Latest news with #TownshipOfficialsofIllinois
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could IL townships be dissolved? Bills supporting the decision are resurfacing, but some oppose the idea
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WCIA) — Some officials across Central Illinois are worried several townships could be dissolved if proposed bills continue to move forward. The Township Officials of Illinois report the 1,426 townships in the state serve more than 8 million citizens. For the last several years, some state officials have argued there are too many levels of government, and getting rid of townships could be one way to save money. The conversation is resurfacing, and not everyone is happy about it. Alan Sprinkle, the Monticello Township Highway Commissioner, believes it'll cost more if townships go away. He said cities or counties would have to pick up the slack to fill the gaps instead. His team plows snow, fixes potholes, maintains buildings and takes care of about 54 miles of road. Sprinkle said they cover a lot of ground, in part because Piatt County doesn't have a highway department. Over the years, Sprinkle said his team has built irreplaceable relationships with the thousands of people who live in his jurisdiction. 'We had a resident who was having a baby during a snowstorm,' he said. 'They reached out to the township and we escorted them from their home into town where they could get to the hospital so they could safely get to town with their pregnant wife.' Besides that, he said they also have a close relationship with the farming community and have helped get propane to farm houses in the winter. If townships go away, he is scared helping people in that way will change as well. Regarding the bills, SB2504, SB2217 and HB2515 are all on the table right now. Sen. Suzy Hilton (D-Western Springs) is one of the lawmakers part of the proposal. Her office confirmed she is pushing forward with SB2504, which would affect townships with 50,000 people or less. If you have any questions or concerns, Sprinkle suggests contacting state leaders to make sure your voice is heard. If you'd like to contact him directly, visit this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rock Falls' Coloma Township government unravels; supervisor, trustee, clerk abruptly resign
Feb. 20—ROCK FALLS — The resignations of Coloma Township's supervisor, clerk and one of its three trustees were accepted Tuesday night, leaving the remaining two trustees to rebuild the township's government with a string of appointments that evening. The two remaining trustees — Donna Ackland and Wayne Eikenberry — met for the special Tuesday night meeting, where they voted to accept the resignation of Township Supervisor Sindy Sotelo and appointed Kristine Dobbs in her place. They also accepted the resignations of Township Trustee Loraen Romo and Township Clerk Neddie Watts and appointed Marlene Detweiler-Flynn as trustee and Becky Williamson as clerk. Chris Quandt was also appointed as a trustee to bring the board to its required four trustees. The seat has been empty since its holder resigned on Dec. 31, 2024, Dobbs said in an interview with Shaw Local. None of the resigning board members were present for the meeting. Once the appointments were made, the new board approved the intent to hire two full- or part-time administrative assistants and gave Dobbs authorization to oversee the hiring process and make employment offers. This situation that the board found itself in is unique, but "it's not unheard of," Jerry Crabtree, executive director at Township Officials of Illinois, said in an interview with Shaw Local. Township Officials of Illinois, organized in 1907, is a legislative resource center for member townships, including Coloma. Crabtree said Ackland and Eikenberry, as well as Highway Commissioner Ruthie Rogers and Assessor David Hand, went to the TOI to ask what the process is for filling the vacant positions since they're all elected offices. "Because of the sensitivity of this township and the allegations that have been made I advised them to consult with their attorney so that there would be no issues," Crabtree said. Initially, Sotelo announced her resignation in a Facebook post Feb. 13, which has since been deleted. In that post she wrote, "the toxic environment perpetuated by a select few has made it impossible to continue this role with integrity." The lengthy letter goes on to make claims about "backdoor politics" and a "culture of bullying, manipulation and self-serving behavior," the post said. The remaining board members and newly appointed members have all refuted these claims in interviews with Shaw Local. On the question of legality, Crabtree said it is within the power of the two trustees to appoint a new supervisor, trustees and clerk. According to Illinois statute, 60 ILCS 1/60-5, if a vacancy due to resignation occurs in any township office, except for assessor, the board fills the seat by appointment. The appointed member will hold that office for the remainder of the unexpired term and have all the same powers and duties as well as penalties that they would if they had been elected. Crabtree advised the board to first accept the former supervisor's resignation and appoint the new supervisor. Then, move on to the clerk and the trustees to follow best practices, Crabtree said. The meeting Tuesday began with a roll call — Ackland and Eikenberry being the present board members. For the township, two is the minimum number of trustees needed to conduct business, Eikenberry said in an interview with Shaw Local. Ackland and Eikenberry first voted to approve Sotelo's resignation as supervisor and then approved the appointment of Dobbs. Hand swore Dobbs into the position and the three members did roll call again. Next, they approved Romo's resignation as trustee and the appointment of Detweiler-Flynn, who was sworn in by Hand. They did roll call again for the now, four, members and approved the appointment of Quandt as trustee, which was followed by Hand swearing him in and roll call again. Then, they approved Watts' resignation as clerk and appointed Williamson, who was sworn in by Hand. It was followed by a roll call with all six members. State law requires that all appointed individuals must be a member of the same political party as the person whose vacancy they're filling. They also have to be a registered voter and have lived in the township for at least a year, Crabtree said. In this case, all newly appointed members — except for Quandt — are running for a position on the township board in the April election as independents, according to the certified ballot from the Whiteside County Clerk's office. Sotelo was also an independent, according to the Whiteside County April 2021 election results. The newly appointed supervisor, Dobbs, is running unopposed for the position of supervisor in April, according to the April 2025 ballot. Detweiler-Flynn and Williamson are on the ballot for the role of trustee along with Ackland, George Kelly and Brian Stillman. Voters will select four candidates to serve in the role, according to the ballot. Williamson, who was appointed as clerk, will still run for the position of trustee in April. She decided to accept the role of clerk now to help out and fill the vacancy, Williamson said in an interview with Shaw Local. There is no candidate on the April ballot for the office of township clerk. Hand is also on the ballot to retain his position as assessor, and incumbent Rogers is running against current trustee Eikenberry for highway commissioner. None of the board members who resigned — Sotelo, Romo and Watts — are on the April 2025 ballot for any elected office in Whiteside County. Just before Tuesday's special meeting concluded, the floor was opened up for public comment, but none was made. Instead, Dobbs said she looks forward to "making the township fiscally responsible again" and Eikenberry said he appreciates everyone stepping up to fill these vacancies on such short notice. The township board will meet for its regular meeting at 5 p.m. March 19 at the Township Building, 1200 Prophetstown Road in Rock Falls.
