Calumet City Aldermen Seek Reimbursement After Reviewing City Spending

Calumet City aldermen say they will seek reimbursement of several payments to people and businesses after receiving more information on city spending, including via Mayor Thaddeus Jones’ municipal credit card.

During a special meeting Monday that Jones did not attend, some aldermen said they received conflicting information on expenses that represent a larger pattern of lack of transparency.

Aldermen have raised concerns about Jones’ September municipal credit card statements, citing $44,000 in expenses, much of it spent during the Congressional Black Caucus’ 54th annual legislative conference in Washington that some city officials attended. The City Council voted to reduce Jones’ credit card limit from $50,000 to $5,000 but has not yet decided how much the mayor will have to reimburse the city.

“even though things may seem stagnant at times, we do have to get as much information as we can, and sometimes that’s delayed,” Ald. Ramonde Williams said Tuesday. “We’re definitely moving things in the right direction, trying to be more fiscally responsible.”

Council members revisited some of those expenses after receiving documentation from Jones, including $650 to musician Craig Harper, $1,400 to Crete-based Del Santo’s Sausage and Catering, $140 to Cafe Borgia in Munster, Indiana, and $545 to Bill’s Grill in Calumet City.

Miacole Nelson and Melissa Phillips, who campaigned with Jones before being elected to represent the 6th ward earlier this year, pointed out discrepancies in expense reports, including that Harper was hired to perform at a breast cancer awareness event in October. Both said they attended the event and Harper was not working.

“The DJ’s bill has already come through,” Nelson said. “(Jones) gave the wrong explanation. He could’ve mixed it up, but it’s not the DJ.”