Tinley Park Mayor Faces Scrutiny

Tinley Park Mayor Faces Scrutiny Over No-Bid Ambulance Contract and Campaign Contributions

The decision to bypass competitive bidding for a multimillion-dollar ambulance service contract has raised questions about the leadership of Tinley Park Mayor Mike Glotz. Under the current arrangement, the village's ambulance services have been provided by Kurtz Ambulance Service, Inc., a subsidiary of American Medical Response (AMR). Initially contracted through a three-year agreement expiring on July 31, 2021, the deal included options for two, two-year extensions.

Instead of allowing the extensions to play out sequentially or initiating a competitive bidding process, Mayor Glotz and the One Tinley Park Board opted to combine both extensions into a single four-year agreement. This move, which avoided the bidding process entirely, awarded AMR a contract worth $2,174,677.99—set to expire on July 31, 2025.

The timing of AMR’s campaign contributions to Mayor Glotz-controlled political committees has amplified concerns about the decision. Public records show that donations began in February 2021, shortly before the contract extension was approved, and continued through December 2024.

A History of Campaign Contributions

AMR Holdco, Inc., the parent company of Kurtz Ambulance Service, has a record of contributing to local political figures. The first recipient was Jeffrey Tobolski, former mayor of McCook and a Cook County Commissioner, whose career ended in scandal. After federal agents raided McCook Village Hall and his home, Tobolski pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and filing a false tax return, admitting to over $250,000 in extortion and bribes.

The second recipient of AMR contributions is Chris Getty, the mayor of Lyons. In 2019, federal agents raided Lyons Village Hall and Getty’s private insurance office as part of a corruption investigation, although Getty himself has not been charged with any crimes.

The third and most prominent beneficiary is Tinley Park Mayor Mike Glotz. According to public records, Glotz’s campaign committees have received $9,100 in total contributions from AMR—surpassing the $5,000 donated to Mayor Getty and the $4,500 received by Tobolski. Glotz’s campaigns also outpaced AMR contributions to high-profile entities such as the Illinois State Democratic Fund, which received $5,000, and influential politicians including Michael Hastings, Chris Welch, and Don Harmon.

Raising Ethical Questions

The substantial contributions to Glotz-controlled campaigns raise critical questions: Why did AMR significantly increase its donations to Tinley Park political figures? Was the no-bid contract extension—granted a year longer than the original agreement—contingent on these contributions? Does this reflect a broader pattern of quid pro quo in Tinley Park politics?

The optics of these decisions—and their timing—underscore a growing need for transparency and accountability in local government. Residents and watchdog organizations are left to wonder: Are other businesses in Tinley Park also expected to make political contributions to secure favorable treatment?