Oak Lawn mayor: Village manager shouldn’t golf with developer

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Heilmann

Updated: March 22, 2012 8:10AM

Oak Lawn Mayor Dave Heilmann and village manager Larry Deetjen are at odds over Deetjen’s participation in a golf tournament with a developer who wants to build a nine-story office tower in the village.

Heilmann said teeing it up with the developer last month in Florida was “inappropriate conduct” on the part of Deetjen that “smacks of back-room deals.” Deetjen defended the trip as a standard way to network and said he paid all his own expenses.

Deetjen golfed with Tony Ruh, who recently proposed building the office tower near the center of the village on the vacant former site of Beatty Lumber, 9537 S. 52nd Ave.

“During the pendency of a major development proposal that Oak Lawn will have to approve, the village manager invites and then goes on a vacation to Florida with the developer?” Heilmann said. “You don’t do this. You just don’t do this. It’s way too cozy.”

Deetjen said he has played in the tournament for years and that Ruh was invited at the last minute to fill in for someone who canceled. He said Ruh was invited by Chuck Groebe, a realtor who was involved in the sale of the Beatty Lumber site.

Deetjen said there was nothing unethical about the trip.

“Amusing,” he said of Heilmann’s take on the trip. “Every year for over 10 years, Larry Deetjen participates in the Boston Open run by my brother-in-law. It involves 40 slots dominated predominantly by former Division I hockey players, and this year, two ex-professional hockey players from the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.

“Since I moved to Oak Lawn, I have continued to play in the tournament. I encouraged my brother and a businessman from Michigan to join. Everyone pays for their own transportation, arranged housing divided equally between players, and your own expenses. Nothing unethical or wrong.”

Heilmann said Deetjen’s failure to understand his stance is especially troubling.

“He doesn’t comprehend it,” Heilmann said.

Deetjen said golf outings are a way to network and build both personal and professional relationships, many of which benefit Oak Lawn.

“I have a code of ethics,” Deetjen said. “Nobody paid for my airfare other than Larry Deetjen. Nobody paid for my lodging other than Larry Deetjen.”

He said he has golfed with Heilmann, with the president of Christ Medical Center, and with retired athletes and in several chamber of commerce outings.

“I love the game,” he said. “I love people, and I certainly love competition as a former college football captain.”

Least week, Heilmann criticized Deetjen for meeting with Ruh and developer Karl Shea without Heilmann’s knowledge to discuss their plans for the nine-story office tower.