Small-town mayor gets $20,000 for his 4th worker's compensation claim

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A fall down stairs while on the job means that Cahokia Mayor Frank Bergman has received a check from the southern Illinois village for more than $20,000.

The payment—approved by the Village Board of the St. Louis-area town last month—is the fourth one Bergman has received for injuries while working for local government.

Bergman, who is paid an annual salary of $40,000 as mayor, has received payouts totaling $145,463 since making his first worker's compensation claim in 1986 while working for the Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water District.

He declined to comment on the latest payment when asked by the Belleville News-Democrat, but attorney Rod Thompson said it was for leg injuries received in December 2005.