CROWN POINT | A Republican candidate for Lake County surveyor is now calling for the FBI and the State Board of Accounts to investigate two flood control projects.
Eric Krieg claims the county paid Munster contractor R.A. Oras for drainage improvements on the Spring Street Ditch in Munster and the Brown Levee Ditch 10 miles southeast of Lowell before the work was done. He claims Oras wasn't required to post a performance bond in the form required by state statute.
Krieg, who is challenging the re-election of County Surveyor George Van Til this fall, claims Van Til's office has failed to provide proper oversight of the two projects, which have cost the public more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Krieg says taxpayers should get a $30,000 refund on the Spring Street work because Oras installed poorer quality erosion blankets than the work contract specified. The drainage board decided earlier this month only to require a $3,700 refund.
John Dull, the county attorney, said earlier this month he will investigate these claims, but later had to bow out because he previously did legal work for Oras.
Krieg said only the FBI and state auditors could provide an independent investigation of the facts.
Van Til called Krieg's announcement a political stunt and said he would welcome the investigation. He said the State Board of Accounts has reviewed the two projects as well as all financial transactions in his office and has had no complaints.
Please Wait…