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Champaign County Board moves into closed session to discuss aquifer litigation
Summary
At its Jan. 23 meeting the Champaign County Board voted to enter executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) to consider pending or probable litigation related to the county's aquifer; the board also amended the agenda to move the closed session earlier.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Champaign County Board voted on Jan. 23 to enter executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to consider litigation pending against or probable against Champaign County, with the subject of the discussion identified in the meeting as the county's aquifer.
The board voted to amend the meeting agenda so the closed session would occur immediately after the reading of the dates and times of upcoming meetings. The amendment was moved by Member Farney and seconded by Esri; a voice vote produced at least one recorded opposition, but the amendment carried.
The motion to enter executive session was made on the floor and specified that the following individuals remain present during the closed session: legal counsel Bridal Smith; Assistant State's Attorney Andrew Beckett; Director of Administration Michelle Jett; and recording secretary Angela Patton. The recording also notes Executive Steve Sommer was named but described as not on the listed attendees.
Clerk roll-call voting was taken to approve entering executive session. The roll call, as recorded in the meeting transcript, produced a majority of "yes" responses and a single recorded "no" from a member identified as Pugh; the transcript does not provide an exact numerical tally in a clearly spelled-out form.
Before adjourning to closed session, the board read dates for upcoming standing and committee meetings: a standing committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.; the ELUC (Environment, Land Use and Conservation) and Land Use Committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.; a Highway Committee meeting on Feb. 7 at 9 a.m.; Social Services, Policy and Personnel, Appointments, and Finance committee meetings on Tuesday, Feb. 11; and the next County Board meeting on Feb. 20.
The board left the public meeting room for the closed session and stated it would return to open session after completing the confidential discussion. The transcript does not record further public details about the litigation topic discussed in closed session or any follow-up actions taken publicly after the session.
