
Snyder said the city was reimbursed in the time allowed for the trip, which was used to promote Portage and visit the Austria headquarters of a company operating in Portage.
FBI agents have also pulled payroll records over the past year for the Porter County Expo Center and have visited numerous other county departments including information technologies, plan commission, highway, clerk of the courts and the county's insurance servicing agent.
08012014 - News Article - FBI Widens probe into Portage Mayor
FBI Widens probe into Portage Mayor
HPI Daily Wire
Howey Politics Daily Wire
August 01, 2014
http://howeypolitics.com/Content/HPI-Daily-Wire/HPI-Daily-Wire/Article/August-1--2014-HPI-Daily-Wire/12/31/11640
The FBI has widened its investigation into Portage Mayor James Snyder to include plane tickets and travel expenses he funded through the city and/or its utility department from campaign funds (Kasarda, NWI Times).
The federal investigators served members of the Utility Service Board with subpoenas earlier this week seeking documents related to Snyder writing checks to pay back the debt, said department Secretary/Treasurer Sherry Smolar.
Smolar said she was working Thursday to fulfill the request. Snyder said in a written statement the reimbursement was for plane tickets and other expenses related to a city economic development trip to Europe.
"We reimbursed them in the time allotted by the state board of accounts. The PAC and Campaign chose to reimburse the entire trip instead of the normal half as businesses contributed more money than we expected to raise for the express purpose of the trip, so the City incurred no expense for the City trip we took to promote Portage and visit the world headquarters (in Austria) for Portage-based Fronius. We also attended the world Intersolar convention in Munich, Germany as a guest of Fronius, who introduced Portage to a dozen or more potential new Portage businesses," according to the statement.
The request for documents from the utility department comes one week after FBI agents appeared at the Porter County Administration Center seeking copies of campaign records for Snyder.
Sundae Schoon, the Republican director at the Porter County voter registration office, said the FBI agents requested his campaign finance records and records from his political action committee Portage Mayor Elect 2011.
Snyder responded in an email last week that he has done nothing wrong. "I have been advised that government agents have asked to review my campaign-finance records," he said in the email. "These records are now, and have always been, available to the public on the Internet. In fact, to my knowledge, I was the first public official in Porter County to post such records in a public forum. My campaign has done nothing wrong, and we look forward to this matter being wrapped up as expeditiously as possible," the message stated.
Andre Joseph, who is the City Council's appointment to the Utility Service Board, said FBI agents interviewed him at his home last week. He said in a prepared statement Thursday, "The Portage Utility Service Board has profited from the growth and enthusiasm of Mayor Snyder. We would have gladly paid for his share of the trip, but he showed great initiative by raising all of the money himself. I believe in the importance of Mayors from cities like ours taking advantage of the global economy. We need jobs, and this Mayor understands that, and I'm proud to serve with him."
07312014 - News Article - FBI continues probe into Portage mayor
FBI continues probe into Portage mayor
NWI Times
July 31, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/fbi-continues-probe-into-portage-mayor/article_c43569ee-d8f3-58c5-946e-b11705bab9d0.html
PORTAGE | The FBI has widened its investigation into Portage Mayor James Snyder to include plane tickets and travel expenses he funded through the city and/or its utility department from campaign funds.
The federal investigators served members of the Utility Service Board with subpoenas earlier this week seeking documents related to Snyder writing checks to pay back the debt, said department Secretary/Treasurer Sherry Smolar.
Smolar said she was working Thursday to fulfill the request.
Snyder said in a written statement the reimbursement was for plane tickets and other expenses related to a city economic development trip to Europe.
"We reimbursed them in the time allotted by the state board of accounts. The PAC and Campaign chose to reimburse the entire trip instead of the normal half as businesses contributed more money than we expected to raise for the express purpose of the trip, so the City incurred no expense for the City trip we took to promote Portage and visit the world headquarters (in Austria) for Portage-based Fronius. We also attended the world Intersolar convention in Munich, Germany as a guest of Fronius, who introduced Portage to a dozen or more potential new Portage businesses," according to the statement.
