An inmate submitted an “inmate
request/grievance form” to a county sheriff’s office (Sheriff), stating that
the inmate was “requesting to talk with: FOIA/Legal/Dietary,” regarding a
“Request for Preservation.” The inmate attached a
list seeking nutritional information for food served at the
jail. In response, the Sheriff disclosed several records responsive to the
request within the
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Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Road Impact Fees as Condition to Annexation
Last year, we reported on an Illinois Appellate Court decision that upheld the validity of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between a county and municipalities that provided for the imposition of road impact fees on developers as a condition to annexation. That ruling was appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court which issued a decision upholding the…
Illinois Appellate Court Upholds Code Enforcement Agreement in Favor of Village
An Illinois Appellate Court upheld a court order awarding a Village $45,000 in fines against a company that failed to timely install a fire alarm
system in breach of a compliance agreement. Village
of Plainfield v. Ionia Real Properties, LLC
In 2017, a real estate company purchased a vacant
building within the Village. For the…
Appellate Court Rejects Due Process Claims in Nuisance Case
The City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against the unknown
heirs of the deceased owner of a single-family home claiming the property had been neglected
and was an unsafe public nuisance. In City of Chicago v. Dzendrowski, an Illinois
Appellate Court rejected claims by family members of the deceased owner that they were denied…
Administrative Decision Reversed and Remanded Due to Lack of Factual Findings to Support Decision
The Bond County Community United School
District 2 (District) voted to close one of its public schools and
transfer its 107 students to other schools. In response to the school closing, the “Sorento Parents Committee of Ten” (Parents Committee) filed a petition with the Regional Board of School Trustees for Bond, Christian, Effingham,
Fayette, and Montgomery…
Seventh Circuit Upholds Use of Pole Camera by Police to Record Activities at Front of Home
As part of a drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement installed a pole camera pointed at
an individual’s home. The evidence gathered from the camera, along with other evidence gathered by law enforcement, was used to charge
the resident with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, distribution of marijuana, among…
Quorum Forum Podcast Ep. 88 – Election Special
Ancel Glink just released Episode 88 of its Quorum Forum Podcast: Quorum Forum 88: Election Special
The 2025 consolidated
election season is kicking off with its usual verve and a host of complex
issues to address. Local election officials and electoral boards have many
responsibilities to make elections happen. Meanwhile, local governments are
asked to…
Court Rejects Police Officers’ First Amendment Lawsuit Relating to their Personal Social Media Activities
A federal district court recently rejected police officers’ claims that their First Amendment rights were violated by a city after the officers were disciplined or terminated for their personal social media activities. Fenico v. City of Philadelphia.The officers’ Facebook posts were brought to light by the “Plain View Project,” a database of public social…
PAC Finds Public Body in Violation for Not Publishing Notice of Change to Regular Meeting Schedule
The Public Access Counselor of the Attorney General’s office (PAC) issued its 13th binding opinion for 2024, finding a public body in violation of the OMA for failing to publish notice of a change to its regular meeting schedule. PAC Op. 24-013.An individual filed a request for review with the PAC claiming that a…
Officer’s PEDA Claim Subject to CBA Grievance Procedure
An Illinois Appellate Court recently ruled in favor of a City in a case brought by a police officer who claimed the City failed to comply with the Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA) after he was injured. Allenbaugh v. City of Peoria.A police officer filed a lawsuit against a City claiming the City failed…