From edgarcountywatchdogs.com:
We ended our last article on the Tri-State Fire Protection District with this statement: "Stay tuned for some pretty amazing exposure yet to come!" (Click here for previous article)
I think "amazing" is an understatement. Mr. Orrico has once again shown that if something looks and smells like a rat, it probably is. It turns out he's violating another law—and more importantly, he's no longer legally qualified to be a trustee at all.
To serve as a trustee in a fire protection district, you must be an "inhabitant" of that district. According to Black's Law Dictionary, an inhabitant is defined as someone who actually and permanently resides in a given place, with their domicile there.
So why isn't Mr. Orrico eligible to be a trustee for Tri-State FPD? Because he lives in Joliet, Illinois. On April 21, 2015, he purchased a home in Joliet, and his name is clearly listed on the deed. (Click here for a copy of the Deed)
Property tax records confirm that his primary residence is in Joliet—this is evident because he received the $6,000 homeowners exemption, which is only available if the property is your primary residence. (Click here for a copy of the property tax records with the exemption highlighted)
The property he owns within the fire district, where he told DuPage County voter registration officials he lived, may also raise questions depending on timing. The mailbox at that address doesn’t even have his name on it. While the DuPage County recorder shows he still owns the property, he didn’t claim a homeowners exemption there. (Click here for a copy of DuPage County tax records)
Being a fire district trustee isn’t exactly a high-profile job. So why did Mr. Orrico want it in the first place? Well, he recently signed a contract for three ambulances through his company. Could his well-known relationship with the fire chief have played a role? Maybe. Either way, one thing is clear: Mr. Orrico stopped being a legal resident of the district on April 21, 2015, and any actions he took after that should be closely reviewed for potential legal issues.
The Fire Protection District Act makes this very clear. (70 ILCS 705/5) states: "Whenever a member of the elected board of trustees of a fire protection district ceases to be an inhabitant of the district, his or her office shall become immediately vacant."
This rule is reinforced by the Election Code as well. (10 ILCS 5/25-2) says: "Every elective office shall become vacant on the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term of such office... (4) His or her ceasing to be an inhabitant of the district."
It’s crystal clear: Mr. Orrico is no longer a valid trustee of Tri-State FPD, meaning there's now a vacancy. If he denies this, he’ll need to explain to Will County authorities why he fraudulently claimed a homeowners exemption.
We strongly recommend that his access to the facility be immediately revoked, and his keys retrieved to protect the public from any future misconduct.
And once again, stay tuned for more incredible exposure that could lead to the removal of yet another official.
Thanks, Scott
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