The request for documents from the utility department comes one week after FBI agents appeared at the Porter County Administration Center seeking copies of campaign records for Snyder.
Sundae Schoon, the Republican director at the Porter County voter registration office, said the FBI agents requested his campaign finance records and records from his political action committee Portage Mayor Elect 2011.
Snyder responded in an email last week that he has done nothing wrong.
"I have been advised that government agents have asked to review my campaign-finance records," he said in the email. "These records are now, and have always been, available to the public on the Internet. In fact, to my knowledge, I was the first public official in Porter County to post such records in a public forum. My campaign has done nothing wrong, and we look forward to this matter being wrapped up as expeditiously as possible," the message stated.
Andre Joseph, who is the City Council's appointment to the Utility Service Board, said FBI agents interviewed him at his home last week.
He said in a prepared statement Thursday, "The Portage Utility Service Board has profited from the growth and enthusiasm of Mayor Snyder. We would have gladly paid for his share of the trip, but he showed great initiative by raising all of the money himself. I believe in the importance of Mayors from cities like ours taking advantage of the global economy. We need jobs, and this Mayor understands that, and I'm proud to serve with him."
07232014 - News Article - FBI eyes Portage mayor's finance reports
FBI eyes Portage mayor's finance reports
Post-Tribune
July 23, 2014 9:42AM
Updated: August 28, 2014 6:20AM
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/porter/28807408-418/mayors-campaign-finance-reports-taken-in-portage.html#.VAVSzeqYaM8
VALPARAISO — Agents with the FBI spent about 10 minutes in the Porter County Voter Registration Office last week, getting copies of campaign finance reports for Portage Mayor Jim Snyder.
All of the information is public record and is available on the county’s website, at www.porterco.org, said Sundae Schoon, Republican representative in the office, who handled the agents’ request.
“They asked for copies of Mayor Snyder’s campaign finance reports,” she said, as well as those for a political action committee from his run for mayor in 2011.
The reports covered from 2007, when Snyder first ran for office, to the annual report he filed in 2013.
Snyder issued a written statement in response to the FBI’s request:
“I have been advised that government agents have asked to review my campaign finance records. These records are now, and have always been, available to the public on the Internet. In fact, to my knowledge, I was the first public official in Porter County to post such records in a public forum. My campaign has done nothing wrong, and we look forward to this matter being wrapped up as expeditiously as possible.”
07222014 - News Article - FBI returns to county, eyes Portage Mayor
FBI returns to county, eyes Portage Mayor
Chesterton Tribune
July 22, 2014
http://chestertontribune.com/PoliceFireEmergency/fbi_returns_to_county_eyes_porta.htm
After being quiet for more than three months, the FBI returned to the Porter County Administration Building on Monday and obtained campaign finance reports for Portage Mayor James Snyder.
According to County Voters Registration Republican Director Sundae Schoon, agents entered the Voters Registration Office, identified themselves to her and asked for copies of Snyder’s campaign finance reports and his Citizens for Snyder political action committee’s report from 2011.
Schoon said she did not recall the exact time the FBI was in her office but they were there in the afternoon and stayed for about 10 minutes as she complied with the request to make copies. She said the agents did not indicate what interest they had in the reports.
Snyder emailed the following comment to the Chesterton Tribune before deadline today: “I have been advised that government agents have asked to review my campaign-finance records. These records are now, and have always been, available to the public on the Internet. In fact, to my knowledge, I was the first public official in Porter County to post such records in a public forum. My campaign has done nothing wrong, and we look forward to this matter being wrapped up as expeditiously as possible.”
Since November, numerous County offices have reported visits by FBI agents collecting information.
Agents were in the Porter County Auditor’s office in April and obtained payroll records for the Expo Center from 2013.
In March, agents collected copies of building permits for Porter Regional Hospital and its adjoining medical center from the Porter County Plan Commission. They also downloaded records from the Plan Commission office from the County’s computer server in the IT office.
In addition, the bureau so far has taken documents related to the December 2012 contract between the County Commissioners and Porter Hospital for clinical services in the County’s Employee Health Plan, conflict of interest disclosure statements filed in the County Clerk’s office from 2007 to 2013, and project bid proposals related to 2010 and 2011 contracts with the County Highway Department.
