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March 18, 2024

Citizen arrests Clark County Park District Board!

By Kirk Allen & John Kraft

On May 13, 2014

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) –
We the People is a phrase that is suppose to have meaning in our government, as in We The People are in charge, not the public officials elected and/or appointed to represent us.
All too often we find public officials who for what ever reason fail to recognize that they work “for” the people.  Last night’s Clark County Park District (Mill Creek) board meeting was yet another example of public officials and their attorney being totally wrong and out of control.
The meeting was a special meeting that only had two items listed, which was to go into executive session and then under new business: Status of Executive Director. (Click here to read the agenda from that meeting)
This meeting was attended by over 30 people of which many of them, myself included wanted to address the board during public comment.  For me it was to ask why the board was not seeking a criminal investigation into the submission of an invoice by Francis & Associates,  an invoice which was for goods in which not a single set of minutes reflects any vote was take asking for work from this firm. When confronted during the previous meeting, not a single board member authorized it. In fact, they made a point that it was not going to be paid since no one asked for the work.  More on this matter in another article.
The board went into executive session and stayed there for approximately 2 1/2 hours. When the 30+ people filtered back into the room they opened the meeting and voted to table the status of the Director.  The next motion was to adjourn the meeting. Upon that action, John Kraft asked the board if they were going to have a public comment, and immediately board member Yargus and his daughter, the board attorney Kate Yargus, said no, it’s not on the agenda.  Even after being advised they were required to have a public comment they voted to adjourn the meeting.
It was upon that action, after refusing to allow over 30 citizens to have an opportunity to address their government body that John Kraft stood up and read them the statute in which a citizen can make an arrest, which he did in fact make the arrest of the board members.
(725 ILCS 5/107-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 107-3)
Sec. 107-3. Arrest by private person.
Any person may arrest another when he has reasonable grounds to believe that an offense other than an ordinance violation is being committed. (Source: Laws 1963, p. 2836.)

The offense?

They refused to follow the open meetings act and allow the public their right to speak!

Specifically: (5 ILCS 120/2.06) (from Ch. 102, par. 42.06)
Sec. 2.06. Minutes; right to speak.
(g) Any person shall be permitted an opportunity to address public officials under the rules established and recorded by the public body.
The failure of the board to allow the public a chance to address the board, even after being informed they were required to, means they have violated the open meetings act.   That particular violation does not qualify as an exemption listed as it pertains to being guilty of a class C Misdemeanor.  That means their actions constitute a Class C Misdemeanor.
5 ILCS 120/4) (from Ch. 102, par. 44) Sec. 4. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Act, except subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e) of Section 1.05, shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor(Source: P.A. 97-504, eff. 1-1-12; 97-1153, eff. 1-25-13.)
While Mr. Kraft was reading them the arrest citation and asking for their submission into custody, the attorney felt she had the right to tell all the board members to leave. While those two discussed the issue at length I was on the phone requesting a deputy be dispatched to the Park Office to facilitate the arrests.
(725 ILCS 5/107-5) (from Ch. 38, par. 107-5)
Sec. 107-5. Method of arrest.
(a) An arrest is made by an actual restraint of the person or by his submission to custody.
(b) An arrest may be made on any day and at any time of the day or night.
(c) An arrest may be made anywhere within the jurisdiction of this State.
(d) All necessary and reasonable force may be used to effect an entry into any building or property or part thereof to make an authorized arrest.
(Source: Laws 1963, p. 2836.)
Upon the arrival of the Sheriff, Jerry Parsley, I went outside to speak with him one-on-one since I made the call to 911.  I have to say I was totally impressed with the professionalism and manner in which this Sheriff conducted himself during this investigation.   When I was finished  explaining the events that took place he spoke with Mr. Kraft.
Sheriff Parsley was well aware of a citizen’s right to do what we did based on the law.  He had no questions pertaining to that action.  He also agreed that what the board did was in fact a violation of the open meetings act.   He has asked that John and myself file a criminal complaint along with a copy of the video so he can file his report and forward it to the appropriate authorities.
At this point he was in charge of those board members and he went and spoke with the Board Chairman and their attorney.  He advised them that they violated the Open Meetings Act by not allowing the citizens their right to speak.  He explained that they must provide that opportunity at all meetings and suggested that they review the Act and ensure this does not happen again.
After he informed us of his comments to the Chairman and Attorney, we thanked him for taking care of the matter and assured him we would get him the reports and video in a couple days.  We informed him that this was not an action that we wanted to take, but after the fact we are glad we did because there were members of the public present that were ready to take matters into their own hands from the comments we were hearing during the 2 1/2 hour wait for the board to finish their executive session.  The refusal of the board to allow anyone to speak  only escalated that citizen anger, which is not the answer.
As soon as we get the video uploaded you will be able to see for yourself that this matter was handled just as the law permits.  Sadly for the board, they got horrible legal advice and it was very clear this attorney has no clue about the Open Meetings Act nor the citizen’s right.  She did finally acknowledge that once given the citation for the violation she would in fact ask the board members who refused to stay to come back into the room.  Sadly for her that was a lie.  Once she knew the citation, and I asked her to do as she said she would, she claimed the members in question were no longer here and that they left.  No, they did not leave as they were outside the door in the garage and outside the building waiting on the sheriff.
A pathetic attempt at claiming the public had no right to speak at the meeting fell on deaf ears as she was not even reading the law.  In fact, her insistence on John providing the statute to justify the arrest was complied with once she stopped talking, yet for her it was OK to read from a “handbook” in an attempt to backtrack and cover for the illegal actions of the board.
Pathetic because the very handbook she is reading from is just that, a handbook.  What she read had NOTHING to do with the public’s right to speak at a public meeting.  It was a feeble attempt to intimidate us to think it applied to the situation at hand. It did not!
What is listed on the Illinois Association of Park Districts Web site, which printed the book she was reading from, is a section of frequently asked questions.

