Investigation Prunes Family Tree In Building Inspector Probe

Building inspector Richard Kus, brother of Chicago’s former zoning administrator Edward Kus will need to find another $87,720-per-year gig according to a Fran Spielman report in the Sun-Times.  Kus was the subject of an inspector general’s investigation into Kus failing to install a water meter in his home.  Served with a $7,640 bill for water and sewer fees, Kus is one of a recent wave of shakeouts from the building department.

On Monday Buildings Commissioner Richard Monocchio concurred and place Kus on administrative leave pending termination proceedings.

Kus could not be reached for comment.

In recent months, Monocchio has taken a similarly hard line with other wayward employees to erase the stain of Operation Crooked Code — an undercover city-federal investigation that has netted nearly two dozen people, including 15 city employees, on charges that cash bribes and lucrative gifts were paid to ignore building code violations and speed up paperwork.

In July, the commissioner moved to fire a $91,008-a-year plumbing inspector caught doing a side job with no permit, no city license and without signing a secondary employment form.

Monocchio also terminated a $66,556-a-year project manager accused of accepting a fee to provide expert testimony as part of a lawsuit between two outside parties, in violation of the city’s ethics ordinance, which prohibits employees from soliciting and receiving money for their advice.

Acting Inspector General Mary Hodge could not be reached.

City inspector in hot water, on firing line :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State.