Baldermann’s injury dates to June 22, 2008. He and another Chicago Ridge cop were carrying the body of a 17-year-old girl, found dead at the home of an acquaintance, down the stairs from the second-floor porch of a home, using a backboard. Baldermann, who was walking backward, leading the way down the stairs, said he felt a sharp pain in his low back. He didn’t seek treatment until more than a year later, on July 16, 2009, saying he was experiencing increased lower-back pain, as well as problems with his right hip, according to Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission records.

Baldermann walked away with disability pay of $129,192 a year — nearly $20,000 more than he made as police chief for the southwest suburb. He’s set to collect more than $5 million in disability pay from the fund by the time he turns 75.

....and he pays no tax on that juicy disability pay of $10,766 per month. Sweet.

....and he receives $127,000 for the cushy school superindentent's job...and he gets $18,000 as NL Mayor...and he recently received a Worker's Compension payment of about $125,000 for his injury...and his pension will increase to $191,000 when he reaches 60 years old...and his wife receives about $120,000 from the school district. ALL this on the backs of the tax payers.

If you were injured on the job wouldn't you want to be compensated? You know you would, and you would be just fine yourself collecting a nice paycheck for a job you could no longer physicall do. I do not think anyone can judge what he did or is doing until you are in the same position. It's easy to read an article such as this one and think you would not ever do the same. I think he is an excellent Mayor, stands up for this town and tries to keep the best interest of the people he serves.

If I was injured carrying a 17 YO girl with another burly officer, it wouldn't take me a year to figure it out. If you get hurt on a construction site, they don't give you that kind of cash. That's lotto kind of money.

This slippery weasel runs our town, don't forget.

POLITICS AT ITS BEST WHO IS THIS FREE LOADER AND HIS WIFE CONNECTED TO...NO WONDER ARE TAXES ARE SO HIGH AND HOW DID THIS GUY WORK AS A CHICAGO RIDGE COP FULL TIME THEN AT THE SAME TIME BE A FULLTIME MAYOR OF NEW LENOX THEN ON TOP OF THAT BECOME SUPERINTENDENT OF A JOLIET SCHOOL ...AINT IT TIME THE FEDS STEPPED IN ....OH I FORGOT THEY DOPNT INVESTIGATE THEIR OWN

Please contact your state representatives and demand that a stop to pension abuse such as this is enacted.

These actions should be fully investigated by the state, and he should resign from all government positions. This state is such an embarrassment, a cesspool of corruption.

Well it may not seem fair, but props to the guy for taking advantage of the system. Dude knew what he could get, and he got it. I would probably do the same if I was in the same position. And how is it "corrupt" if it is technically legal? Unless something comes afoot that illegal activity happened somewhere netting him these funds, there's not much we can do about it....except complain on websites....

This is why the State of Illinois is broke! Our State workers have figured out how to take advantage of the system. It's all about me and mine. What happened to doing what is right for your State and neighbors! If this continues our State will be bankrupt!

I realize it may come-off as is we (and the other posters) are jealous- and we are, but what it comes down to is the guy responsible for leading the town is gaming the system. Unfortunately- the system is us. He's not screwing some mega-corp faceless entity, but he's sticking it to me and you and the guy across the street.

Character is an intangible quality that MUST be endowed with those that we trust to lead us. When we have clear evidence that our elected public officials are double and triple-dipping, it's our duty to step-in and recall the election- for our children's sake.

The problem with the job of Mayor is people only see the $18K salary.We need someone who is willing to lead by good example, not someone who will milk the cow for all it's worth, then move to Florida. Balderman is selling-out the town piecemeal for his own benefit. He clearly has no altruistic plans. The vets used to love him because he'd show-up for soldier homecomings and such, but he doesn't need their vote any longer and stopped showing-up.

cont..

We need someone who will make the tough decisions for the long-run to be our mayor, not the easy, fast cash choices Tim makes. Look at Laraway Ridge (Howell airport)- Balderman wants low-income housing under the guise of seniors and young professionals- young professional what? drug dealers? IF he really believed what he was saying, there would be strict covenants in the ownership by-laws stating over-65 residents - NO EXCEPTIONS.

Smoke and mirrors, my friend

Kyle, you are absolutely right. It has been a smoke and mirror game for years.

Now I'm Mad! Baldermann is a weasel. I wonder what scams he is pulling as Mayor of NL.

He does not hold the required credentials to act as a school superintendent. Check out Illinois school code. He is being paid for a position for which he is not qualified. Why hasn't the paper investigated this improper hiring?

Funny, he doesn't look or seem disabled when attending concerts in The Commons and singing on-stage.

Here Here Kyle. Maybe you should run for Mayor.

This guy is in it for himself.... It is getting harder and harder to tell the republicans from the Democrats

Check this out from the Illinois Review a great web site

http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2012/08/10-million-taxpayer-funded-pension-for-hinsdale-ccsd-181s-curley.html

just because it may be legal to collect a disability pension, earn 120k+ as a superintendent for a district of aprox 120 students, and be a major doesn't make it ethical. It appears that loopholes are abused here. He holds a certificate so yes he is legally authorized to be a superintendent, but should I be a superintendent if I never taught or worked in a school system. It would be difficult to be an instructional leader if I never provided instruction in an elementary school. Ultimately I feel ethics plays a larger role here than what is legal. Do I want an ethical person as a leader of a school district? Do I want an ethical person as the leader of my town. Absolutely!