07212014 - News Article - FBI requests Portage mayor's campaign finance records
FBI requests Portage mayor's campaign finance records
NWI Times
July 21, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/fbi-requests-portage-mayor-s-campaign-finance-records/article_3961a8da-dd73-5418-827d-d374e13ff1f1.html
VALPARAISO | FBI agents appeared at the Porter County Administration Building on Monday seeking copies of campaign records for Portage Mayor James Snyder.
Sundae Schoon, the Republican director at the county voter registration office, said the FBI agents requested his campaign finance records and records from his political action committee Portage Mayor Elect 2011.
Schoon said the agents were in the office about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to make copies of the records.
Snyder responded in an email stating he has done nothing wrong.
"I have been advised that government agents have asked to review my campaign-finance records. These records are now, and have always been, available to the public on the Internet. In fact, to my knowledge, I was the first public official in Porter County to post such records in a public forum. My campaign has done nothing wrong, and we look forward to this matter being wrapped up as expeditiously as possible," the message stated.
07162014 - News Article - EDITORIAL: IU study a reminder of corruption's cost
EDITORIAL: IU study a reminder of corruption's cost
NWI Times
The Times Editorial Board
July 16, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-iu-study-a-reminder-of-corruption-s-cost/article_9d29ea1e-ba7b-590b-8277-c54bd0c24619.html
The revolving door between Northwest Indiana local government offices and the Hammond federal courthouse often makes our region the butt of public corruption jokes locally and abroad.
But it's not so funny when you consider the actual impact of public corruption on government coffers -- and thus taxpayers' wallets.
A recently released Indiana University study sought to rank levels of public corruption by state and put a monetary value on the misdeeds of public officials. The results were eye-popping and the lessons applicable to Northwest Indiana, even though the Hoosier state wasn't on the list of the study's 10 worst.
Northwest Indiana's public officials -- and more importantly the voters who put them in office -- should soak in this important study.
The public policy professors who led the study concluded the 10 most corrupt states -- including Illinois -- would have spent 5.2 percent less between 1997 and 2008 had those states been more like the ones with lower levels of corruption.
As part of the review, study leaders reviewed more than 25,000 federal corruption convictions of state and local officials between 1976 and 2008.
The good news for Hoosiers is highly corrupt Illinois spent $923.47 more per resident than Indiana, which fell somewhere in the mid tier of corruption among states, the study concluded. During that same time period, Indiana spent more than twice as much from its general fund on education as Illinois did during the study's parameters.
The bad news -- not reflected in the study -- is public corruption continues a historically rampant run in Northwest Indiana, and the price tag is probably higher than any of us wants to accept.
About 60 people -- mostly Northwest Indiana elected officials, vendors with public contracts or other political power brokers -- have been convicted of public corruption in U.S. District Court since 1985.
Each case likely represents dozens of legal proceedings, court filings and countless investigative hours by federal law enforcement -- all in addition to the direct costs to taxpayers of the actual crimes.
It doesn't seem to have improved in recent years, either. Former Lake County Surveyor George Van Til pleaded guilty in December to using the resources of his government office to further his campaign.
Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist, his wife and stepdaughter remain under federal indictment in a pending case on charges including stealing from a campaign fund and the city's food pantry.
They are innocent unless proven guilty.
And federal agents raided the Calumet Township trustee's office in the spring, seizing boxes of evidence and a computer in an ongoing probe.
The IU study reminds us there is a cost to these types of cases that goes beyond reputation and embarrassment.
The sum of all those costs -- monetary and otherwise -- should be enough for taxpayers to demand more accountability from their leaders.
NWI Times
The Times Editorial Board
July 16, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-iu-study-a-reminder-of-corruption-s-cost/article_9d29ea1e-ba7b-590b-8277-c54bd0c24619.html
The revolving door between Northwest Indiana local government offices and the Hammond federal courthouse often makes our region the butt of public corruption jokes locally and abroad.
