Former Avon trustee frets about spending
Former Avon Township Trustee Sherry Ridge expressed concerns about how the town board spends public money in a final monthly report she filed this week.
In the report, Ridge raised questions about a $5,000 donation from Walmart to buy items for the township food pantry. She wrote the township doesn't have "any record of one penny" being spent on food this year out of Walmart's contribution.
"As indicated by my voting record, I do not agree with the spending that is going on at the township," stated Ridge, who couldn't be reached for elaboration.
Citing personal reasons, Ridge resigned Monday from the 4-year trustee seat she captured in the April 2009 election as part of the Avon Forward political slate. She had engaged in public clashes with township Supervisor Sam Yingling, who fronted the slate.
Yingling disputed Ridge's comments, saying he and two other Avon Forward running-mates on the board have been committed to cutting wasteful spending by the township and cutting the property tax levy. He also said Walmart's $5,000 gift went to the private Avon Community Foundation that helps the pantry, then forwarded to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
More than 25,000 pounds of food was purchased for pantry clients because of Walmart's donation, Yingling said Friday.
"Although Sherry was repeatedly directed to the appropriate party for this information, she never followed up," he said.
Trustee Chris Ditton, who ran on the slate with Ridge and Trustee Marc Feldstein, said Friday he was sorry she resigned. He added he thought she would be an effective trustee when they ran together.
"Over time, she changed somewhat," Ditton said. "She almost universally refused to pay the monthly bills."
Most recently, Ridge locked horns with her three Avon Forward teammates who voted in favor of appointing Thomas Brust as highway commissioner to fill the final three years of a term vacated by Patrick Anderson in July. Ridge contended Brust wasn't the most qualified of eight candidates, but the board approved him by a 3-2 vote.
Brust was part of the Avon Forward slate when he lost to Anderson in the April 2009 election. Ex-township supervisor Shirley Christian led the Avon One team that included Anderson.
Avon Township encompasses all or part of Grayslake, Hainesville, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Heights, Third Lake and unincorporated Lake County. The township board has about 60 days to fill Ridge's trustee slot.