County Board Cited by Attorney General’s Office for Open Meeting Violations; Former VCB Risk Consultant Reached Out to AG

Sep 02, 2023

It was on June 30th that former Vermilion County Board Risk Consultant Bill Donahue resigned from his position. Donahue, who also once worked as Vermilion County Assistant State’s Attorney, had informed the Illinois Attorney General’s Office about a possible problem concerning meetings that were held in January and February.

The Attorney General’s Office has agreed that those meetings were a violation of the open meetings law.

Donahue had felt that two meetings that involved County Board Chairman Larry Baughn, Financial and Personnel Committee Chairman Steve Miller, and County Board member Joe Eakle had been held improperly, without notice to other County Board members or the public.

The governor had signed a renewable energy bill limiting counties’ powers when it comes to wind and solar power, on items such as setback laws for the placement of the wind towers. Donahue says the first meeting talked about putting together a Wind Farm Subcommittee, while the second meeting concerned the hiring of an attorney to assist the county with the wind farm issue.

Donahue was in attendance as Risk Consultant at both meetings, and says he started to think; something’s wrong here. He says he received assistance filing a complaint from County Board member Kevin Green.

AUDIO: First I checked with the Attorney General’s Office by phone, and said “I think this is a violation, what do you think?” And they confirmed it probably was, but they couldn’t do anything unless there was an actual complaint. So, basically discussing with Mr. Green, we did the resolutions; and then he sent them up himself, actually, to the Attorney General.

The Attorney General’s Office agreed that a third violation also happened when the agenda for a special Executive Legislative meeting was not posted by the required 48 hours ahead of meeting time.

Donahue says a letter sent out by the Attorney General’s Office is asking the county to simply disclose to the full County Board and public the substance of what happened during those meetings.

Donahue says he was also receiving heat because of his handling of prior complaints against Vermilion County Board member Jerry Hawker.

Vermilion County Board Chairman Larry Baughn has told Neuhoff Media that there will be a comment concerning the assessment of the Attorney General’s Office in the near future.