What are the penalties that a public body and its officers may incur if it violates the Open Meetings Act?
Criminal Penalties: Under the law, a State’s Attorney may bring a criminal action for a violation of the Open Meetings Act. A violation of OMA is a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

She was advised of the citation that was violated, advised of the citizen’s right to make the arrest that was made, and this legal scholar felt it appropriate to tell all the board members to just leave!  This is the same attorney that has been collecting $800 EVERY month from the board in which her Father sits as a board member!
Furthermore, the attorney may have been a “Party To A Crime” as the Illinois Criminal Code defines it:
720 ILCS 5/5-2 — Parties To Crime
“…either before or during the commission of an offense, and with the intent to promote or facilitate that commission, he or she solicits, aids, abets, agrees, or attempts to aid that other person in the planning or commission of the offense.”
 
What they also fail to realize is that every person in that room that wanted to speak had their Federal Civil Rights violated.  Their 1st amendment right was stripped from them by the board and its attorney!

PS: Timeline and explanation of the video is in this article (CLICK HERE).

MIllCreekPic (Small)

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26 Comments
  • beelady
    Posted at 23:26h, 13 May

    did they actually get arrested by the deputy? were they charged?

    • Homer Calcalavecchia
      Posted at 16:59h, 16 May

      No. It’s all exaggerated drama.

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 18:43h, 16 May

      The Sheriff will finish his investigation on Monday and it is up to the State’s Attorney to prosecute or not. The same as any other alleged criminal act, the State’s Attorney makes the call.

  • jannie
    Posted at 06:24h, 14 May

    I find this interesting as most park districts are happy when people actually express some sort of interest in what’s happening. I did find the payment for the lawyer per month rather high, but I don’t know what the going rate is.
    Park districts I’m familar with will have people sign up for public comment before the meeting, and there is a time limit (maybe 3 min/person) so a person doesn’t ramble on and on for hours. They will ask for public comment Jane doe, John doe – whoever signed. Then they go on with the meeting. Sometimes Jane Doe may state I’d prefer to comment at the end – and then that person comments at the end.
    I don’t understand why the Clark County Park District wouldn’t want to know what citizens are thinking?

    • Laura
      Posted at 10:55h, 14 May

      I wonder if the amount has anything to do with the lawyer being related to a board member. That seems a bit unethical to me…

  • Rory Steidl
    Posted at 08:08h, 14 May

    Jerry Parsley says what he means and means what he says. There is no wondering where you stand with him on an issue. He has integrity and he stands up for what is right. It’s a rare occasion that a Sheriff, or any elected official, would do what Jerry did, admonishing a Board of their violation. However, it’s exactly what should have been done and it’s exemplary of Jerry’s ethical approach to his job and his firm belief in both the Constitution and the rule of law. I’m sure that the Board, as well as other governing bodies, took note of his addmonishment and will consider same before they repeat their actions.

    • John
      Posted at 17:50h, 14 May

      Well said

  • clint
    Posted at 09:42h, 14 May

    Its a good thing that will come of this. We will get back to what the park district should be. The board needs to stop walking on the people of the country and the integrity of the men and women that started this conservation district.

  • Russ Sandstead
    Posted at 11:16h, 14 May

    I ask you, if the sherif was called to a robbery and catch the perp, would he say let’s wait for the video? I don’t think so. Does the law give allowance the sheriff is supposed to make for the political connected? Now I get the sensitive position the sheriff is in but so what?

  • jp
    Posted at 11:50h, 14 May

    I can see that an attorney is needed, but this is a crock of crap paying 800.00 a month thats close to 10,000.00 a year. Tax payers shouldn’t have to pay that crap. I can see a retainer in place.

