Dist. 158 tries to settle snow contract dispute

Huntley Unit District 158 is trying to settle its accounts with a local contractor -- and has a long way to go.

The district plans to send a $12,400 check to Moore Turf Care for last year's snow removal contract.

District 158 and Moore Turf Care have been feuding over the $170,000 contract since district officials said the company caused an estimated $24,000 in damage to school grounds while removing snow last year.

Moore Turf Care is owned by David Moore, the husband of former board candidate Linda Moore.

Linda Moore says she's no longer an employee of Moore Turf Care, although she defended her husband's company at Monday night's building committee meeting.

District 158 officials said the check would close out the snow removal contract, but Linda Moore and board member Aileen Seedorf said the Moores have not had ample opportunity to review the district's claims.

Seedorf's support for Linda Moore's account of events drew charges she was siding with the Moores over the district.

Board President Shawn Green asked Seedorf and board member Larry Snow to recuse themselves from discussing any issues concerning the Moores. Snow supported Linda Moore last year during her bid for a seat on the board.

Snow and Seedorf declined to comply, but Seedorf later recused herself from making a decision on a separate contract the Moores have with the district, saying she didn't have enough information.

District 158 plans to terminate the agreement under which the Moores live on district property and maintain the surrounding land until the district needs it.

Board members estimated the Moores owe the district as much as $81,000 in rent but were willing to forgive the amount if the Moores agreed to renegotiate the contract.

District officials want to break up the agreement into a separate contract for the farmland and a lease for the residential portion so they can start charging the Moores rent at market rate.