Monday, November 24, 2008 9:25 PM CST
Sign donation turns into headache at Stew-Stras
By NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
nwest@jg-tc.com
STRASBURG — A booster club raising money to install an electronic sign on front of a financially struggling school — sounds relatively simple, right?
But parents in the Stewardson-Strasburg school district are learning just how tricky it can be to donate money and labor when the Illinois Department of Labor and the state’s Prevailing Wage Act become factors.
“We’re just a small community trying to do what’s right, and now I’ve got to go through all of this,” said Angie Helmuth, president of Supporters of Stewardson-Strasburg.
Earlier this year, the booster club raised funds to purchase a lighted sign from a Teutopolis electrical business, which volunteers from the Supporters also helped erect in front of the rural Shelby County school. IDOL has since launched an investigation and is requesting information in relation to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, which requires that paid employees involved with a “public works” project be paid the rate common in that county for similar projects.
Officials at other area school districts, meanwhile, said they are mindful of the IDOL’s guidelines when it comes to volunteer labor and other donations.
“It’s just really screwy,” said Bob Verdun, superintendent of the nearby Shelbyville school district, adding that IDOL tightened its policy regarding donated labor and prevailing wages about two years ago.
The Stew-Stras investigation right now appears focused on Double D Signs in Teutopolis, which sold the digital message sign to the Supporters of Stew-Stras. Owner Dennis Deters said he and two of his employees also assisted during the one-day installation of the sign in front of the school building.
Deters said he paid his employees, but not at the prevailing wage, because he thought the project involved no tax dollars.
“I was under the understanding I was selling a sign to a booster club,” he said.
IDOL Conciliator Dale Conaway, who wrote a letter to Deters requesting payroll information in accordance with the Prevailing Wage Act, said he would not comment on an open investigation. Nor would he discuss ramifications of this case for other school districts and booster clubs.
“Every case is based on its own merits,” said Conaway.
It has not been reported whether a grievance about the Stew-Stras project was filed with IDOL, and if so, what specific group or agency made the complaint.
According to IDOL’s Web site, the Prevailing Wage Act “requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works construction projects no less than the general prevailing rate of wages (consisting of hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits) for work of a similar character in the county where the work is performed.”
Helmuth said the Supporters of Stew-Stras were formed to help the school district that has yet to receive more than $2 million in school construction funds that the state promised seven years ago.
The 45-member booster club raised money by operating a concession stand at St. Louis Rams football games, and members also contributed most of the labor for the electronic “message center,” which went up in October, Helmuth said.
In a letter to IDOL on behalf of Deters, Helmuth wrote: “The district has not provided any financial help on this project. Therefore, Double D Signs were contracted to the group, not the school district.”
Stew-Stras Superintendent Ruth Schneider said she is surprised this has become a controversial matter. “I don’t think this is a big deal; I think it will be pretty easily resolved,” she said.
“The district had very little to do with that project, other than the booster club came to the (school) board asking for permission to install the sign.”
Otherwise, the Supporters “made all the decisions,” said Schneider.
Deters said he did not know what sanctions IDOL could impose, although it is possible he could be required to pay his employees the prevailing wage for that day’s work.
Administrators at other school districts said they tread carefully in situations involving booster clubs and other volunteer efforts.
The Mattoon school district oversees all of the labor for projects related to booster club donations. Either district employees do the work themselves, or a contractor is hired — with the understanding that workers are to be paid prevailing wages, said Assistant Superintendent of Business Tom Sherman.
In Shelbyville, Verdun said the district recently used a professional company to install football field lights, and ensured the workers were paid at the prevailing wage. The district refused any volunteer labor, because as Verdun understands the Prevailing Wage Act, these volunteers would also have to be paid at the same rate.
“We’ve been very careful,” he said.
For the time being, the Stew-Stras booster club members can only wait. “I think it’s crazy — we donated a sign,” said Helmuth. “I’m just so blown away.”
Deters said he is willing to work with IDOL and do what is necessary to rectify the situation.
Helmuth said she called an IDOL official regarding this case. “Now you’re telling me anything that was donated, I would have to pay prevailing wage on it?” Helmuth said.
“Then why would I want to donate anything?”
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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Country Boy wrote on Nov 24, 2008 7:49 AM: