From the pages of edgarcountywatchdogs.com:
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I wrapped up our last piece about the Tri-State Fire Protection District with these words: *"Stay tuned for some truly incredible revelations yet to unfold!"* (You can click here to read the previous article.)
Well, I think "amazing" might just be underselling it. Once again, Mr. Orrico has shown us that when something smells and looks like a rat, it’s probably a rat. It turns out Mr. Orrico has been breaking yet another law, and as of April 21, 2015, he’s no longer even legally qualified to serve as a trustee!
To hold the position of trustee in a fire district, you must be an "inhabitant" of the district. According to Black's Law Dictionary, an inhabitant is someone who resides permanently in a specific area. So why can't Mr. Orrico continue as a trustee for Tri-State FPD? Because he lives in Joliet, Illinois. On April 21, 2015, Mr. Orrico bought a home in Joliet, and his name is clearly listed on the deed. (If you'd like, you can click here to view the deed.)
The property tax records confirm this. He claimed the $6,000 homeowner’s exemption on his tax bill, which is only granted if the property is your primary residence. (For proof, click here to see the tax records with the exemption highlighted.)
Now, the property he owns within the fire district—where he told DuPage County officials he lived—is another matter altogether. The mailbox outside doesn’t exactly scream "Orrico," and although he still technically owns the property, he didn’t apply for the homeowner’s exemption there. (You can review the DuPage County tax records by clicking here.)
One has to wonder why Mr. Orrico was so eager for this trustee role in the first place. Maybe it had something to do with securing a contract for his company to provide three ambulances? Or perhaps his cozy relationship with the fire chief has been mutually beneficial? Either way, one thing is certain: as of April 21, 2015, Mr. Orrico is no longer a trustee of the Tri-State FPD, and any actions he took after that date should be carefully examined for potential legal issues.
The Fire Protection District Act couldn’t be clearer about this. Under Section 5 of the act (70 ILCS 705/5), whenever a trustee stops being an inhabitant of the district, their position automatically becomes vacant. And the Election Code echoes this rule. According to Section 25-2 (10 ILCS 5/25-2): *"Every elective office shall become vacant upon the occurrence of any of the following events before the end of the term: ... 4) Ceasing to be an inhabitant of the state, or if the office is local, ceasing to be an inhabitant of the district."*
This means Mr. Orrico is no longer a trustee of the Tri-State FPD, and a vacancy exists. If he disputes this, he’ll need to explain to the authorities in Will County why he committed fraud by claiming the homeowner’s exemption.
We strongly recommend that his access to the facility be revoked immediately, and his keys collected, to ensure the safety of the community from any potential misconduct.
And as always, stay tuned for even more groundbreaking revelations that could result in the removal of additional officials.
Thanks, Scott.
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