FEN outs Koehler

First Electric Newspaper (FEN) has published that it was McHenry County Board chairman Ken Koehler who sicced Caldwell Berner & Caldwell on Zane Seiper and his attorney, Blake Horwitz, WITHOUT consulting the Board.

FEN reports "County Board Chairman Ken Koehler told FEN Tuesday he ordered the request without consulting other Board members."

FEN also reports, "Koehler said he didn't talk to anyone else before he told Caldwell to file the motion.  'I'm given the authority to use my best judgement,' he said."

Well, why didn't he use his best judgement? Did Koehler even know what the cost was in this case? Did he put a limit on Caldwell's fees or just sign a blank check? What if the Board doesn't approve payment? Will Koehler have to foot the bill himself?

Is this legal? Is the chairman authorized to initiate legal action against private parties without a Board resolution and vote? Why can he spend (waste?) County dollars (your dollars) on his own "Go for it"?

Good for Pete Gonigam, publisher of FEN), for getting to the bottom of it.

The Northwest Herald didn't. Or maybe it didn't want to. Last Friday the editor(s) obviously knew where they got the story, but the source was camouflaged by writing "the County". Did the paper even try to nail down who gave the green light to the Caldwell law firm? Who tipped off the paper to the filing of the Petition for Sanctions.

Since no court date has been set, the record of the filing doesn't show up in the public-access records. Did Caldwell "tip" the reporter?

Or were the sheriff's feelings hurt and he called his favorite newspaper? The Petition mentions harassment of the sheriff. Yeah, sure.

I urge Seipler and Horwitz not to comment. See you all in court...

By the way, the County Board meets Tuesday, June 5, 9:00AM. A work day for many County residents, so they won't show up in large numbers to complain about Koehler's action.