A Saline County board member said on Mar. 12 that he was told before a county board meeting that recording the session was not allowed because it was being held in a courtroom.
The issue is significant because Illinois law generally allows the recording of open public meetings, and prohibiting such recordings may violate state statutes. The Open Meetings Act, Section 2.05, states that any person may record proceedings at meetings required to be open by the Act, subject to certain provisions. Violations of this Act, including preventing the recording of an open public meeting, are classified as Class C misdemeanors.
The board member shared that he received this information prior to the meeting and referenced a letter outlining the prohibition. The article stated: “Prohibiting the recording of an open public meeting is a crime and cannot be tolerated.” It further suggested: “If the Courts will not permit recording, the County Board must cancel the meetings and move them to a place where they can be recorded by anyone who wishes to record them.” The article also noted that other counties and courts recognize that county board meetings are not court proceedings and do not prohibit recordings even when held inside courthouses or courtrooms.
Edgar County Watchdogs relies on support from small individual donations, according to the official website. The organization promotes informed communities by enhancing oversight of local governing entities through accessible public information, according to the official website. Members are affiliated with organizations such as Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Society of Professional Journalists, according to the official website.
Edgar County Watchdogs aims to foster accountability, truth and transparency in local governance through document-based journalism, according to its official website. Notable figures such as John Kraft and Kirk Allen serve as editors, authors, and researchers for Edgar County Watchdogs, according to its official website. The group delivers reporting on issues across Illinois, according to its official website.
The article concluded by suggesting: “We suggest the State’s Attorney talk with the county board chairman and get this figured out.”
