Mold Remediation in Joliet, IL

On or about December, 2018, Tamara Edmondson was hired by the City of Joliet as an accountant in the finance department.

Patch Staff

|Updated Tue, Dec 10, 2024 at 3:33 pm CT

JOLIET — Tamara Edmondson, a former city of Joliet employee in the finance department, has filed a federal lawsuit against her former employer, naming Joliet's human resources director Kathy Franson, finance director Kevin Sing and ex-city manager Jim Capparelli as defendants.

The lawsuit accuses the city of Joliet officials of Family Medical Act Leave interference, Family Medical Act Leave retaliation and violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. Attorney Annemarie Kill of Chicago law firm of Avery Kill is representing Edmondson.

"On information and belief, Defendants Capparrelli, Franson, and Sing were all involved in the decision to terminate Plaintiff," the lawsuit reads. "Defendants failed to accommodate Plaintiff’s work restrictions. In fact, they engaged in no interactive process at all regarding her request."

Legal counsel representing the city of Joliet and its three city officials being sued in the case have not filed any appearance in Chicago's U.S. District Court, so far.

According to last month's filing in federal court, the following allegations were raised by the plaintiff's lawyer against the city of Joliet defendants:

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First, back in December 2018, Edmondson was hired by Joliet as a finance department accountant. By July 2021, she took over the position of grants coordinator in the finance department and "received raises during her employment and always met or exceeded the legitimate performance expectations of her employer," the lawsuit noted.

Edmondson, however, began to suffer health ailments around December 2020, including severe pinched nerves in her neck. On May 24, 2021, she underwent surgery known as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Edmondson later required an additional surgical procedure known as a cervical spine fusion. On Aug. 9, 2022, Edmondson submitted her request for 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave Act for the spinal fusion, her lawsuit explained.

By Oct. 2, 2022, Edmondson's doctor released her to work remotely. Before the surgeries, she had a desk job with the city of Joliet, mostly working at a computer. The lawsuit pointed out that "many other employees worked remotely and/or reduced schedules throughout plaintiff’s employment."

Edmondson sent an email to Capparelli on Oct. 2 asking for permission to return to work by working remotely. According to the lawsuit, the next day, Capparelli sent Edmondson an email saying, “Your request to work from home is denied.”

At that point, Edmondson remained off work using her remaining FMLA leave, according to her lawyer. Then, on Nov. 16, 2022, Finance Director Sing denied Edmondson's request seeking to work no more than five hours per day, four days a week, until her next doctor's appointment the following month.

The lawsuit noted that Edmondson was notified by Sing that Joliet "does not allow part-time work and she could only return to work if she was able to work full-time."

Two days later, Edmondson filed a written complaint regarding her initial request to work remotely and her second request to work a reduced schedule, and none of the city's staff responded to her requests.

Then, on Nov. 30, 2022, Franson, the HR director, notified Edmondson she was being fired and "no reason was given for her termination," court records noted. By Dec. 5, 2022, Edmondson sent an email to Franson seeking reasons for her firing.

On Dec. 7, 2022, Franson sent Edmondson an email informing her "there were a few items discussed leading up to the decision: your inability to return to the office to work full time; reporting concerns; etc," the lawsuit outlined. "Plaintiff had no knowledge of 'reporting concerns.' In fact, she still does not know what that term means, and she had never been disciplined at any time regarding alleged 'reporting concerns' or anything else."

The Chicago law firm representing Edmondson has asked that a federal judge reinstate their client to the same or equivalent position as she had before her FMLA leave and grant Edmondson a judgment for back-pay, back benefits, front pay and benefits, compensatory damages, and interest and award Edmondson reasonable attorneys fees and costs.

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"The music of BoDeans has defined much of my life," muses Kurt. "I consider myself fortunate to be able to do what I enjoy."

Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 2:25 pm CT

JOLIET — The Rialto Square Theatre issued a Friday morning press release revealing that BoDeans will be at the Rialto Square Theatre on Saturday, April 12th. Tickets are on sale Friday, December 13th and the tickets will be $69.50, $49.50, $39.50. Additional fees may apply when ordering online.

According to the Rialto's press release:

With countless tunes you know from the first note, rip-roaring gigs you can count on, and a whole lot of energy you’ll take home with you, BoDeans continues to contribute to the American songbook as a tried-and-true institution. Founded and led by original frontman, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Kurt Neumann, the band’s catalog consists of generational anthems such as “Good Things,” You Don’t Get Much,” “Idaho,” and “Closer To Free,” just to name a few. However, they still reflect the soul and spirit of the modern American experience on their fourteenth full-lengthoffering, 4 The Last Time.

