East Central Reporter

The Hutton Township Board of Trustees convened for its regular monthly meeting on October 7th, attracting a large turnout of local citizens. The gathering was marked by discussions on various issues, including compliance with the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

During public comments, concerns were raised about the board's failure to make meeting agendas visible to the general public. In response, board members assured attendees that future agendas would be posted on the door.

A citizen's attempt to obtain public records highlighted a misunderstanding of the Freedom of Information Act provisions. The township initially planned to charge $.20 per page for 54 pages, despite the law stipulating that only pages beyond the first 50 can incur a fee of up to $.15 each. After clarification, the citizen avoided an unnecessary $10.80 charge.

The board also discussed plans for constructing a new township building using $180,000 in ARPA funds from Coles County. Concerns were raised about compliance with federal regulations requiring competitive bidding for expenditures over $30,000. Attendees urged adherence to these rules to avoid potential financial repercussions.

Another topic was a bridge replacement project within the township. Allegations emerged regarding personal interests affecting decisions; however, it was confirmed that grant programs would cover all costs associated with this project. Some residents expressed concerns about additional road expenses related to the bridge installation.

As tensions rose during discussions, Supervisor announced his resignation effective immediately at the meeting's conclusion. The clerk also indicated her intention to resign but agreed to remain until new appointments are made and pending bills settled.

One other board member mentioned possible resignation but did not formalize it during this session.