Firm owned by former Hired Truck kingpin's son accused of water theft
HYDRANTS | But owner calls it a mix-up, gets permit lickety-split
A company owned by the son of former Hired Truck kingpin Michael Tadin was accused Monday of stealing water from a city fire hydrant -- without a permit and without a device to prevent construction debris from contaminating Chicago's water system.
Plumbing inspector John Swietczak said he ordered MAT Construction to stop work on a street resurfacing project in the 2100 block of North Clybourn after noticing Friday that the company had used a hose to attach its street grinder to a hydrant.
(John H. White/Sun-Times)
MAT has a sub-contract to perform "asphalt milling work" for the North, South and Central Water Main Installation Project. Water is needed to cool street grinding machines.
When Swietczak asked to see the permit, the MAT foreman acknowledged he didn't have one. Nor did he have a "reduced pressure zone valve" to prevent debris from flowing back into the water system.
The foreman then called company owner Michael Tadin Jr. and handed the cell phone to Swietczak.
"The guy straight out tells me he's been doing this for 25 years, and he's never bought any permits," Swietczak said, noting that contractors pay $13.16 per day for hydrant use.
Tadin Jr. countered, "I never said that. I said this is the first time I've been checked for a permit in 10 or 12 years."
He added, "It was a misunderstanding. I'm a sub to a sub-contractor. I always thought it was the general contractor's responsibility to get these permits. I guess the general contractor didn't do it, either."
According to Swietczak, Tadin Jr. complained that the shutdown was costing him more than $3,000 an hour and threatened to go over the inspector's head before hanging up on him.
Within hours, Tadin Jr. had faxed a letter to City Hall and gotten a permit on the condition that MAT take steps to prevent water contamination. The fee was waived, even though waivers are supposed to be confined to community gardens.
Tadin Jr.'s letter states, "Can I please have a water hydrant opening permit for MAT Construction?" Handwritten are the words: "Waive fees per commissioner" and, "Need list of hydrants to be used."
Swietczak, who plans to issue citations against MAT, said city approval "happened at the speed of light" and normally "takes days."
"Tadin does whatever he wants. He gets whatever he wants," he said.
Another source said a plumbing contractor normally must submit a letter of responsibility before hydrant permits are issued, then install and test the backflow protection device.