Local lawfare
Re: Robert Frankel’s Aug. 7 letter regarding Schaumburg Township: It had all the markings of a coordinated political hit job. He targeted a former Republican candidate, Daniel Lee, and in doing so, targeted two small, local, minority-owned businesses that have done nothing wrong, rather, merely fulfilling a legally awarded and binding contract. Mr. Lee happens to be a principal at one company. It makes a mockery of Schaumburg Township’s stated commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Here are the facts. In April, the former Schaumburg Township highway commissioner awarded a contract for a desired real-time road information website, a tool to improve communication and safety for all township residents in addition to providing valuable information sharing. Residents would then easily access real-time updates on road conditions, closures, maintenance projects, to facilitate ease of travel within the entire township — not just 10 miles as Frankel implied.
The contract was within budget and under the public bidding threshold. On May 19, Tim Buelow, upon being sworn in as the elected Democrat Highway Commissioner along with the board signed off and approved the billed expenditures effectively ratifying the contract. They had ample opportunity to question the expenditure at that time.
The website was developed and web-hosted in mid-July, well before the promised due date. Instead of supporting the rollout, Buelow has been seemingly recalcitrant and uncooperative, effectively stonewalling approvals and resources that would ensure the website reaches its full functionality. Instead, he has chosen to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars on legal fees attempting to cancel the contract and claw back payments, despite legal review showing there is no lawful basis to go after the two companies involved.
This is partisan lawfare. It undermines trust in government, wastes taxpayer money and discourages honest businesses who fear they’ll become collateral damage in political feuds.
Bill Anderson
Schaumburg