Ex-village official denies steering contracts to brother

The former director of inspection services for Round Lake Beach pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he illegally steered village contracts to his brother.

Phillip Senn, 46, is charged with official misconduct, making false entries and unlawful bid stringing.

Assistant State's Attorney Christen Bishop said Senn, of Wonder Lake, worked for the village from May 2004 until he was fired last July after an audit uncovered the scheme.

She said that in 2006 and 2007, Senn authorized payments of $30,978 for rehab work on two village-owned houses to J.T.'s Remodeling of Elmwood Park.

J.T.'s Remodeling is owned by Senn's brother, Thomas Senn, and Bishop said the work that was paid for was either not done to acceptable standards or not done at all.

Senn also sent a report to the village board that he had inspected the work and that it was complete and up to standards.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak told Senn he faces up to five years in prison if convicted of official misconduct or making false entries and up to three years for unlawful stringing of bids.

He scheduled a trial for July 25.