“The music of BoDeans has defined much of my life,” muses Kurt. “I consider myself fortunate to be able to do what I enjoy. I wanted to creatively do something positive for the world instead of just taking from it. So, this is what I’ve chosen to do with my life. The music was always about the blue-collar dream of a better life, and it still is.”

BoDeans emerged out of Waukesha, WI in 1986 with the seminal debut, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, produced by TBone Burnett. Following Outside Looking In [1987], Home [1989], and Black and White [1991], Go Slow Down [1993] yielded “Closer To Free,” which famously served as the theme song for the smash hit television series Party of Five. With a sought-after discography, their music landed hundreds of television and film placements. Meanwhile, they transformed into a proven live phenomenon by supporting the likes of U2, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, The Pretenders, and David Bowie in addition to gracing the bills of Farm Aid, Summerfest, and ACL. Speaking to the group’s legacy, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame permanently entrenched BoDeans in the Midwest Artists exhibit.

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This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Joliet District 86 All City Mariachi Ensemble Invited to Perform in Chicago

Joliet Public Schools District 86, Community Contributor

Congratulations to our Gompers, Hufford, and Washington Junior High students who performed at the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators, and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Joint Annual Conference in Chicago. The student musicians are members of the Joliet Public Schools District 86 All City Mariachi Ensemble.

In partnership with the Illinois Music Educators Association, five student groups showcased their music skills at the conference. The students were all high school students, except Joliet Public Schools District 86 junior high students. The conference is one of the nation’s largest state education events for Illinois school board members, administrators, and business officials. Nearly 9,000 people throughout Illinois attended the event.

The featured students included: Alonso Arellano, Washington Junior High; Jose Arriaga Subias, Washington Junior High; Maritza Bautista, Washington Junior High; Ariana Campos, Hufford Junior High; Valeska Castellano Castellano, Gompers Junior High; Angel Cortez, Washington Junior High; Samantha Del Rio, Hufford Junior High; Genessis Diaz, Washington Junior High; Janessa Fuentes, Hufford Junior High; Diego Garcia, Gompers Junior High; Bryan Gomez, Washington Junior High; Kayla Gomez, Washington Junior High; Daniela Gonzalez, Gompers Junior High; Adrian Grimes, Hufford Junior High; Jared Juarez, Washington Junior High; Denise Mendoza, Hufford Junior High; Isai Mendoza, Hufford Junior High; Camila Patino, Hufford Junior High; Sofia Plascenscia, Gompers Junior High; Citlalli Ramos Lorenzo, Hufford Junior High; Aaleyah Ruiz, Gompers Junior High; Leonardo Ruiz, Gompers Junior High; Patricio Salcido Garcia, Gompers Junior High; Daniela Soria, Gompers Junior High; Bella Semplinski, Washington Junior High; Benjamin Tavera, Washington Junior High; Estefania Triana, Washington Junior High; and Juan Velasco Rueda, Gompers Junior High.

“I am beyond proud of these incredibly talented students and directors,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse, “The audience was in awe to learn that our students were only 11, 12, and 13-years old.”

The mariachi ensemble band is directed by Gompers Junior High School band director Christine Adelmann and orchestra director Rachael Tatar.

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The city of Joliet's proposed budget posted online indicated that Joliet's city clerk would receive $184,378 in direct pay for 2025.

Patch Staff

|Updated Wed, Dec 4, 2024 at 6:19 pm CT

JOLIET — Joliet's director of finance Kevin Sing informed Joliet Patch on Wednesday that the proposed city of Joliet budget that is posted online contained "a typo" regarding next year's salary for one of City Hall's newest employees, city clerk Lauren O'Hara, who previously served as the Will County Clerk as Lauren Staley Ferry.

The 174-page 2025 budget that has been posted on the city's website listed the new Joliet city clerk as being set to make $181,720 in regular pay and $184,378 in direct pay.

Realizing that O'Hara appeared to be in line for a salary increase of more than $40,000 less than four months after she started her employment at City Hall, Joliet Patch reached out to the city staff for clarification on O'Hara's salary.

At the time of her hiring, Joliet Patch reported that O'Hara would be making $139,510 as the new city clerk.

