Feds open probe of Chicago Park District harbor management deal

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Federal investigators have opened a probe into operations of the Chicago Park District.

Sources close to the matter say FBI agents in recent weeks have been asking questions about the district’s decision late last year to award a new five-year contract to manage its nine boat harbors to Westrec Marina Management Inc.

The decision came despite allegations of mistreatment from competing bidders and complaints from some boaters that Westrec is providing poor service.

The FBI’s spokesman in Chicago this week declined to confirm or deny the probe, citing bureau policy. But Jeffrey Rhodes, managing partner of Flagship Marinas, one of the three other bidders that lost out to Westrec, said in a phone interview that he was contacted by an agent who wanted to know about Flagship’s experience with the district.

Another Chicago scandal in the making.