MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) Allegations of misconduct are costing a county official his job. Mitchell International Airport Director Ismael Bonilla has been fired.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele saying in a statement the dismissal was due to an investigation into the procurement process. Bonilla was found by the Audit Services Division of the Comptroller’s Office to have violated county ordinances that are meant to protect the release of privileged information.
The investigation centered on a contract for an airport business plan. Bonilla arranged for a meeting with one of the bidders a month before the country completed a request-for-proposals. Bonilla had prior ties with the company, Hanson Professional Services, which was eventually awarded the contract. There were three other companies that bid on the contract.
An audit of the awarding of the contract was launched last August.
The airport is owned by Milwaukee County. The airport manager is a county employee, earning a $175,000-a-year salary.
The MetroSource news wire contributed to this report.