Illinois Valley Times

The Edgar County Watchdogs printed a report on the Princeton Park District Board's free memberships in the Feb. 19 issue of Illinois Leaks, pointing out that the Park District Code prohibits compensation for serving as a commissioner.

The operative part of 70 ILCS 1205/4-1 states, "The members of such governing boards shall act as such without compensation."

In previous years, the commissioners and their families enjoyed free memberships. After members of the public questioned the practice, the board began requiring the commissioners' families pay for their memberships in 2015.

In August 2015, however, the board passed an ordinance that gave the commissioners free memberships. The stated reason for implementing this policy was because the commissioners "manage and control all of the District's property" and they "plan, establish and maintain recreational programs." The rationalization also included direct input from members of the public who were using the facilities.

The watchdog group argued that the commissioners are not required to participate in the park district's programs and services. As they pointed out, while other park districts in Illinois also give their commissioners free memberships, it doesn't change the Park District Code.

Commissioners who received perks or other compensation, they claim, are in direct violation of the code.