I'd like to see this story go National... This is an excellent example of why this state and several others are in such dire financial condition.

@Kyle Williams, I would like to learn more about the back story (no pun intended) that you posted about. Why was HE removing a body of a dead 17 year old out of a home regardless of the circumstances? Drew Peterson much? Remember, it’s not libel if it’s true.

Herniated Discs are excruciating and debilitating. Dr. Brown of the University of Chicago is one of the top neurosurgeons in the world known for his repair of this devastating problem. If Tim Baldermann needs another surgery which was suggested he needs, he should consider getting a second opinion from him. It is recommended that you provide your MRI Scan and X-rays for him to review this serious situation as he will request them. FYI

Would love to know what dirt someone must have had on him to cause him to drop out of Congress. This guy is shady, shady, shady. Bet that he will be Superintendent at 122 in a few years. He's got the school board in his pocket and other people snowed. Oh but wait, he's a hero for going on TV to save us from high New Lenox gas prices. Puke. He's unethical and needs to go.

Wow the jealousy of some. There is not one of you who would turn any of it down if you were offered it! If you say you would ....well you know the rest.

@Lsingersongs: I completely agree. It is easy for everyone to sit at their computer and judge. A herniated disc is an excruciating and debilitating injury. And I have seen him at the concerts, around town, and at village hall and we does not stand up straight and walks with a slight limp even. I think people should look in the mirror before judgement. But I guess he should say, "ok, I won't take pay from a job I was injured on, I will just be a part time Mayor making $18,000 a year to support my family. And as for bringing his wife and her occupation into this, shame on you. I am sure she went to school to do the job she is doing and getting paid for. Should she quit her job too just because she earns $120,000? Maybe he could be like a lot of other people and just quit his jobs, not collect disability, Mrs. Baldermann can quit her job and not make what she earns and they can live off the government to satisfy all those that are upset that he collects disability.

If you are disabled you can't work. So why is he on disability and still working. These additional income jobs could go to another out of work American.

He was disabled from doing the job he was hired to do, did you read the Sun Times artilce or just what is here on the patch? He tried to get a desk job with Chicago Ridge and the Mayor "would not create at job" for him, but of course he does not remember that. So he should sit at home and do nothing? I don't think he is that type of person, at least he is still trying to do something. Do you go to the concerts that bring revenue to New Lenox? You wouldn't be able to if he didn't do it. Remember a lot of residents cheering for him because he wanted to boycott the gas stations? New Lenox is one of the very few town's in this almost bankrupted state that is NOT in the red, wonder why that is? The grass is not always greener on the other side. I love living here and those are part of the reason's why. Everyone is always looking for some kind of dirt in everyone now a days, not everyone has dirt or skeletons in their closets, do you? Remember in the article, Chicago Ridge is the one that made that deal. Of course he is going to take it, would you say "no thank you, please don't pay me that much?" Not in this economy you wouldn't whether you were the mayor of a town or not.

If you're an American, live in America and have a complaint about America take it to the most powerful person in America.....that would be the guy in the mirror.

WHY do people still receive disability pay when they are WORKING in another job? To me, disability is a disability and not allowing you to work ANYWHERE else. SICKENING.

District 81 school board is up for election in March or April.... They need to dump
John LaRocca

@David H, LOL, no I am NOT Mayor Baldermann, and yes you are right regarding to the pay increase, but again, Chicago Ridge is the one that set up his disability pay, now they want it back. I am just saying I believe other people would do the same thing, collect disabiltiy from a job they were injured on and can no longer do that job. I just felt the need to say something in defense of all these very negative comments. It's just my opinion. I happen to like the Mayor that I voted in the office. I have seen many changes (mostly good) that have come to the village of NL since he has been in office. I read the patch daily and see a lot of comments and opinions on every article, I just didn't agree with the negative ones here so I also wanted to state my opinion. I try not to judge others based on an article. I do not believe Mayor Baldermann is a dishonest man and I do not feel he is corrupt as others are labeling him. Just an opinion.

What a joke. I see that it is now off of the front page at Patch. Thanks for a crap job of reporting the real issues.
Also - All this complaining, think about it. Not one person will bring it up at their next meeting. Everyone is scared of this joker. Not one person will show up. Business as usual. The sheeple will just mosey along and take it in stride.

I really wonder if Balderman were not the mayor would he have been considered for that superintendent job? Clout was clearly a factor.

Is/was his father a Judge (not Will Co.) at one time? Or, am I getting him mixed up with someone else.

Why did the the board give the previous Mayor a writeup and not Baldermann? The previous one took thousands. Childs play compared to the hundreds of thousands this guy stands to get from Taxpayers.

