SWANCC seeks forensic accountant in wake of executive director probe

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County has hired the law firm of Clark Baird Smith to seek proposals from forensic accounting firms to perform an audit of the agency's finances in the wake of allegations of missing funds.

The agency's longtime executive director, C. Brooke Beal, resigned shortly after the claims surfaced, but has not been charged. He was placed on paid leave from his $160,000-per-year job Oct. 18 after officials said an independent audit found a discrepancy that showed a “significant amount” of money unaccounted for in the agency's financial records.

Neither Beal, 47, of Chicago, or his attorney have commented publicly on the allegations.

While SWANCC officials won't confirm how much money is unaccounted for, sources have said it could be as much as $400,000.

The Cook County state's attorney's office is looking into the matter, but has not confirmed whether Beal is under investigation. A spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The audit would go back more than a year, said a SWANCC spokesman.

SWANCC, with a processing plant in Glenview, helps coordinate garbage pickup for 23 suburban communities, which pay membership costs to the agency. Member towns include Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Park Ridge and Rolling Meadows.