By Dave Allision
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing expenditures connected with a $495 million dollar no bid marketing contract to the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County. The contract was under fire at the commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday night.
According to the state’s attorney’s office, there had never been a determination as to whether the contract with Hey G Consulting was properly executed or that the funds may have been spent improperly.
Wayne Horne, a VAC board member, said all contract expenditures were done properly and were agreed upon by the Will County Board.
“The VAC doesn’t write any checks. The County Board does. All expenditures have to be approved and voted on by the board before they are paid.
In question was the contract between VAC and Hey G Consulting for digital marketing services. Hey G, headed at the time by Geriann Wiesbrook, got the contract from the VAC funded through federal relief money linked to the COVID crisis.
At question in the Tuesday night meeting was whether money spent for digital marketing was spent properly or if some of the money could have been used more effectively to support the immediate needs of veterans.
“First of all, all of the money was used for the purpose for which it was intended,” Horne specified. Secondly, under the terms of the contract, the money could not be used for any other purpose but digital marketing.
In February of 2021 the Will County Board voted to approve the contract to Hey G to raise the profile of programs and services to veterans using Digital Marketing. At the Tuesday meeting, some county board members who had initially approved the contract stated that it should have been put out for bid, even though there is no requirement to do so by private commissions such as the VAC. The Will County State’s Attorney’s office, meanwhile, has declined any further comment while it continues to review the situation.
dallison@thetimesweekly.com
