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For 21 years, Terrence J. O’Brien has been on the board of Cook County’s sewage-treatment operation, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

During that time, O’Brien and his friends have started more than a dozen companies, including two engineering firms that have landed at least $3 million in contracts over the past decade from governments including the state of Illinois, the City of Chicago and the town of Cicero.

The Chicago Democrat, now running for Cook County Board president, has regularly reported his ownership of those companies, as required. But he has never disclosed all of the government contracts those companies have gotten.

Asked to make public that information, his campaign staff provided the Chicago Sun-Times a list of government contracts for only two of O’Brien’s companies.

* Aide’s pay: $149,000 — plus $100,000 pension

Not quite three years later, Dencek landed a new job. Under a $100,000 consulting contract, he was hired to be chief of staff to the district’s new president, Terrence J. O’Brien, who used to work for Dencek at the agency.[…]

His annual contract is now worth $149,374 — nearly double O’Brien’s salary as part-time president.

He also gets a $100,392 yearly pension from the district — which he couldn’t collect if he had come back as an employee of the district rather than a consultant.

Since retiring 15 years ago, Dencek, 69, of Orland Park, has collected more than $2.5 million from the district. That includes $1.3 million in consulting fees and more than $1.2 million from his pension.

* Stroger budget embattled on two fronts

Emboldened by the lowered requirement for a veto override, Republican Cook County commissioners already are discussing another attempt to roll back the county’s sales tax next week.

And they received some support from a government watchdog group that came out to a public hearing Friday to condemn Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s proposed 2010 budget.

Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said he was disappointed by a $3 billion Cook County budget proposal that grows 4.5 percent over last year’s expenditures in the midst of hard economic times.

* Faulty doors at Cook County Jail let inmates fight each other

* No work, full pay for alderman’s pal

Stone’s handpicked precinct captain keeps $84,000 salary for almost 2 years while awaiting trial for ballot fraud

* Daley defends not raiding special taxing district money to balance budget

Speaking to reporters today after an event in the Brighton Park neighborhood promoting a tree planting program, Daley said the taxing districts are good for Chicago.

“To be perfectly frank, I think it’s just a lack of marketing about what they do and account for,” Daley said. “We just have to show, with better marketing, we have to show what the benefits to the community are.”

The mayor said that the special taxing districts, which freeze the amount of property taxes collected within a given geographic area for up to 23 years and set them aside for local improvements, have allowed the city to build new police stations, fire stations and libraries.

“We would not be doing these things in the community if you didn’t have TIF money,” Daley said.

* Don’t search me, aldermen warn

Chicago aldermen with their noses out of joint Friday demanded to know why they are searched along with the masses at the city’s central headquarters for administrative hearings.

* Shelter for homeless gets a major boost

* Overflow homeless shelter opens for season

* Swine flu: Worst-case outbreak could severely strain hospitals

* Health-care insurance cheaper in the suburbs

Firm’s data show the farther you live from downtown Chicago, the less expensive your monthly coverage

* 872: Chicago’s newest area code to begin use

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:16 am

Comments

So, with Terry and Dorothy likely not go anywhere that leaves Toni and Danny probably as the only real contenders for the Cook County Board Race.

It appears that Danny isn’t running for U.S. again.

The knock against Danny is that he is too old.

Haven’t heard any knocks against Toni, yet.

Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:22 am
Read even half of the above and then try and figure out why people are cynical about government.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:24 am
Sorry folks, I’m fighting a cold.
Corrections:
It appears that Danny isn’t running for U.S. Congress again.

Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:25 am
I was wondering when the O’Brien and water district stuff was going to come up. It’s been out there for a while. Maybe he thinks given the makeup of the crowded field, it won’t matter.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:29 am
Anyone ever notice how much O’Brien looks like Mayor Daley?

Same Irish stock I imagine.

Comment by just sayin' Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:32 am
WCW, Davis filed for congress this morning.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 10:54 am
Re: Davis

OMG!!!!!!!!
Sorry Jim Ascot, Darlena Williams-Burnett, Ricky Hendon et al. Don’t quit your day jobs because you are probably areb’t going to the U.S. Congress.

Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 11:11 am
I certainly do not see any “smoking gun” with regards to O’Brien. He has revealed his association with these various companies during his tenure on the the MWRD Board.

Mr. Dencek earned his pension and yet is most qualified to provide valuable service to Mr. O’Brien and the MWRD. Are people suggesting Mr. Dencek forgo the pension he earned or work without being compensateed?

This and similar articles are all about nothing!

Where are the “deals (that) keep sewage boss flush”? A catchy phrase but no S… in the story!

Comment by MOON Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 11:18 am
Mr. Dencek earned his pension and yet is most qualified to provide valuable service to Mr. O’Brien and the MWRD. Are people suggesting Mr. Dencek forgo the pension he earned or work without being compensated?

Yep. If you are working full time in the agency you earned your pension, you are not retired. It makes no sense for the taxpayers to be paying a full time salary for a person who is on full retirement. The labyrinth of arcane rules which exist in the public sector simply fleece the taxpayers of large amounts of money. Reforms to eliminate all firms of double dipping need to be introduced.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 11:50 am
Moon –

No perhaps we are suggesting if they need the guy just have him stay on the job. As a taxpayer the whole ‘I retire and collect my pension and then return to government work as a ‘consultant’ covers a lot of what is wrong with government’

Comment by OneMan Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 11:52 am
PLUTO

Dencek is not on full time salary. Read the article. He is on as a consultant.

ONE MAN

How can you have “just stay on the job”? Are you going to deny him his pension and force him to continue to work? Many private entities retain retired executives under consulting contracts after their retirement. In your eyes I guess what is wrong with government is also wrong with the private sector.

The both of you need to get your heads out of the clouds and deal with the real world. If a person has earned benefits or consultant fees then he is entitled to keep them. The rules were not instituted or enacted by O’Brien, he merely followed them!

Comment by MOON Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 12:05 pm
Moon;

You’re delusional if you think something like this doesn’t radiate with the voters. What, O’Brien couldn’t find anyone to do the job after 13 years of Dencek staying around? It may all be operationally legit, but it looks and sounds bad. Dencek doesn’t help with that “you’re looking at me as if I’m a millionaire” comment (he better be by now at that income!) & whine about how he’d like to retire - go already! The MWRD can survive without him.

Comment by Rambler Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 1:40 pm
O’Brien does look like Daley.
Hopefully he doesn’t act like him.

the aide is no big deal depends on circumstances

but the contracts could be conflict of interests

Comment by Michael Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 2:06 pm
RAMBLER

I am sure this non-story will resonate with the voters. Thats what makes it so unfair.

I am sure O’Brien could have found someone else to fill the position. My question and concern is that Dencek seemed the most qualified, and yet everybody jumps on O’Brien for doing what is best under the circumstances.

If there is a need for this job why not give it to the most qualified. If O’Brien hired someone else who was less qualified that person would not only receieve a similar salary but also benefits resulting in added costs.

I think those of you who are objecting are doing so only because of the amount Dencek is collecting. I have yet to hear one person complain or allege that Dencek has not earned his pension and consultan fee. It sounds like pure jealousy and envy on your part.

Comment by MOON Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 2:11 pm
I’ve liked Rep. Davis for a long time, but this latest Hamlet routine is something even his stauchest supporters find hard to justify. I also hear zero support for the idea that he sees CCBP as anything but a sinecure. We tried when they put Todd up, Danny. They won. This time it’s bad form. Finish what you started in the House, please!

Comment by E the D Monday, Nov 2, 09 @ 7:19 pm