East Central Reporter

Members of the past Shelby County Board have been recognized for their adherence to applicable laws, despite criticism on social media suggesting otherwise. The board has emphasized learning and following the law as a fundamental principle, although not all legal obligations are always known to them.

Years ago, certain elected officials were found to be receiving benefits not included in their compensation-setting resolution. While initially unaddressed by the former board chair, corrective measures were taken after department heads highlighted the issue. Kirk Alen mentioned that there was an honest effort to rectify this oversight without faulting those who received the benefits.

At a recent special meeting, the Shelby County Board discussed compensation-setting resolutions for two elected offices retroactive to December 1, 2024. Chairman Tad Mayhall noted that these resolutions should have been completed 180 days before the term began, aligning with statutory obligations previously highlighted by watchdogs. Mayhall emphasized focusing on solutions rather than assigning blame.

The meeting also underscored concerns about seeking immediate legal opinions from the State’s Attorney during meetings without adequate research. The chairman stressed that actions should only be taken with clear statutory authority.

The Watchdog Model encourages local government awareness and adherence to laws. It has reportedly increased public engagement at meetings and prompted board members to cite state laws more frequently.

An example of misunderstanding occurred when a former county board candidate incorrectly claimed a meeting was illegal because it bypassed the farm committee. The legality of such meetings can be confirmed by checking if they were properly posted with an agenda and had a quorum present.

Regarding filling a coroner vacancy, while appointing the Sheriff was considered, no acceptance from him was recorded at this time. Legal provisions require reappointment for any sheriff serving as coroner before specific amendments take effect.

With ongoing developments concerning coroner appointments and compensation issues, further updates will follow on Shelby County Board's actions.