  • Linda
    Posted at 12:29h, 14 May

    It was so very sad to see it get to this point, but it was necessary, VERY necessary. I want to thank each and every one that was there Monday evening & even though the board tried to wait us out because they knew their goose was cooked, everyone stayed the duration. I believe that the taxpayers & patrons of Mill Creek Park have decided to take their Park back & not let it be run by a few people who want only what they, themselves can get out of it. Shameful. No worries to all of you, this is not over. Not by a long shot.

    • Kevin
      Posted at 20:54h, 14 May

      Yes, very necessary! It’s time they listen to the people and the tax payers!

  • steve
    Posted at 12:43h, 14 May

    It is time for folks / taxpayers to stand up and say hey just what is my tax dollars being spent for and why. Taxes keep going up no leveling off in sight its got to level out sometime folks, Budgets need to be published so the public can see where thier money is going.

  • Bryan
    Posted at 13:33h, 14 May

    “Here, Sir, the People Govern”…….Alexander Hamilton

  • franklin
    Posted at 16:05h, 14 May

    why 911
    why not just call sheriffs office
    Were you in danger of being harmed

  • Alton Franklin
    Posted at 19:27h, 14 May

    I’m just an ol’ well-worn, dual-service vet (6 years in the Corps, 4 in the Navy). But, I must say, “Well done, sir!”.
    And, with all the love and respect I have in my ol’ red, white, and blue heart, Thank you for your service, sir!!!!”

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 18:44h, 16 May

      Thanks!

  • Kevin
    Posted at 20:43h, 14 May

    when will the video be available?

  • Kirk Allen
    Posted at 21:36h, 14 May

    Franklin, I believed that the BOARD MEMBERS were in danger of being harmed by citizens who were pissed about not being allowed to talk.

  • D
    Posted at 10:24h, 16 May

    To all of who say the taxpayers should take the park district back, The board members are ELECTED officials!! What is going on at the Park District is no ones fault but the voters. We did this to ourselves, so since they are NOT doing what us as taxpayers think they should, then what do we do about it? I say let’s find the remedy in their own Park District rules. How do we “impeach” the violaters? I do not know the answer, but I do applaud Kirk Allen for his watchdogness (I am sure that is not a word, but appropriate in this instance). I will, as always, keep a close eye on what is going on over there since I know this is FAR from over!!

  • Harold Johnston
    Posted at 15:53h, 16 May

    Well it is heart warming to see government crooks and self-appointed dictators get what they deserve–arrest. This kind of board is a despicable example of what Illinois government has become.

  • Rocko Burger Esq
    Posted at 16:03h, 16 May

    This board broke the law. They did so willingly. (Ignorance of the law is no excuse) Their attorney also interfered with an arrest, and tried to help them cover up breaking the law. Those are ethical violations of her oath to uphold justice in the courts of this state. Both this board and the attorney advising them need to have every avenue pursued to bring them to justice. My advice is to file a bar complaint (professional regulators) against the attorney, and file an ethics complaint against her with the supreme court, since she was advising her clients to break the law by refusing to comply with a lawful citizens arrest.
    The states attorney needs to file appropriate charges and cause this board to pay the fines/make the court appearances necessary to answer the class c misdemeanor complaint duly authorized by the citizen observance of the breaking of the state open meetings act.

  • Homer Calcalavecchia
    Posted at 16:57h, 16 May

    They just walked out on your citozens arrest.
    .
    jmkraft responds: It appears they walked out, but in reality they went into the next room over and waited for the Sheriff to show up.

  • Kirk Allen
    Posted at 11:58h, 17 May

    We all encounter criticism from others. The way we deal with it can either enhance our lives or it cam make us sour. It’s easy to “take it personally” when someone criticizes what we do. And some people are only able to keep their own self-esteem by “counterattacking”. To use criticism as something resourceful, we must attempt to see ourselves doing the behavior that was being criticized. This way we can calmly make an evaluation and decide what’s useful in it, and what to do about it. In contrast, those who are devastated by criticism “take it right in”. Many people literally imagine the negative meaning and it goes right into their chest. So, learning how to respond positively to criticism is an essential skill, and the world is full of critics! The opportunities are almost endless. This skill adds to our self-esteem that it makes more choices available to us, and allows us to connect with others (and their criticisms) at a richer level when we want to. “not sure where the quote came from but its worthy of sharing!”

  • Tina Rocha
    Posted at 13:10h, 17 May

    Well done Mr. Allen and Kraft. This is an example America is starving for in holding local municipal representatives accountable. We begin this accountability in our own towns and cities then work up from there. Well done Gentlemen and citizens.

  • Mike n Ike
    Posted at 11:55h, 19 May

    Gosh…who needs underdog and Miss Polly Purebred? This Simon Bar Sinister board just got bit by their own stupidity and ignorance! LOL…Good job Allen and Kraft! I salute you !

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