November 15, 2011 08:59 AM
Country Club Hills Residents Respond to BGA Probe, Win Audit of Mayor's Books
After the BGA and WGN-TV raised new questions about the spending habits of Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch, residents demanded a clean look at the books
By Robert Herguth/BGA with WGN-TV
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Country Club Hills residents angry about excess spending by the city packed a council meeting Monday night. They're pointing the finger at one man, Mayor Dwight Welch.
Last spring WGN-TV and the Better Government Association worked on an investigation about the mayor's spending habits. He used his city-issued credit card on things like a $500 white tux, lunches, dinners and golf outings.
At first council members reacted by taking away all but one of his credit cards. That didn't seem to work. Then, a new treasurer started looking at the books and realized they didn't make sense with perhaps $8 million unaccounted for.
Monday night, the city voted unanimously not to use the mayor’s appointed auditor but an independent auditor to review the books. Residents are also calling for a state and federal investigation on the city's accounting practices.
This story was reported by BGA Editor of Investigations Robert Herguth with WGN-TV. He can be reached at rherguth@bettergov.org or (312) 821-9030.
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