But it's not so funny when you consider the actual impact of public corruption on government coffers -- and thus taxpayers' wallets.
A recently released Indiana University study sought to rank levels of public corruption by state and put a monetary value on the misdeeds of public officials. The results were eye-popping and the lessons applicable to Northwest Indiana, even though the Hoosier state wasn't on the list of the study's 10 worst.
Northwest Indiana's public officials -- and more importantly the voters who put them in office -- should soak in this important study.
The public policy professors who led the study concluded the 10 most corrupt states -- including Illinois -- would have spent 5.2 percent less between 1997 and 2008 had those states been more like the ones with lower levels of corruption.
As part of the review, study leaders reviewed more than 25,000 federal corruption convictions of state and local officials between 1976 and 2008.
The good news for Hoosiers is highly corrupt Illinois spent $923.47 more per resident than Indiana, which fell somewhere in the mid tier of corruption among states, the study concluded. During that same time period, Indiana spent more than twice as much from its general fund on education as Illinois did during the study's parameters.
The bad news -- not reflected in the study -- is public corruption continues a historically rampant run in Northwest Indiana, and the price tag is probably higher than any of us wants to accept.
About 60 people -- mostly Northwest Indiana elected officials, vendors with public contracts or other political power brokers -- have been convicted of public corruption in U.S. District Court since 1985.
Each case likely represents dozens of legal proceedings, court filings and countless investigative hours by federal law enforcement -- all in addition to the direct costs to taxpayers of the actual crimes.
It doesn't seem to have improved in recent years, either. Former Lake County Surveyor George Van Til pleaded guilty in December to using the resources of his government office to further his campaign.
Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist, his wife and stepdaughter remain under federal indictment in a pending case on charges including stealing from a campaign fund and the city's food pantry.
They are innocent unless proven guilty.
And federal agents raided the Calumet Township trustee's office in the spring, seizing boxes of evidence and a computer in an ongoing probe.
The IU study reminds us there is a cost to these types of cases that goes beyond reputation and embarrassment.
The sum of all those costs -- monetary and otherwise -- should be enough for taxpayers to demand more accountability from their leaders.
07022014 - News Article - Thompson will challenge Clancy for Portage Township Trustee
Thompson will challenge Clancy for Portage Township Trustee
NWI Times
July 02, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/thompson-will-challenge-clancy-for-portage-township-trustee/article_05c43987-6588-5f8b-81fb-1a79bd3d883e.html
PORTAGE | Local Realtor Jim Thompson was appointed this week to the vacancy on the Republican ballot for Portage Township trustee.
He will challenge incumbent Democrat Brendan Clancy for the seat in November.
In a press release, Thompson said he believes cooperation with local units of government, like Portage, could provide a much more efficient government, including creating a fire territory similar to Center Township to meet the needs of South Haven and Portage residents.
"The trustee's office was designed by the State Constitution to provide a hand up, not a hand out," said Thompson, adding he believes strengthening the rules for those who receive relief will make sure the people who need help are the ones getting it.
He also believes that, over time, the Kernan/Shepherd report should be implemented and trustee services should be maintained by one county system.
"I've been bitten by the 'elected service bug' by helping candidates like (Porter County) Assessor Jon Snyder and (Portage) Mayor Jim Snyder get elected and then having had the opportunity to see how their leadership has made a difference in my community," he said. "My goal will be to make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged and seniors in Portage Township."
Thompson lives in Portage with his wife and two children.
05072014 - News Article - Snyder, Evans clash over order to vacate office
Snyder, Evans clash over order to vacate office
NWI Times
May 07, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/snyder-evans-clash-over-order-to-vacate-office/article_0b72055c-fd7d-54ae-b835-5f20b1f3bd8f.html
VALPARAISO | Visitors to the Porter County Assessor's Office might find the staff sitting in the hall soon.
Assessor Jon Snyder said Board of Commissioners President John Evans notified his office Wednesday he would have to vacate one of the offices now used on the top floor and turn over his department's county car.
Snyder was given 30 days to clear out of the office, but no deadline was set for surrendering the car.
