Does Tinley Park Official's Tie to Design Business Create a Conflict?

Since 2000, Tinley Park has contracted a local design business owned by the sister-in-law of a village employee to do work throughout the community, the Chicago Tribune reports. 

READ: Check Out the Full Chicago Tribune Story for More Details

Le Deux Donnas, which has earned more than $86,000 from Tinley Park for decorating the village during holidays, is owned by Donna Lee Framke, who is the sister-in-law of Tinley Park's marketing director, Donna Framke, according to the Tribune. Despite the name—it means "The Two Donnas" in French and is a reference to the owner and actress Donna Reed, a family friend—Donna the director has no financial stake in the business, the report stated.

Officials told the Tribune that the director's relationship with the owner had no bearing on the decision to use Le Deux Donnas over the years. Donna the director said she does not involve herself in the village decision processes that involve Donna the designer, the report stated.

Over the past 13 years, some of the village projects the business has been responsible for decorating include, according to the report:

• a 2000 Halloween party, the first time it was contracted
• the Oak Park Avenue Metra station since 2003 (the proposals for 2012 and 2013 are on the village's website)