Statement on the Illegality of the City of LaSalle’s LPAC Committee and Demands for Legal Accountability

To the Citizens of LaSalle, the State of Illinois, and All Investigative Authorities:

The LaSalle Promotional & Advisory Committee (LPAC) is not just a failed committee—it is a ghost committee that exists without legal authority, operates in direct violation of city ordinance, and has been used to spend over $310,000 in taxpayer money without oversight, records, or transparency.

This isn’t mismanagement. This is blatant illegality, and the entire City Council—including Mayor Jeff Grove—must be held accountable.

I. What the Law Requires – Ordinance No. 30.21

According to LaSalle’s own law—Ordinance No. 30.21, passed by the City Council:

1. LPAC must consist of 9 members, confirmed by the council.

2. LPAC must appoint an Executive Director, responsible for operations and oversight.

3. LPAC must operate independently, using donations and sponsorships—not taxpayer appropriations.

4. LPAC must hold public meetings, provide public notices, maintain meeting minutes, and undergo independent annual audits.

5. II. What the City Actually Did – Every Violation, Documented

1. Ghost Membership – Fewer Than 9 Members

• FOIA response dated March 20, 2025 confirms no record of appointments or resignations from 2020–present.

• Current members include:

  • Mayor Jeff Grove

  • A sitting Alderman

  • A Planning Committee member

  • A Library Board member

• These individuals were never lawfully appointed under city code and their dual roles violate Illinois ethics laws (5 ILCS 420/3-202).

2. No Meeting Notices, Agendas, or Minutes

• FOIA response confirms the city has no record of LPAC meeting agendas, notices, or minutes from 2020–2025.

• This violates the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1.02) and Ordinance 30.21(G).

3. No Executive Director Appointed

• No record exists of any Executive Director ever being appointed or confirmed by the council, in clear violation of Ordinance 30.21(D).

4. No Independent Audits

• All City of LaSalle audits from 2015 to 2024 show no separate line items for LPAC, despite the ordinance requiring a completely separate audit for LPAC.

III. Taxpayer Funds Illegally Allocated

Despite these clear legal failures, the City Council and Mayor:

• Appropriated $310,000 in taxpayer funds to LPAC in FY 2023–2024.

• Paid vendors over $244,000, including to Ivan & Sons Landscaping, with no public bidding or oversight.

• Approved these funds without a functioning committee, legal appointments, or required reporting.

This is not a mistake. This is the council violating their own law to create a fund they control outside of public view.

IV. Legal Consequences and Violations

The City Council and Mayor have potentially violated:

• Official Misconduct (720 ILCS 5/33-3)

• Misappropriation of Public Funds (720 ILCS 5/33E-16)

• Violation of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1.02)

• Governmental Ethics Violations (5 ILCS 420/3-202)

• Violation of Competitive Bidding Law (65 ILCS 5/8-9-1)

• Municipal Audit Law (50 ILCS 310/3)

V.Demands for Accountability

I am publicly calling for:

1. Immediate investigation and legal action by:

   • Illinois Attorney General – Public Integrity Unit

   • Illinois State Comptroller

   • LaSalle County State’s Attorney

   • FBI Public Corruption Unit

2. Immediate forensic audit and freezing of LPAC funds.

3. Criminal referrals for the Mayor, Alderman, and all city officials serving on or enabling this ghost committee.

4. Resignation or removal of any council member or official who knowingly violated these laws.

To the People of LaSalle:

You’ve been lied to. Your tax dollars have been funneled into a shadow operation with no oversight, no transparency, and no accountability. The people who created these rules broke them for their own benefit—and now they must be held to the law.