Setting The Record Straight - Frankfort Mayor Election

Setting the Record Straight: False Claims About COVID-19 Relief Funds in Frankfort

A recent article has attempted to mislead the public by suggesting that Mayor Keith Ogle and a campaign donor improperly benefited from COVID-19 relief funds. These accusations are false, misleading, and politically motivated. Here are the facts:

Fact Check: Where Did the COVID-19 Relief Money Come From?

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans

The PPP loan program was created by the U.S. federal government under the CARES Act and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
These loans were distributed by private banks to help businesses keep employees on payroll and cover operating expenses during the pandemic.
The Village of Frankfort, Mayor Ogle, or any other local official had absolutely no role in determining PPP loan recipients.
Nearly 12 million businesses across the U.S. received PPP loans, including many in Frankfort. Receiving a PPP loan is not evidence of favoritism, corruption, or wrongdoing.
“Back to Business” (B2B) Grants

The B2B grant program was funded entirely by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Businesses applied directly to the state and were awarded funds based on state-established criteria, not by the Village of Frankfort or any local officials.
The state prioritized industries hardest hit by COVID-19 shutdowns, including hospitality, event services, and in-person businesses.

The Real Story Behind This Smear Campaign

This misleading article was written by Thomas Witschy, who works as the social media manager for Frankfort Gardens, a project developed by Dan Rose.
Rose has been vocal about his dissatisfaction after his development project faced challenges, and it is clear that this article is not about accountability or transparency but rather an attempt to retaliate against the Village of Frankfort’s decision.

Why Was the Frankfort Gardens Project Stalled?

The Frankfort Gardens project was not rejected for political reasons, nor was it about low-income housing, as falsely implied. The real reasons were:
Water and sewer capacity issues. The infrastructure required for the development exceeded what the village’s water and sewer system could support.
County approval and village demands. While the county did approve the project, the village is being pressured to allow connection to its water and sewer system despite concerns raised by engineers and board members about insufficient capacity.

The Bottom Line: A Politically Motivated Hit Piece

The claims in this article are an intentional effort to mislead Frankfort residents and create the false appearance of corruption where none exists.
PPP loans were federal and distributed by banks, not controlled by local officials.
B2B grants were state-administered and awarded based on state-defined criteria.
The Frankfort Gardens project faced legitimate infrastructure concerns, not political obstruction.
Frankfort residents deserve truth and transparency, not misinformation spread by individuals with personal agendas.