"It has been implied that this is retaliation against my office and staff for my support of the commissioner's political foe (Porter County Councilman Jim Biggs)," Snyder said in a statement released Wednesday. "I would like to think that this is not the case but is part of Commissioner Evans' master plan for Porter County.
"Although I have never seen a plan, I will continue to assume that this is the case," he said. "I have asked the commissioner to meet with me regarding his plan so we can better prepare for sudden changes such as these that he has ordered. I have no intention to make any changes until the full body of commissioners meets and makes its intentions known."
Snyder said he has reduced staff and presented a plan more than a year ago for consolidating his offices. He has two suites on the top floor and one on the building's main floor. His plan would have kept the one Evans wants him to vacate because it has a large conference room and is more taxpayer friendly, he said.
"The first floor suite is very small, and I wanted more space so taxpayers don't feel like they are walking into a cave. Unless there are some structural changes, I don't see how we can vacate that whole space. There's been a lot of talk, but they never moved forward with anything. We had plans we were working on, but now it's back to 'You have to get out in 30 days.'"
Since no alternate space was offered for his use, Snyder said he might move the furniture into the hallway so it will be easier for taxpayers. He also questioned Evans' authority to order the move. Evans said the commissioners president is in charge of allocating space in all the buildings.
"That's something Jon knew when he asked for the space," Evans said. "He's got plenty of room to put his people."
Evans said Snyder wanted the suite in question because it had the conference room for holding property tax appeals hearings. It was later decided to move those to the commissioners' meeting room on the main floor so they could use the large screen TVs. He said the other office has enough room for the assessor's few employees. The county council is in need of space and could use the space more than Snyder, he said.
"They have seven council people and two staff members in a space about the size of a broom closet," Evans said. "It's been discussed for a long time. Snyder is a hard guy to find and discuss things with, so I talked to his deputy about it."
Evans said no other assessor had a county car. Instead, they used their own cars and charged the mileage to the county. Snyder requested one that usually sits in the county garage unused, he said. The car was supposed to be for going out to assess properties, but Snyder recently got approval for a photographic system that enables him to take aerial pictures detailed enough to do the assessments without having to visit each property.
"We are in a cash crunch, and there are other departments that could need that vehicle. It probably will go to juvenile, but there are other departments that have expressed interest in a county car," Evans said.
Evans said he didn't understand the reason for Snyder's public statement about the move. He said he also authorized the Superior Court No. 6 in the north county administration building to use the space formerly occupied by the health department. Evans said he hasn't heard any complaint from them.
04192014 - News Article - Shackles, high-profile raids highlight visual assault on region public corruption
Shackles, high-profile raids highlight visual assault on region public corruption
Marc Chase
NWI Times
April 19, 2014
April 19, 2014
HAMMOND | The clanking of shackles around wrists and ankles of elected officials charged with public corruption sends a sensory message, whether intended by law enforcement or not.
A message also comes across with the massive billboard-sized FBI logo on the sides of an evidence truck parked outside a local government building being raided.
At least one region defense attorney contends -- and some federal agents agree -- authorities here are sending a more visual, public message these days in a crack-down on alleged public corruption and other offenses.
Criminal defense attorney Scott King took note last year when his client, former Lake County Surveyor George Van Til, was led into Hammond federal court -- shackled hand and foot -- for his initial appearance on public corruption charges.
At the time, King said it was the first time he could remember seeing a client accused of nonviolent offenses marched into court in chains.
But it wouldn't be the last.
King also is representing Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and the mayor's wife on charges of stealing from campaign and city food pantry funds, among other accusations. On Thursday, the U.S. Marshals Service led Soderquist, his wife and stepdaughter, who also face charges, into Hammond federal court with the defendants clad in wrist and ankle chains.
King said he vehemently disagrees with the practice of shackling defendants charged with nonviolent crimes before they've been convicted of doing anything wrong.
He said he went on record with the complaint last year, sending a formal letter of protest to Northern District of Indiana U.S. Chief Judge Philip Simon.
Simon was unavailable for comment Friday.
The U.S. Marshals Service, the agency providing federal courtroom security, would not comment on any security measures or decisions, agency spokeswoman Pamela Mozdzierz said.
But to King, the shackling practice is a visual splash that presumes guilt of nonviolent offenders before they've been tried or convicted.
"Historically, in cases of people accused of nonviolent offenses, you didn't see this practice," King said.
"It's a visual act that I don't think is justified by any real security threat. They're bringing people into the courtroom in chains at a stage where they're presumed innocent."
In the case of Van Til, he ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of using county government resources to further his campaign and then directing the destruction of evidence to cover it up.
But Van Til, who is free on bond awaiting sentencing in his case, had not yet been convicted in May 2013 when he entered a federal courtroom with shackled wrists and ankles that also were connected to a chain around his waist.
King acknowledged that since Van Til's initial appearance, he is seeing more use of shackles for all defendants during initial appearances on criminal charges in Hammond federal court.
Though the U.S. Marshals Service declined to comment on the practice of shackling inmates, another federal agency's office admits a concerted effort to become more publicly visible in some of its operations.
Last month, the 600 block of Connecticut Street in Gary was closed down, and a large white truck with a prominent FBI logo was parked outside the Calumet Township trustee's office.
FBI and IRS had closed down the office and were seen carrying boxes and at least one computer out of the trustee's facility while serving a federal search warrant.
Throughout the morning, and in spite of an intermittent cold rain, a few people living in the nearby neighborhood came out to gawk at the truck and snap its picture in front of Trustee Mary Elgin's place of business.
Though no charges or reason behind the raid have yet been made public, the FBI made no secret it was there.
And according to a local FBI supervisory agent, that's partly by design.
"We are going to be visible and active, because part of our success is our visibility in the community -- like when our personnel are actively engaged in investigations, collecting evidence and serving subpoenas," said Bob Ramsey, supervisory agent for the FBI's Merrillville office.
"It's a good indication we are out there working hard and protecting the public's interests. "There haven't been any directives specifically from Indianapolis. Just our mindset up here is that there is work to do, and we are going to be aggressive."
Ramsey acknowledged crime deterrence is one of several reasons for the agency's high-profile look.
Times Staff Writer Bill Dolan contributed to this report.
04092014 - News Article - FBI looking at 2013 County Expo Center payroll info
FBI looking at 2013 County Expo Center payroll info
Chesterton Tribune
April 09, 2014
http://chestertontribune.com/Porter%20County/fbi_looking_at_2013_county_expo.htm
The FBI is still actively conducting its investigation of Porter County government and appears to be interested in last year’s payroll information for the Porter County Expo Center.
County Auditor Robert Wichlinski confirmed this morning that an agent came to his office at about 1 p.m. Tuesday to obtain the Expo Center’s payroll records from 2013.
The agent did not indicate why he wanted to see the information and did not take anything else, Wichlinski said.
Wichlinski told the Chesterton Tribune that the agent also inquired about what records, claims and “a laundry list of other documents” in the auditor’s office were available to the public and if there was any information that would require a subpoena.
Wichlinksi said he told the agent that all the information in his office is public.
According to Wichlinski, this is the first time an agent with the FBI has come to him for information.
Since November, numerous County offices have reported visits by FBI agents collecting information.
In March, agents collected copies of building permits for Porter Regional Hospital and its adjoining medical center from the Porter County Plan Commission. They also downloaded records from the Plan Commission office from the County’s computer server in the IT office.
In addition to the hospital building permits, the bureau so far has taken documents related to the December 2012 contract between the County Commissioners and Porter Hospital for clinical services in the County’s Employee Health Plan, conflict of interest disclosure statements filed in the County Clerk’s office from 2007 to 2013, and project bid proposals related to 2010 and 2011 contracts with the County Highway Department.
04082014 - News Article - FBI visits Porter County auditor's office
FBI visits Porter County auditor's office
NWI Times
April 08, 2014
April 08, 2014
VALPARAISO | FBI agents made yet another visit to Porter County government offices, stopping Tuesday at the auditor's office.
Porter County Auditor Bob Wichlinski confirmed one agent was at his office about 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Wichlinski said the agent requested and was given payroll records involving the Porter County Expo Center.
