Blagojevich storage items in Arlington Hts. may be auctioned

Could they contain interesting campaign documents? Personal items? Elvis collectibles? Junk?

The staff at Boyer-Rosene Moving & Storage in Arlington Heights doesn't know exactly what is in the seven large wooden crates that Friends of Blagojevich stored in their warehouse back in 2002, when Rod Blagojevich was a state representative.

The 7'x7'x5' crates have sat untouched for the past eight years, and federal investigators never looked inside, said company CFO Joe Saverino.

A legal notice that will run in Wednesday's Daily Herald says the boxes contain "documents, canceled checks, bank statements and other personal property."

Also stored with the boxes is a life-size statue of Blagojevich's favorite performer, Elvis Presley.

Saverino said it's been "well over a year" and "maybe a few years" since they've received a payment from Friends of Blagojevich for the storage space. While he declined to reveal an exact balance due, Saverino said it's several thousand dollars.

Unless a check is received in the coming days, the company plans to publicly auction off the unopened crates and the Elvis statue at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, in the company's parking lot.

Any money raised through the auction would be donated to Children's Memorial Hospital, Saverino said.

"I hope we can turn something negative into something positive," he said.

Boyer-Rosene staff members have sent several letters, some certified, and made phone calls to Friends of Blagojevich members and Blagojevich's staff over the last few months, letting them know the bill is long overdue.

The last time they heard from anyone was July 16, when Saverino said a Blagojevich staff member promised to "look into it." They haven't heard back from anyone since. Now, no one is returning their phone calls, so Boyer-Rosene management decided enough is enough.

"Maybe he's just got so much else going on," Saverino said, referring to Blagojevich's federal corruption trial, which is wrapping up this week. "I'm not really mad ... I'm just a little frustrated. It's taken us a lot of time to try and get resolution."

No one from Blagojevich's staff or Friends of Blagojevich could be reached for comment Monday.

"Maybe that's why we're not getting this resolved," Saverino joked. "No more friends."

Saverino didn't know why Friends of Blagojevich stored the items in Arlington Heights, given that the group operated out of Chicago's north side. He figured it was because they have other storage locations in the city and move "a lot of political people." He declined to name names.

Boyer-Rosene attorney Rory McGinty said no one in the company is politically active and this is "pure business."

Boyer-Rosene employees say they've enjoyed having the Elvis statue around all these years, even if it has been wrapped in plastic.

"It's been here forever," said sales manager Carl Bertolotti. "I'll be sad when Elvis leaves the building."