Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's administration treated families whose homes were damaged by floods to a nearly $79,000 party at Brookfield Zoo, paying for the day of fun with federal grant money meant to restore those homes, newly released county documents show.

The Sept. 12 zoo event included parking, admission, special attractions and "hungry as a bear" picnic baskets for up to 2,250 people, according to an invoice. The zoo tab also covered more than $8,000 in entertainment, including a prize raffle, a disc jockey, a face painter, seven caricature artists, a juggler and a stilt walker.

At the event, called a "family resource day," flood victims also received tips on how to remove mold, job training and health screenings. There was a music therapy workshop.

Stroger spokesman Marcel Bright declined to comment Tuesday, saying the $10.3 million federal disaster relief grant that the zoo money came from is being probed by Inspector General Patrick Blanchard. That watchdog office's broader look at alleged abuses of federal grants and no-bid contracts led to felony criminal charges against Carla Oglesby, a former high-level Stroger aide.

Taxpayers and county commissioners are unhappy.

Ida Mullan, 72, whose Park Ridge home of more than 40 years flooded in September 2008, didn't bother to go after being invited.

"They didn't need to have that at Brookfield Zoo," said Mullan, whose finished basement took in several feet of water during the rains. "That was a big expense. That could have gone to the contractors. That would have paid for three houses."

Mullan and her husband, David, are satisfied with the more than $20,000 government-funded restoration of their basement. But now they are being told they may have to pay unforeseen contract costs the county couldn't cover with the disaster grant.

"That's not what we signed on for," Mullan said, noting she and her husband are retired and on fixed incomes. "We can't afford it."

County Board Commissioner Bridget Gainer, D-Chicago, said she is "flabbergasted" by the amount of money spent. "We have to be excruciatingly careful when we use grant funds," she said. "They are given to us for very specific purposes."

hdardick@tribune.com