Contracting work stopped over nepotism allegation
URBANA – County officials ordered a stop to some contracting work Friday at the Brookens Center after the auditor alleged nepotism.
Champaign County Auditor Tony Fabri said he's blocking payment to B & R Contracting of Villa Grove for some work on the remodeling project.
Fabri said the company was given a no-bid contract by the head of the county's physical plant, Alan Reinhart. A review by the auditor found B & R is co-owned by Reinhart's son, Eric Reinhart.
About $5,000 worth of work has been done, Fabri said.
Fabri said the county's nepotism policy is that employees cannot hire other family members for county work.
County Co-Administrator Denny Inman, who supervises Reinhart, sent out a memo Friday stopping the work. Champaign County Board Chairman C. Pius Weibel said there would be an investigation.
Alan Reinhart was off on personal business, Inman said. His son could not be reached. The son's business partner, Tina Black of Villa Grove, had a listed phone that was out of order.
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