CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) –
Below in the video from the meeting, the Master Planning Committee of Mill Creek Park, or the Clark County Park District, starts the meeting by talking about what to do with the funds brought in by leasing lots for a private subdivision. This subdivision has been a sore spot for many district residents in the past year when they learned of the possibility.
All indications are that the current board is attempting to ram-rod this through prior to the election in April. Opposition to this move is not over, and I suspect will not be over for some time.
This board kept secret the terms of the Covenants, Lease Rates, and the actual Lease that led to an Open Meetings Act law suit. They refused to allow the public to inspect those documents before or during that meeting, which is a violation of law.
At around the 29 minute mark, a board member starts talking about all the turmoil and upheaval brought upon them in the past year or so – seemingly oblivious to the real reasons behind the turmoil, which is the fleecing of the public by turning part of the park into a subdivision.
At the 30:15 mark, he talks about “inaccurate information” but fails to explain what information has been put out there that is inaccurate. Without stating what information was inaccurate, that claim is baseless.
At around 32:10, Charity says the lots are ready to lease and that Mr. Stepp has appointed members to the Architectural Control Committee. This would be a violation of the very Revised Covenants that was (illegally) passed in the February board meeting. Those Covenants specifically state that “THE BOARD” will appoint the members of the committee. “THE BOARD” cannot possibly appoint anyone to anything without doing it at a meeting of the board. So right out of the chute, the Revised Covenants have been violated. “Ron, Glen, and Joe” were “appointed” to this committee in violation of the very covenants creating the committee.
At 34:10, this committee and Charity Murphy stated that the “Lease will always be a draft”. I fail to understand that statement unless they are attempting to subvert the Freedom of Information Act by claiming it is a draft document. That claim will fail, one way or another. I have requested a copy of the lease.
At 36:20 they talk about marketing the lots for lease and mention that Charity has a list of people that have already expressed interest in the lots. I have requested a copy of that list.
At the 42:00 minute mark, a board member talks about needing a public relations firm to combat the bad press they have been getting. I guess the Marshall Advocate isn’t good enough? Anyway, if the board would quit violating the laws of this state, violating the trust of its residents, and embrace the openness demanded in the Freedom of Information and Open Meetings Acts, this bad press might just go away…but it’s much easier to hire a PR firm.
Watch the video below, or read our other articles on the park district (here):
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