On Wednesday, Sing informed Joliet Patch that the salary listed in the 2025 budget for the city clerk is not correct and that it was the result of a typo in the budget. He said that other people brought the salary concern to the city's attention in recent days, in addition to Joliet Patch.

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As far as he knows, Sing said, he is not aware of any other high-ranking city official's salary being significantly wrong in the proposed city budget.

He said that O'Hara's current salary of nearly $140,000 is the correct amount that should be entered into the proposed budget. He said the budget document will be corrected before it gets voted on later this month by the Joliet City Council.

Sing also said that O'Hara's salary would not have automatically increased to more than $180,000 come January, when the new budget takes effect.

"Those are supplemental schedules," Sing said, referring to the salary ranges for various city positions.

He also said that positions such as the city clerk are capped under city ordinances at receiving an annual pay raise by no more than 14 percent from the respective city manager. Therefore, raising O'Hara's salary by more than $40,000 next year would be "impossible," Sing explained.

Back in January, new city manager Beth Beatty announced that she had promoted Joliet's long-time city clerk Christa Desiderio to the newly filled position of deputy city manager. Desiderio's new salary was $185,500. Desiderio's city clerk position remained vacant until O'Hara began her new position at City Hall in late August.

At the time of her hiring, Joliet Patch reported that Staley Ferry's starting salary overseeing the city clerk's staff at City Hall would be $139,510.

According to the proposed budget, the city clerk's staff will remain at eight full-time employees and two part-time employees for 2025. The document indicated O'Hara wanted to increase her staff from eight to nine full-time employees, but the city manager's office did not support the request to increase the full-time staff to nine.

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The Democratic Party of Joliet Township has announced its slate of candidates for the April 1, 2025, township elections.

Patch Staff

|Updated Wed, Dec 4, 2024 at 5:18 pm CT

JOLIET — Joliet City Council at-large member Cesar Guerrero notified Joliet Patch on Wednesday that he has withdrawn his candidacy papers at City Hall regarding his plans to seek re-election. Instead, Guerrero is running for another more notable political office: Joliet Township Supervisor.

The supervisor position had been held by Angel Contreras, but the three-time convicted drunken driver resigned from elected office last year, after pleading guilty to a felony. In Contreras' place, Alicia Morales was appointed as the Joliet Township Supervisor.

However, as a result of Tuesday night's caucus, Morales will not be the candidate for the Democratic Party of Joliet Township, Guerrero informed Joliet Patch.

According to his press release:

The Democratic Party of Joliet Township proudly announces its slate of candidates for the April 1, 2025, township elections. This diverse group of leaders is dedicated to fostering transparency, equity, and progress for the township’s residents.

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Cesar Guerrero – Supervisor

Kendra Landfair – Clerk

Archie Gavin – Trustee

Andrea Bibian – Trustee

Quinn Adamowski – Trustee

Betty Washington – Trustee

Megan Cooper - Tax Collector

Vincent Alessio – Highway Commissioner (Incumbent)

Jim Brenczewski – Assessor (Incumbent)

“Our slate is a reflection of the strength and diversity of Joliet Township,” Guerrero, the candidate for Supervisor, announced in his press release. “Each candidate brings unique experience, perspective, and dedication to building a township that serves every resident with integrity. Together, we represent every part of our community, every generation, and a shared vision for progress.”

Key campaign priorities include enhancing and expanding township programs and building stronger connections between the township, governmental partners, and the residents.

“We are proud to bring this slate forward to the voters of Joliet Township,” Guerrero continued. “This is a team that truly understands the needs of Joliet Township. We’re ready to work hard, listen to the community, and deliver results that matter.”

The team will be meeting with residents throughout the township in the coming months, sharing their vision and listening to concerns, according to Guerrero's press release.

In July, Joliet Patch reported that Angel Contreras' DUI and charges of driving without a valid Illinois driver's license brought his Joliet Township political career to a screeching halt.

Now that Contreras has pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and received his sentence for summer of 2022 crimes, he's also resigned as the Joliet Township Supervisor. This marks the third conviction for driving under the influence in three different Midwest states for Contreras.

At a special meeting, Joliet Township government chose Morales to replace Contreras as the township's elected supervisor.

“I am excited to continue the work that this administration has started. The foundation of all our programs has been established. I’m ready to see them through with our team to fruition in serving our Township residents," Morales said in her July press release.

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