No matter what way you look at it stealing is stealing.

No, you didn't strike a nerve. I just thought it was funny to use the phrase "out of control" in describing this situation. Kind of like sending the SWAT team to Mayberry.

Thanks for stopping by "JustStoppingBy". Apparently I struck a nerve.
You are correct though. It probably will take the National Guard to straighten out all the silliness going on in both of the aforementioned communities.

"Lake Geneva and Darien must have some sort of competition to prove which community is more out of control." BostonBill, you're right! Someone taking pennies and dimes out of a FOUNTAIN? Someone needs to call in the National Guard IMMEDIATELY.

So what does the city do with their new source of capital? Do you think the people that threw the coins in there intended them to be "donated" to the city? If so, where is the tax write off forms? Why not donate the coins to local charities?

Maybe all of them were taking a cut of the goody bag every time the fountain was cleaned . That would explain why it never came to light before . Dishonest people suck !

Quote..."Everyone assumed that was being done, that it was being put into an account to take care of maintenance of the fountain," Chesen said.

The fountain was being maintained...correct. By the people taking the money...correct. The polititions are pissed because they were stupid not to make sure they could steal the money first...correct. Priceless!

Maybe the city should have put up a sign saying all wishes made with money will go to the city. I never thought about who gets the money I just made a wish as it was a fun thing to do. How long has the fountain been there, how many years was money not turned in, how many employees cleaned it, who can you blame. Now the Goonies remark was good one.

Goonies

Ha! The Goonies is a great movie!

Stef: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, stop, stop! You can't do this.
Data: Why?
Mikey: Why?
Stef: Because these are somebody else's wishes. They're somebody else's dreams.
Mouth: Yeah, but you know what? This one, this one right here. This was my dream, my wish. And it didn't come true. So I'm taking it back. I'm taking them all back.

My take is that it does qualify as "theft." It is money that was "given" to the City, and might be analogous to someone leaving the City money in their Will. The problem is going to be proof. Generally speaking, in order to gain a conviction, they would have to prove that a person or persons took a certain amount of money on a specified date and at a specified time. I just don't see that as being provable. There may be other statutes as well, but I think an inability to prove the offense(s) will prevent charges being filed.

Action against an employee by the City is a different matter. That would depend on policies.

So... How are they going to prove that is it not just an increase in fountain wishing? Unfortunately I do not see how any charges could stick up in court unless there are witnesses or an admission of guilt.

This is really not a big deal even if it is almost a $1,000. People are giving their coins away, not with the intention of them going to the city treasurer so who cares? Kids could come in the middle of the night and take the coins who cares???
.
and on another note, i am sure many other workers have "stolen" from their employers by the strictest of definitions. Stealing time by doing personal errands, leaving early, arriving late, taking a pen, paper, paperclips home, etc. A study showed that 95% of people have stolen from their employer. It all adds up the same.

I'll bet the four city council members who were dismissed probably are behind it. It's got to be a conspiracy.

Cans aren't litter, they are money just waiting to be crushed, that's all. I have always wondered where the money goes that you throw into a fountain or a wishing well. It's just a neat thing to do, especially with your kids or grandkids. What this guy or guys did was wrong, but nowadays you know stuff like this is going to happen.

BostonBill: Do you think Mayor Chesen should relieve (4) city workers and replace them. He sure seems to draw a lot of attention to himself and his community.

I also think there is a little bit of difference between picking up litter and stealing money from a fountain.

BostonBill - No kidding!! I could use $950 in "almost worthless coins", too!

"Everyone assumed that was being done, that it was being put into an account to take care of maintenance of the fountain," Chesen said.
"Money showed up from the fountain this year that has never showed up before," he said. Well I would be more concerned about the City Treasurer than the employee cleaning the fountain. Talk about falling down on the job! Certainly the Treasurer wasn't "assuming" the money was being turned in. It was his job to see to it that it did get turned in. I'm not suggesting impropriety on his part, I'm suggesting incompetence!

Close the barn door after the horse get's out

THEFT IS THEFT REGUARDLESS OF POLICY. WHY IS THE MAYOR NOT SUSPENDING THE WORKERS INVOLVED??? MAYBE THEY ARE FRIENDS OF HIS. WHAT ELSE IS MISSING IN LAKE GENEVA???

"More than $950 in cash"
cuthbert, if you have some "almost worthless coins" like that and don't want them, you can send them to me. I'd be happy to free you from the burden of holding on to them. :)

Lake Geneva and Darien must have some sort of competition to prove which community is more out of control. If so, Lake Geneva just took the lead.
The story makes no sense. Who is the city treasurer and why didn't he or she speak up when no money was turned in? How did the substitute worker know to collect it and what to do with it?
I read the story again and it sounds more and more like Stengelese.

Good Grief................

Policy or no policy it's inconceivable to me that any reasonable person could assume the money is theirs to keep. That makes no sense whatsoever.

Let it be a job perk.

It's not a crock, it's a fountain.

So, because there wasn't a written policy, someone can get away with theft! My grade school student knows that taking money from a fountain or pond is wrong, a grown man/woman doesn't because it wasn't in writing. What a crock!

Congratulations are due to the substitute worker for turning in the cash and (knowingly or not) exposing this skimming.