Judge Orders Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore to Jail

McHenry County Judge Michael Caldwell on Friday told Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore to sign a contract for audit services and issue the $10,000 check to pay for it, or serve 30 days in jail for contempt of court, the Northwest Herald reports.

Grafton Township trustees signed a contract with ECS Financial Services in November by a 4-to-1 vote, but Moore voted against it. Caldwell said Moore's refusal to sign the contract and pay the down payment to the audit company amounted to contempt because in December 2010 he ruled that Moore and the township trustees can not interfere with each other's official duties, the Herald reports.

Caldwell said Moore can't refuse to sign contracts just because she disagrees with them. Moore won't have to serve jail time if she signs the contract and pays ECS, the story said.

She promised to sign the paperwork, but told the judge paying for the service is a problem because Grafton Township is essentially broke, the First Electric Newspaper reports.

Trustee Betty Zirk announced the township is "broke and then some," FEN reports.