Taxpayers paying for candy and more

Soft-spoken and somewhat hesitant, Pam Palmer seems more suited to the public library than in a political hornet's nest. But she's smack in the middle of a doozy.

The fallout sent the McHenry County Auditor home in tears last week. That sure seems like poor pay for just doing her job.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi -- referred to of late as "The Candy Man" by some in the McHenry County Government Center after revelations he's spent more than $17,000 of taxpayer money on candy, doughnuts, coffee, soda pop and meals since taking office -- is, apparently, not so sweet when crossed.

Depending on whom you talk to, a meeting in the county administrator's office on Thursday was either a genteel conversation or a fracas -- or somewhere in between.

Ultimately, several involved say, the meeting resulted in some positive moves toward fixing the mess, but the state's attorney brought some courtroom theatrics with him. Nothing like slapping a table to make your point, I guess, and chastising someone for talking to the press.

The state's attorney concedes he "may have slapped the table" as well as discussed Palmer's quoted comments after she compiled those revealing documents for this newspaper in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. But he said that there was no yelling and, ultimately, it was a good meeting.

Not that there's anything wrong with a public official upset about wrongdoing to talk to the press, but Palmer didn't come to the media (meaning me.)

Why look into it?

I had heard that Palmer had rejected some of Bianchi's requests for reimbursement for parade candy. Although Bianchi stands by his belief that candy should be covered as part of his drug education efforts, every other political figure seems to know that those are considered political expenses, not something to ask taxpayers to pay for.

The radar went off when I noticed he'd previously paid for that candy out of his campaign funds. So I asked for more documents to do a little double checking. Much to my amazement and, apparently, the auditor's, those documents showed huge expenditures for candy, doughnuts, soda pop and meal after meal.

Even if the auditor -- an official elected to keep an eye on those expenditures -- had sought out the press, isn't that her right? If any public official sees a wrong, shouldn't he or she spotlight it?

The auditor, clearly not accustomed to the fray some McHenry County politicos relish, refused to comment.

I wonder why.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler confirmed he called the meeting and that it got a bit tense at times. "My hope was to find out so I understood better what the exact problem was," Koehler said. "The bottom line is how can we make the system work better?"

He said the auditor and Bianchi's assistant are sorting out a better process for that office and that he hopes the solution will work for all county offices. Of immediate concern, he said, they'll work to end the use of the "petty cash" account.

"It was called petty cash, but it was used to run the operation," Koehler said.

Along the way, I hope they'll ask for lots more answers, including:

• Why did the state's attorney have taxpayers pay $100 for a gift certificate to Dunhill's, one of McHenry County's nicest restaurants?

• Why were taxpayers asked to pay $250 twice for the Huntley Fall Fest when, in fact, it only cost $250 for his booth?

• Why did he make taxpayers pay $25 for a Menard's gift certificate?

• Why should taxpayers pick up the tab for a $162 dinner at Shaw's Crabhouse in Chicago?

The state's attorney said he doesn't know the answers, but promised late Friday to go back through the receipts and review those and other reimbursement requests.

"I will take a further look at it," Bianchi said.

Asked again why taxpayers should pick up the tab for meals, coffee, doughnuts, etc. for his office, the state's attorney defended the practice because of the long hours required of his staff.

"If the county board changes its policy, we'll do whatever the policy is," Bianchi said. "If the auditor has problems with our bills, she should send them back."

Sometimes when people are on the hot seat, especially when their jobs are on the line, they overreact, become defensive, go on the attack. And, sometimes, people use the uncomfortable spot as an opportunity to look at how they can do things better.

It's a given which one taxpayers prefer.

No cooking today

Speaking of dinner, we're all invited to enjoy some pasta from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main St., West Dundee. They invite us to bring our family and friends and "stay out of the kitchen!" It's $7 for a fine spaghetti dinner and plenty of beautiful music. What could be better?

And, no, taxpayers are not picking up the tab.