Macoupin County Board under investigation for potential violation of Open Meetings Act

By ERIN SANSON
Enquirer~Democrat Reporter

The Macoupin County Board is in more hot water as the State is now investigating a potential violation of the Open Meetings Act, following a statement made during the April County Board Meeting.

The Office of the Attorney General sent a letter to Larry Schmidt, as Chairman of the County Board, stating that a complaint was received alleging that board members gathered outside of an open public meeting to discuss public business.

This complaint was received following a statement made by Board Member Ryan Kilduff during the meeting on April 8 which alleges that Board Chairman Larry Schmidt conducted an electronic straw poll, involving all but three members of the board, concerning whether Schmidt should step down as chairman.

After reviewing the complaint, including a video of the meeting and a newspaper article regarding the same meeting, the Attorney General’s Office concluded that further action was warranted.

A letter was sent to the board asking for a detailed reply regarding the allegation and asks the response to, “identify, and describe in detail, any and all communications that occurred between and among Board members outside of an open meeting concerning whether or not the Board Chairman should step down or resign for the Board…”

The letter directs that a reply must be submitted to the Attorney General’s office within seven business days after the receipt of the letter. The letter was received on April 16.

The Enquirer~Democrat submitted Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the initial letter and the response to the Attorney General’s office. The letter from the Attorney General’s office was provided. The FOIA request submitted to the Attorney General’s office was extended for five more business days to evaluate the contents of the information. The FOIA request submitted to the County Board provided the initial letter from the Attorney General’s Office. However, according to State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison, “no formal response was made by the State’s Attorney’s Office as of April 28.”

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.