Township Supervisor Slams 'Slanderous' Posts From Balich

HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Township Supervisor Pamela Meyers is calling for a retraction from Will County Board Member Steve Balich after she said he shared "slanderous, untrue" statements on his social media and website.

Balich, who is running for Homer Township Supervisor, recently shared on his website a post titled "Another Homer Township Back Room Deal" written by Brent Porfilio, who is running for Homer Township Highway Commissioner. The post states Porfilio has heard the lawsuit between Homer Glen and Homer Township may be dropped, and Porfilio writes that this would be in exchange for an endorsement from the Homer Glen mayor and board.

Patch reported last week that the lawsuit between the village and township is ongoing, which both parties have verified.

"The litigation is ongoing seeking court intervention weighing in on the impasse reached in the matter of the Homer Township Road District Commissioner attempting to transfer the assets, property and equipment of the District to the Village of Homer Glen," Meyers, who is running for reelection, said in an email to Patch. "Despite false statements put forth by Steve Balich who is campaigning for the office of Township Supervisor, there has not been any 'back door deals' and the litigation has not been 'dropped' by the Township or the Village in exchange for political support during the upcoming elections."

Meyers said Balich has not been involved in any discussions or meetings throughout the process between the Village and Township, and had not previously reached out to the township board for information about the matter, until he filed a FOIA on Feb. 27 seeking "a copy of the signed agreement between the township and village ending the lawsuit."

The township responded to him on March 1, stating "no such document exists," Meyers said.

"He has made these slanderous, untrue statements and social media postings prior to exercising any due diligence," Meyers said.

This is not the first time a local official in Homer Glen has asked Balich to stop posting misinformation. Homer Glen Mayor George Yukich said Balich was "falsely attacking the village" when the village was discussing its comprehensive plan.

"Mr. Balich is a Will County District Board Representative serving Homer Township residents. As such, he is held to a higher standard," Meyers said. "Homer Township finds his misconduct making false, unsubstantiated statements to the community highly improper, irresponsible and unbecoming of an official."

Balich recently tweeted a "certificate for bad government," which he presented to the current Homer Township Board. In the tweet, Balich claimed the board earned the certificate from him for "hiring family and friends, providing bare minimum services, no bid contracts, lack of transparency, and not working well with other government entities," among other claims.

Balich responded to Meyers' comments with his own post on Patch.

"The 'Back Room Deals' post was written by a person on my slate. He was referencing what is obvious to anyone paying attention, that the current village candidates for trustee are working with the independent slate to help each other win. Why would they be on the side of the township independent slate while the Township is suing the Village?," Balich wrote in his post. "Dropping the lawsuit seemed like a logical conclusion to make, especially when the candidates have been seen hanging out at the campaign office of the Village incumbents."

"Homer Township is demanding that Mr. Balich discontinue making these fabricated statements and publish a retraction of his false statements. Further, he should provide an apology to the Homer Township, Lockport and Homer Glen residents for putting forth careless, unsubstantiated and contrived information," Meyers said.

"I want people to know that I care so much about where I live that I stand up against elected people knowing I will get their wrath. I do it because it is the right thing to do," Balich wrote.