This is an isssue between the Village of Chicago Ridge and Mr. Balderman. On disability he has to continue to go to village doctor and have regular check ups of his medical condition. At the time they deem him healthy enough to work they could call him back and he'd have to go or retire at his due pension rate. As far as a carrying the body down the stairs, it's an unfortunate part of the job but the department's detectives or offcier's on the scene must traansport a body to the ME's office when it can not be released on the scene. In other's words if an autopsy is being performed to find the cause of death and rule out any suspicious circumstances that body is evidence. I think the issue here is the money. That comes down to jealousy or pettiness. People are forgetting he put his time in on the job up to the point of being injured. The disability settlement and contiued payment are handled the same for him as they would be for any other employee. Rates of pay are what they are. When he was barely walking around hobbled by the injury that contiued to get worse I don't remember anyone writng in about it then. Why two years later? Sounds like an opponent running for mayor has an agenda. As far as being on the school board and being the mayor. Thats simple, get out and vote. Anyone remember where this town was in the 90's? It was a joke. The board was a joke. The town has grown since the 90's for the better but if it's time for a change the people should vote.

This is an isssue between the Village of Chicago Ridge and Mr. Balderman. On disability he has to continue to go to village doctor and have regular check ups of his medical condition. At the time they deem him healthy enough to work they could call him back and he'd have to go or retire at his due pension rate. As far as a carrying the body down the stairs, it's an unfortunate part of the job but the department's detectives or offcier's on the scene must traansport a body to the ME's office when it can not be released on the scene. In other's words if an autopsy is being performed to find the cause of death and rule out any suspicious circumstances that body is evidence. I think the issue here is the money. That comes down to jealousy or pettiness. People are forgetting he put his time in on the job up to the point of being injured. The disability settlement and contiued payment are handled the same for him as they would be for any other employee. Rates of pay are what they are. When he was barely walking around hobbled by the injury that contiued to get worse I don't remember anyone writng in about it then. Why two years later? Sounds like an opponent running for mayor has an agenda. As far as being on the school board and being the mayor. Thats simple, get out and vote. Anyone remember where this town was in the 90's? It was a joke. The board was a joke. The town has grown since the 90's for the better but if it's time for a change the people should vote. 2nd att to post.

I just want to share a direct quote mayor Baldermann gave the newspapers just a few months ago, when deciding on the gambling issues.
“My biggest concern is doing business with the state,” Baldermann said. “They keep coming up with scheme after scheme after scheme to try to balance their budget.”
Wow, in retrospect this really hits home. I also watched the footage of the meeting on gambling and he actually ripped on the state and how crooked they were. So I guess it doesn't apply when he uses funds through loop holes? How are they going to balance a budget that pays him over 200,000 for nothing?

I can understand the frustration being expressed about the situation. What I can't understand is why it isn't being directed at the policy makers that set up the rules and create the ability to "spike" pension payments (not just disability payments) for police and fire personnel. Do you realize that their pensions are based on their rate of pay the LAST day that they work? So when the employers approve pay increases and bonuses it all increases the pension payment. If you don't think someone should collect a pension or disability pay and be allowed to take another job then complain to the lawmakers that allow this to be legal and frankly common place. I don't think you should be laying all of your frustration at Baldermann's feet. If you don't like the laws then lay it at the lawmaker's feet. Many police and fire personnel retire around the age of 50 with full pension benefits (30 years of service) and then go on to work a different job (whether in the public or private sector) for many years. I think all of you would be surprised at how many people are doing this. I think he has been made the scapegoat for the public's frustration of the "system".

Hi everyone, you can read more about this story here, with Mayor Baldermann's response to the article: http://newlenox.patch.com/articles/mayor-tim-baldermann-addresses-disability-and-pension-agreement-with-chicago-ridge

Raymond
You are so wrong, yes there are homes in the village of New Lenox that are in the Union School District. I use to live in Country Creek and the home to the north of me was in Union School District and there were many more to the north of that house that are in that grade school district.

I work on 2 clients who have had injuries from jobs - one is a nurse - lifting a patient and another a construction worker who had the scaffolding collapse with him on it. Both are left with debilitating injures yet they both being treated like they are criminals. They have their workmans comp pay held until their lawyer can fight their case in court - all to make them return to work because most need the pay. They are followed day and night by people watching them. Its proven their injuries are real - the numerous surgeries on them and the nurse can not even stand up straight. Yet our Mayor who can go out and run marathons - dance on stage - has 2 new jobs that pay equally what his other job did - receives this disability pay without question - hmmmm wonder who he knows to get this pay.

"Some recent cases unearthed by Chicago Sun-Times reporters Tim Novak and Chris Fusco raise doubts about oversight of our disability systems. "

Write the Sun Times and thank them for covering the far-south suburbs. Let them know you care about how the 'Pension King' is screwing us.

Patch: Why do you keep reducing and retracting your articles? Have you been threatened by Baldermann? Will you loose access? Do you want to be a real news organisation like the Sun-Times, or are you posers?

http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/15291507-452/emanuel-nemesis-burt-odelsons-law-firm-caught-up-in-dispute-over-ex-chicago-ridge-police-chief.html