The city of Markham named a complex after a former mayor. Then he admitted to taking bribes from the company that built it.

Motorists driving down busy Kedzie Avenue near 159^th Street pass a monumental sign bearing foot-high letters on a brick wall near a parking lot secured by an ornamental iron fence.

“David Webb Jr. Senior Living Complex,” the sign declares.

The city-owned building is named for a man who served four terms as mayor of Markham from 2001 to 2017.

Webb has admitted that while serving as mayor of the town of about 12,500 residents, he accepted bribes and kickbacks from the company that built the Markham City Hall and the senior housing complex that bears his name.

Webb has testified that he accepted some of the bribes as cash stashed into coffee cups during meetings in his City Hall office, the Chicago Tribune reported. Webb has pleaded guilty to fraud and income tax evasion charges and faces a multi-year prison term when he is sentenced later this year.

A federal jury on Wednesday convicted the company, Mokena-based Tower Contracting, and its president, Michael Jarigese of Frankfort, of 10 counts of honest services wire fraud and federal program bribery. No sentencing date was set, and the company could face a significant fine as a penalty.

The corruption and bribery scandal begs the question: Should Markham officials remove Webb’s name from the public building that honors him?

Should a town continue to honor someone who fleeced citizens of funds that could have been used to repave streets, reduce monthly water bills or lower crippling property-tax bills that homeowners struggle to pay?

A spokesman for Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa said Friday that the city would consider renaming the building if residents requested the change.

“If citizens speak up, especially people who live in the building, (Agpawa) would be glad to bring it to the city council,” Markham spokesman Michael Taylor said.

Webb could not be reached Friday for comment.

Markham Ward 3 Ald. Rondal Jones said Friday that he was in favor of a name change.

“His name should be removed from that building,” Jones said.

Jones said he was shocked when authorities announced charges against Webb. That was in December 2017, nearly 18 months ago. I asked Jones how city officials should respond, now that they have had time to process the evidence and Webb has pleaded guilty and Tower Contracting and its president have been convicted.

“You have a building named to honor someone,” Jones said. “I would definitely consider (renaming the building), especially because the company was involved in the construction of that building.”

The 80-unit, two-story senior living complex opened in 2010 at 15520 S. Kedzie Ave. Markham paid Tower Contracting $10.6 million to build the complex, two years after it paid the company $8.3 million to build its City Hall and police complex.

Webb testified that he accepted nearly $100,000 in bribes from Tower Contracting. According to his plea agreement, the Tribune reported, Webb said he accepted nearly $170,000 in additional “pay-to-play” bribes from another company.

Thomas Summers, owner of Alsterda Cartage and Construction, also faces charges in the alleged bribery scheme and is scheduled to go on trial later this year, the Tribune reported.

The case prompts numerous questions that could ripple throughout the south suburbs. Tower Contracting was paid millions of dollars in public funds to build projects for numerous municipalities, school and park districts and other governmental bodies.

Federal authorities are taking a closer look at another Tower Contracting deal. A grand jury subpoenaed contracts and financial records related to the company’s work for Hazel Crest School District 152 ½, which has done $12.5 million of businesses with Tower Contracting since 2013.

Jarigese and Tower Contracting have donated more than $56,000 to political campaigns, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records. Most were contributions to south suburban political committees and candidates.

Tower Contracting was the low bidder for a $1.14 million addition to Barack Obama School of Leadership and STEM in Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163. The project was dedicated in 2017 and part of $14 million in building improvements throughout the district, the Daily Southtown reported.

Two District 163 school trustees said Friday they would be reluctant to approve any future contracts with Tower Construction, now that the company has been convicted of fraud.

“It’s not ethical,” school board member Judy Hawthorne said. “I don’t believe they would be acting in our best interests. I would worry that someone was getting paid under the table.”

“I wouldn’t want to do business with them,” board member Christina Dupee said.

In some schemes, companies are awarded contracts after submitting the lowest bid, then add significantly to the actual cost of public works projects through change orders.

The Hazel Crest school district initially entered into a $9.9 million contract with Tower to build two schools, but ended up paying the company more than $10.6 million due to multiple change orders, records showed.

Jarigese’s biography on the Tower Contracting website touted his community involvement.

“He actively builds relationships through networking and ties with the Frankfort, Markham and Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce,” according to the biography.

Jarigese also serves on the boards of the New Lenox-based Silver Cross Hospital Foundation and the Harvey School District 152 Foundation. Representatives of the hospital and the school district did not respond to requests for comment.

Jarigese ran for Frankfort Township trustee as a Democrat in 2013. He finished with the fewest votes among eight candidates who sought four seats, according to Will County clerk election records. Republicans won all four seats.