Water Dept. Moves to Fire Tom Talley - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

FOX Chicago exclusive: The Chicago Water Department is moving to fire one of its top bosses, weeks after we first told you, about a man named Tom Talley.

Our investigation continued and so did the inspector general's.

Talley's accused of using city workers to make repairs for people with political connections.

Some water department employees met with us last week to blow the whistle on what they believe is an abuse of taxpayer's dollars.

They're called "specials" -- water crews ordered to make repairs worth thousands of dollars on private property, against city law.

Last month the city's inspector general recommended longtime deputy commissioner Talley be fired. And Wednesday the water department pulled the plug, ordering Talley out of the building and initiating termination proceedings.

For several weeks FOX Chicago News had been building its own investigation of the water department "specials,” which employees said happened at least once or twice a week.

They said Talley was the man who ordered crews to perform illegal work.

Talley had the job that used to belong to Donald Tomczak, who was convicted and is serving prison time for running a political patronage army out of the water department.

The whistleblowers we talked to were both disciplined by the city at one time, but won their jobs back on appeal. A water department spokesman said Talley has five days to respond to the charges.