Wichlinski said the agent was also asking about a long list of other records to determine whether they are public information.
FBI agents have visited county government several times since last year, visiting numerous departments including information technologies, plan commission, highway, clerk of the courts and the county's insurance servicing agent.
04042014 - News Article - Biggs and Yelton vie for GOP nomination to County Council to represent Duneland - Nominees views on current county FBI investigations
Biggs and Yelton vie for GOP nomination to County Council to represent Duneland
Chesterton Tribune
April 04, 2014
April 04, 2014
Porter County Councilman Jim Biggs faces a challenge from Kyle Yelton in the race for the 1st District County Council seat in the upcoming Republican primary election.
Biggs is running for a second term on the Council while Yelton is a newcomer to County politics.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 6, and early voting begins on Tuesday, April 8.
Council District 1 includes all precincts in Liberty, Jackson, Pine, and Westchester Townships with the exception of a portion of Westchester 17. It also contains Portage Twp. precincts 4 and 6 and Center Twp. precincts 11 and 25.
Only residents living in those precincts may vote in the District 1 race.
The Chesterton Tribune invited both candidates to respond to a questionnaire.
The Tribune set word limits for each question and reserved the right to cut off any response in excess of the limit....
#8. The FBI has requested and received documents from a variety of county departments. What are your thoughts about the FBI’s interest in county government? (100 words)
Biggs: The FBI’s webpage states; “It’s our top priority among criminal investigations--and for good reason. Public corruption poses a fundamental threat to our national security and way of life. It impacts everything from how well our borders are secured and our neighborhoods protected to verdicts handed down in courts to the quality of our roads, schools, and other government services. And it takes a significant toll on our pocketbooks, wasting billions in tax dollars every year.” My thoughts are that all county officials should support any effort to insure that the public’s trust in our county government is protected - without exception.
Yelton: To my knowledge, the FBI has requested documents and records that are readily available to the public. Examination of public records by anyone, whether it is a governmental organization or just a citizen, should be welcomed. Porter County has a proud history of open and ethical government, and we should not rush to judgment until the review is completed. But, these types of inquiries do challenge the public perception of government. I applaud the Commissioners’ decision to strengthen the public trust in County government by joining the Shared Ethics Commission, and will actively participate in the Commission’s training programs.
03252014 - News Article - FBI returns to county to download computer files
FBI returns to county to download computer files
Chesterton Tribune
March 25, 2014
March 25, 2014
The FBI returned to the Porter County Information Technologies Department Monday to collect computer data pertaining to the plan commission.
IT Director Sharon Lippens confirmed the presence of FBI agents in her office from about 10 a.m. to about noon on Monday.
“They came in and said, ‘We need access to whatever the Plan Commission has access to.’ I didn’t ask why and they didn’t tell me,” Lippens told the Chesterton Tribune this morning.
Lippens said the FBI did not tell her what data they were searching for but that she gave them the access they requested. The Plan Commission computer servers hold electronic copies of issued building permits.
The FBI brought in their own hard drive to download the information to and were once again brought in by Plan Commission Executive Director Robert Thompson, Lippens said.
Thompson took FBI agents to the IT Department last Wednesday to ask Lippens specific details on the Plan Commission’s computer server such as the serial number, the make and model.
Thompson has declined to comment to avoid impeding the investigation.
He did say earlier this month that the FBI has entered his office on more than one occasion asking for copies of the building permits for Porter Regional Hospital and the 60,000 sq. ft. medical office building attached to it.
While newer versions of the permits are available, the original handwritten copies for the two buildings have reportedly gone missing from the plan commission office.
The hospital is located in Liberty Twp. on the northwest corner of Ind. 49 and U.S. 6.
County officials have reported numerous visits by the FBI since November.
The bureau has taken documents related to the December 2012 contract between the County Commissioners and Porter Hospital for clinical services in the County’s Employee Health Plan, conflict of interest disclosure statements filed in the County Clerk’s office from 2007 to 2013, and project bid proposals related to 2010 and 2011 contracts with the County Highway Department.
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