Money reported missing from suburban waste agency

The Cook County state's attorney's office has been alerted to money that appears to be missing from the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, several sources close to the agency told the Daily Herald Wednesday.

Several sources connected with the agency, which facilitates waste hauling for 23 North and Northwest suburbs, spoke on condition of anonymity.

They confirmed the Cook County state's attorney's office has been notified about the “unaccounted funds” and is looking into the matter.

One source said the funds could amount to $400,000.

Cook County state's attorney's office spokeswoman Sally Daly would not comment on whether there is an open investigation into missing funds at the agency.

Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, chairman of the SWANCC board, said he could not comment about any investigation per the advice of legal counsel. He said no subpoenas have been issued by the state's attorney's office to SWANCC.

Van Dusen would only say that the board will be dealing with a personnel matter at an upcoming special meeting.

A source close to the situation said auditors recently discovered the unaccounted funds and told SWANCC officials the suspicious activity all occurred within the last year.

It is unclear whether the discrepancy was uncovered through the agency's annual audit or whether a special audit was conducted.

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County is a local government entity and a nonprofit corporation formed in 1988 by 23 municipalities. Its members are Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Palatine, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, South Barrington, Skokie, Wheeling, Wilmette and Winnetka.

The agency's legal counsel, Bob Smith, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.