OnLight Aurora, a City-connected fiber optic broadband service that provides affordable, high-speed internet to City of Aurora buildings, in addition to other public sector and private sector clients, was the subject of a comprehensive presentation by mayor John Laesch at Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
The presentation, which highlighted OnLight’s current financial position, detailed the not-for-profit’s mismanagement of funds, resulting in its nearly $1 million in debt. The previous chairman of the Board, who also served as the City of Aurora’s chief information officer, used an OnLight debit card to accumulate more than $337,000 in “marketing expenses,” contributing to the entity’s financial crisis.
Here is a breakdown of some of the costs incurred:
Events and networking $103,581; airfare $24,039; lodging/hotels $25,930; limousine/car services $10,066; restaurants/bars $62,090; adult entertainment $7,206; sponsorships $45,674; political contributions $675; ATM cash withdraws $50,397; conferences $2,153; marketing $2,722.
“OnLight spent over $300,000 on these so-called ‘marketing expenses,’ and yet, ended up losing 39 percent of its customers,” mayor Laesch said. “Additionally, under the previous leadership, OnLight failed to deliver high-speed fiber to Aurora residents in three separate attempts.”
Facing a monthly operating deficit of $27,000 caused Laesch to take immediate action. The new board is replacing OnLight staff members, who earned combined salaries of more than $200,000, with a new director who is serving in a volunteer capacity. In addition, Laesch worked to cancel OnLight’s rent at three separate spaces, saving the entity an additional $85,000. The Illinois Office of Broadband, established in 2019 to help provide Illinois residents with fast, reliable, and affordable internet, is also assisting to help get OnLight back on track.
“The system itself is stable and high performing,” said Laesch. “We just need better financial management and a realistic plan for the future.”
“OnLight’s original mission was to provide affordable and accessible broadband for Aurora,” mayor Laesch said. “I plan to assist OnLight in fulfilling its initial goal, working with its new staff to retain current customers, and bring back the ones that were lost during the previous administration.”
Moving forward, OnLight Aurora will have a new board, which includes mayor John Laesch, new chief information officer, Ram Tyagi, and alderman at-large, Keith Larson.
Recruitment is ongoing for additional board members who are both tech-savvy and community-minded, helping to bring OnLight’s key objectives to fruition.
“We will all work together to bring OnLight back online,” mayor Laesch said. “We are going to work closely with OnLight to not only become financially solvent, but also to expand high quality services to our customers.”
— City of Aurora government