By Eric Stock
JOLIET – Joliet city officials have issued a statement commending incoming City Manager David Hales for the arrests of five former Bloomington arena mangers for fraud.
The emailed statement, which was not signed by anyone, comes in response to a report in a Joliet newspaper which said three city councilmembers knew little about the investigation into the alleged misuse of funds when they hired Hales.
Bloomington city officials announced in September 2016 that Illinois State Police had launched an investigation into the past operations of what was then known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum, now Grossinger Motors Arena.
Five managers who worked for Central Illinois Area Management, including top executives John Butler and Bart Rogers, are accused in a 111-count indictment announced this week of stealing about $1.1 million in city funds. Court records allege the thefts occurred for nearly a decade.
CIAM’s contract with the city ended in April 2016. Hales has said the city uncovered the financial wrongdoing and alerted police following the venue’s management transition from CIAM to VenuWorks.
“Mr. Hales and his team deserve credit for uncovering the unlawful activity and taking the appropriate action,” the statement said. “We have heard from officials in Bloomington who are stunned that a local newspaper would turn this around and try to impugn one of those responsible for stopping the theft that allegedly occurred.”
Hales signed a contract this month to become Joliet’s city manager and will start Nov. 27. His contract with Bloomington was set to expire next July. He has been Bloomington’s city manager since 2009.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
