Kane Co. State's Attorney, Board Chariman Spar Over Meeting Minutes

The Kane County Board could face criminal charges if minutes from recent meetings are not soon approved.

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon sent a letter to County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen, the board and the county clerk’s office last week calling on the board to approve the minutes, which include open and closed door meeting discussions and disagreements between Lauzen and the state’s attorney office in regards to Lauzen’s hiring of an outside law firm, the Daily Herald reports. Lauzen has blocked votes on the minutes for every meeting since August.

Under Illinois Open Meetings Act, a public body is required to approve minutes within 30 days after the meeting or at the public second subsequent meeting -- whichever is later. The meeting minutes should then be available for public inspection within 10 days after the approval of the minutes

McMahon, in a letter to county officials, said that if meeting minutes from recent months are not approved at the county board’s December meeting, all officials involved could face Class C misdemeanor charges, according to the Daily Herald. The county board is set to meet on Dec. 13.

Lauzen told the newspaper there have been issues in the past with the written minutes matching up with audio and visual minutes in the past and he has delayed a vote as he tries to catch up in reviewing the minutes.

“This situation is much ado about nothing,” Lauzen said.

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