Fate of New Township Building to be Decided by Wheatland Voters

As allowed by law, the question can be put to voters who attend the annual town hall meeting on April 12.

Residents who turn out for Wheatland Township’s annual town meeting next month will give a thumbs up or down on the township's plan to build a new $1.5 million administration building.  More than 55 Wheatland Township voters signed a petition to put the public vote on the April 12 annual town meeting agenda, said Trustee Karl Karantonis, an outspoken opponent of the new building.  The item, “Discussion and potential action on lease or purchase of an existing building for township office space,” appears under new business in an early draft of the legal notice for the annual town meeting. State law mandates that townships post the notice by April 2.  The town meeting is a way for the public to force a public referendum. Until March 1, any 15…

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About Town

Once a Year Township Residents Call the Shots. No, Really, They Do!

In a process left over from the pioneer days, folks who attend the annual township meeting get to vote on issues and what they say goes.

You may not know it, but the second Tuesday of April is one of the most important days of the year for voters.  The night of April 12, townships across Illinois will hold their annual town meetings, as set by state statute.  During the rest of the year, trustees own the show at township board meetings.  They vote on issues, discuss political philosophies and showcase pet projects. There is a period set aside for questions and comments from the public, but no one is doing any voting except for trustees.  But that's not the case at the annual town meeting. This is the night voters get the chance to weigh in directly on township issues. They have the ability to fast track local issues - ranging from property purchases to cemetery maintenance …

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