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Executive committee approves multiple fire-district appointments amid questions about Elwood vacancy
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Summary
The Will County Board Executive Committee approved six county-executive appointments to local fire protection districts but members pressed staff for missing applicant paperwork and an explanation of why an Elwood Fire District appointment did not appear on the agenda.
The Will County Board Executive Committee approved appointments to six fire protection districts on a routine series of motions but several members pressed staff for more information about an Elwood Fire District vacancy that was not on the agenda.
Member O'Gala told the committee she had been contacted repeatedly by Elwood officials and said an applicant filed in February but the paperwork did not appear on the list before the committee. "I was contacted earlier in the month and again and again from the Elwood Fire District looking for an appointment to happen," O'Gala said, and requested "a list of all the people who have applied for the Elwood Fire District" and their filed paperwork so the board could review them.
County staff member Mahoney responded that the Elwood vacancy is being vetted and that staff "hope to have something brought forward in May for Elwood," and that the county takes vetting seriously because those appointed boards have property-tax authority. Member Balich recounted a past dispute in Northwest Homer and urged the committee to appoint a long-serving local candidate, saying the district had previously split and local context mattered.
The committee approved the following appointments by voice or unanimous consent after motions and seconds: 26-4532 (Shanheim Fire Protection District), 26-4536 (Manhattan Fire Protection District), 26-4556 (Monee Fire Protection District), 26-4559 (Northwest Homer Fire Protection District), 26-4560 (Stager Estates Fire Protection District) and 26-4563 (Wilmington Fire Protection District). Where recorded by roll call in the transcript, the motions carried. On Northwest Homer, members discussed historical attempts to move from appointment to election and confirmed the position remains appointed.
Members expressed concern about operational impacts if a fire-district board lacks a quorum because of resignations or scheduling conflicts; O'Gala noted that the Elwood board has only two members and could be unable to meet if a member is absent. Richmond urged holding a spot on the county board agenda so the county could review and vote on outstanding district appointments.
Mahoney said staff will provide the applicant information requested and continue vetting. The committee did not delay the other appointments but recorded the request and committed to follow up.
The committee moved to its next business and later voted to go into executive session for litigation. The committee also asked for a written opinion from the state's attorney about whether an executive-committee 'whip' should be a titled role.
