Alexander County board's procedures questioned

To the editor:

The Illinois Open Meetings Act requires that public business be conducted in the open. I have recently observed the Alexander County Board of Commissioners violate the act. A 2002 court case found that any item not on the agenda posted 48 hours before a meeting cannot be acted upon.

The Alexander County board took action on several items that were not on the agenda. It went into executive session without giving the allowable citation from the Open Meetings Act until a request was made by a county resident. The reason given was to discuss loans, which does not appear in the allowable citations. The board came out of executive session without certifying that nothing was discussed in the closed meeting that did not pertain to the reason given for closing the meeting. This certification is to appear in the meeting minutes. The board paid bills without having a bill listing or having that item on the agenda and without benefit of a formal motion. The board approved a loan application and a lease agreement that weren't on the agenda. It approved the expenditure of public funds by an elected county official without a formal motion.

It is not difficult for public bodies to meet the requirements of the Open Meetings Act. My offer to volunteer my services to assist the board to be in compliance was rejected as not needed but still stands. My experience in dealing with a 12-member board as a school administrator for many years provided many insights into conducting public business.

CURTIS MILLER, Tamms, Ill.