SUGAR GROVE – The Sugar Grove Police Department is investigating a complaint filed against former Township Supervisor Dan Nagel.
Police Chief Rob Moser said township board Trustee Scott Jesseman filed the complaint Oct. 31. He could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
Jesseman, who has served on the board for more than three years, said he grew suspicious of Nagel’s money handling and filed a Freedom of Information Act request in June. He said those documents show that thousands of dollars had been issued to Nagel to cover questionable expenses, such as gas and restaurant expenses.
“There’s more under the surface than people are grasping,” he said.
Nagel sent out a resignation letter Oct. 31, citing personal and family reasons. Jesseman said Nagel’s recent resignation was the result of pressure from the board after Jesseman obtained documents that showed Nagel had been improperly reimbursed for expenses.
Nagel could not be reached for comment.
Nagel was reimbursed $110 each month to cover travel, cellphone and a monthly chamber of commerce lunch expenses, according to FOIA documents. Jesseman said he and others have questioned when that $110 stipend was approved because no board approval could be found in meeting minutes.
FOIA documents also show Nagel has handed in dozens of receipts to be reimbursed for gas, but Jesseman said Nagel has never shown proof of mileage used for township purposes. Dozens of receipts also show Nagel was reimbursed for lunch and dinner at various restaurants.
Receipts from December also show charges worth $14.25 for cards at a Hallmark store.
Documents showed Nagel was reimbursed nearly $400 for an Apple iPhone and accessories – a charge Jesseman said he and other trustees never saw or approved before the purchase.
Jesseman said the board was unaware of the purchases Nagel had been making because they were lumped in with other expenses, or Nagel did not produce receipts.
He said after the board approached Nagel, Nagel wrote a check worth $3,000 to the township’s Road and Bridge Division and $1,000 to the township upon his resignation.
After Nagel’s resignation, the board voted to reduce the township supervisor’s salary from $25,000 a year to $18,000.
“We didn’t want someone to run for the money,” he said.
Jesseman said Nagel’s term would have been up in April, and the board has 60 days from the day of his resignation to fill the position. He said for now, other board members have taken up township supervisor duties.
Jesseman said he turned the information he gathered over to the Sugar Grove Police Department, and the township trustees are looking into an audit.
