Chicago Audit of Electrical Inspector: MANY may Find Themselves behind Bars for Failing to Install a Water Meter (ChicagoSunTimes)

Feb.06, 2009 in Public Works

(Feb. 5, 2009, Chicago Sun Times)

The Daley administration has broadened its investigation into the mysterious case of that $85,860-a-year city electrical inspector ordered to pay more than five years’ worth of water bills after building a new home without installing a water meter.

The Department of Water Management is conducting an audit to determine how many more individuals and businesses may have fallen through the cracks by tapping into the water main but failing to install a meter.

That’s apparently what happened in the 5500 block of South Natoma at the new home with a hot tub built by city electrical inspector Richard Kus.

A permit was issued in 2003, and Water Management inspectors were on the scene when Kus’ plumbing contractor made the tap into the water main. But the water meter was never picked up. And nobody bothered to follow up.

“It didn’t come to our attention. We weren’t tracking it by computer the way we are now,” said Water Management spokesman Tom LaPorte. “Now, we notice when there’s a tap but no meter associated with it. If a tapping permit is issued, and there’s no activity within six months, we follow up to find out why.

“That’s why we’re auditing all tapping permits to see if there are any other cases. We’re going back and looking at any occasion where a tap was made, but we have no record of a meter or where we don’t know if a meter was picked up,” LaPorte said.

Initially LaPorte said the audit was triggered by the case of Richard Kus, brother of former Chicago zoning administrator Ed Kus, but hours later, LaPorte changed his story. He said the audit had been going on for a year, but he could not explain why that same audit did not catch the oversight involving Kus.

Last week, Kus had a water meter installed in his home after the inspector general’s office requested inspection and billing records.

Inspector General David Hoffman now is attempting to determine how a home without a meter managed to pass muster with Richard Kus’ fellow inspectors in Water Management and the Departments of Buildings. Until then, Kus has been reassigned to clerical duties.

Earlier this week, Buildings Department spokesman Bill McCaffrey disclosed that Richard Kus’ home was inspected “at least nine” times between August 2003 and January 2006 and that “at least three” of those visits were plumbing inspections.

But “Our plumbing inspectors do not check for water meters,” McCaffrey said. “Plumbing contractors are responsible for installing them, and the Department of Water Management inspects the installation.”

McCaffrey tossed the hot potato to LaPorte, who acknowledged that the home was never checked to determine whether it had a water meter.

Two years ago, a Water Management employee was charged with bribing an undercover investigator posing as a city inspector to erase building code violations on his properties.

As part of the illicit deal, engineering technician Gustavo Ramirez allegedly offered to supply the undercover investigator with a special tool used to make illegal water hookups.

The “key” looks like an elongated fish hook. By putting the device through a loop of metal and turning it, the supply of water from the main to the house can be turned on and off from the surface. Gas and water service have separate boxes, but the key can also be used on a similar valve on the gas line.

(Original Article Here)

Bookmark Me!