McHenry Times

Former Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller’s corporate credit card was used to buy tickets to Disneyland in 2012, according to information revealed in a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the township government.

According to Cal Skinner’s McHenry County Blog, tickets featuring a popular Disney character were extracted from the FOIA request.

Nathaniel Hamilton, the marketing and communications director of Project Six, a Chicago-based government watchdog group, told the McHenry Times that the incident is troubling, especially if it is determined that Miller bought the tickets.

| via Wikimedia Commons

"Public and government officials in Illinois, unfortunately, do have a very bad track record for using public funds, office expense accounts, and taxpayer funds as their own hobby funds and excuses to take expensive trips," Hamilton said. "You see example after example. ... What we need are public officials that are treating taxpayer dollars and public funds with respect while using those funds responsibly."

After an exhaustive inquiry to several local police departments, the McHenry Times has learned that there is no criminal investigation currently underway. In fact, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said it had no knowledge of the purchase. Neither would that office, the Crystal Lake Police Department, nor the Algonquin Police Department provide any official statement on why no investigation has been undertaken.

The ticket purchase came to light following a lawsuit filed by newly elected Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser, who unseated Miller in April. Gasser’s complaint targets Miller; Miller's wife, Anna; and Township Clerk Karin Lukasik, demanding all credit cards records associated with Miller during his 20-plus years in office.

According to the complaint filed in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in McHenry County, Gasser found no records of expenses or other costs incurred during Miller's tenure when he took over as highway commissioner. Gasser demanded the records, but stated in the complaint: “To date, Miller has turned over absolutely no substantive records of the Algonquin Township Highway Department.”

Gasser has also asked the court to block Miller from destroying any public records relevant to the suit and the administration of the department. Gasser had not returned calls for comment by press time.