Less than six months ago citizens of Oakwood Hills and surrounding communities banded together to successfully thwart a power plant. Ryan Noonan raised more than $10,000 through GoFundMe used for legal and publicity fees. Citizens planted lawn signs protesting the village leadership. People went door-to-door canvassing neighbors and friends for support.

The outcry got so heated that the Oakwood Hills Village Hall closed, resulting in intervention by the Illinois Attorney General. State Rep. David McSweeny introduced House Bill 175 to reform the Open Meetings Act. Village President Melanie Funk resigned, as did the Clerk serving under her.

Northland Power, Inc and Eventure Powers withdrew their plans for the power plant. Noonan’s group donated the remaining $10,000 in funds to the Village and to Prairie Grove School District 46. People returned to minding their own business and paying less attention to what happened at the Village Hall.

The Village no longer has a Clerk. Therefore, the Hall closed, except for 2 hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and three hours Saturday Morning. Although agendas are posted, no minutes to meetings are available on the website. A special meeting February 26, 2015 includes “Discussion of Removal of Village Clerk” and “Action on Removal of Village Clerk.” After serving less than six months Clerk Dina Frigo no longer serves. Each of the six Trustees and the President failed to respond to a request for information sent to their Oakwood Hills official e-mail addresses posted on the website. No one returned phone messages. Only three members maintain listed phone numbers.

The last Village Newsletters is from September 2014, when acting President Paul Smith, introduced himself and asked “please be patient with us during this transitional time.”

In October, Smith sent a letter to Governor Pat Quinn requesting assistant to add legislation (a) Power Plant projects to IEPA list requiring advanced siting for public safety, similar to that required for solid waste facilities. (b) mandatory training for public officials so they can understand and execute local ordinances, conduct proper public meetings, and get the training deemed necessary. He also asked for help writing a grant to secure funding to help rewrite and update municipal code.

On January 8, 2015 the Village adopted a Motto:  “The Village of Oakwood Hills…where the waters run clear, the air is fresh, and the neighbors, friendly.” The Motto is to be “continuously displayed on the website and the village literature.” The website and the literature available at the Village Hall displays the Motto.

On March 5^th, the Trustees passed a resolution urging the State Governor to protect full funding of local government by the state. The Village stands to lose $103,109 or 15% total income of income from state proposed budget for 2016.

On April 7, Oakwood Hills residents vote for Trustees and President of their village. The acting President, Paul Smith, is running unopposed. The names on the ballet for Trustees are the same individuals currently serving: Kristina Zahorik, Kerry Leigh, Patrick Riley, Chad Rider, Mary Beth Salvo, and Mark Wise.