Lake County Gazette

Nunda Township's decision to add former Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Robert "Bob" Miller to its payroll last summer is further evidence that townships in Illinois need to be consolidated, a 52nd District state House representative said during a recent interview.

"Illinois property taxes are too high," Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) told the Lake County Gazette. "It's time to consolidate local governments. Algonquin Township is the best example of bad government."

McSweeney said he intends to take action to make that happen. 

Former Algonquin Township Highway Commission Robert "Bob" Miller

"I'm soon going to file a bill to allows citizens to dissolve townships by referendum," McSweeney said.

McSweeney also referred to a recent Northwest Herald op-ed that renewed the news source's call for the abolition of township government in Illinois. 

"Professional government can efficiently deliver needed services," the Dec. 10 op-ed said. "Illinois' township form of government, by the very nature of its structure, cannot. Townships have proven this time and again by serving as little more than political playgrounds that breed waste, patronage and nepotism."

McSweeney's comments came after Nunda Township Road Commissioner Mike Lesperance hired Miller. Miller's son-in-law also was reportedly added to the Nunda Township payroll.

Miller, who is embroiled in a legal battle with his successor, Andrew Gasser, has been accused by the Edgar County Watchdogs of using a township credit card to purchase "Blink Cameras" and tickets to Disneyland while he was highway commissioner.

The contentious election campaign this year between Miller and Gasser was marked by allegations about long-standing nepotism. Miller's father and grandfather had been Algonquin Township highway commissioner and the three men in total held the office for more than half a century.

Miller's wife and two sons-in-law also were on the payroll of Algonquin Township's highway department, which is responsible for about 50 miles of road. That history led Chicago-based conservative radio talk show host Dan Proft, after Gasser's win, to refer to Miller's time in that office as an "egregious example of the kleptocracy that pervades Illinois."

Proft is a principal of Local Government Information Services, which owns this publication.

In addition to those allegations, a YouTube video also surfaced that seemed to show Algonquin Township Highway Department employees behaving badly.  

Gasser defeated Miller in February's Republican primary and breezed through the election in April unopposed. He officially took office in May. Lawsuits began shortly after.

The 52nd state House District is within Cook, Lake, McHenry and Kane counties.