Spring Valley, Ill. (ECWd) – It is well-known that an elected official cannot participate in bringing about their own employment within the public body they were elected to serve in, but that somehow escaped certain elected officials in the city of Spring Valley. Spring Valley is in Bureau County, Illinois, and has a population of 5,582 as of the 2020 census – in increase of 26 residents from the 2010 census. After an astonishing population increase of 2.6 (less than 3) people per year, the mayor decided the city was growing at such a pace that it required a new employment (supervision) position be established in the Street Department – and they were going to pay $97,000 per year to the lucky “new” employee. The problems, as we see them, are that the new employee, Alderman Bogacz, participated in the discussion of, creation of, applied for and interviewed for, and was called upon to act or vote on the Resolutions and Ordinances establishing the new employment position, and on his own appointment to the employment position, while he was still an elected Alderman and attended the meetings and voted in his official capacity. Here is the timeline as we know it: September 8, 2026: The City Council approved Resolution 970 concerning a memorandum of understanding with the Public Works union and the restructuring of foreman and superintendent roles. The vote was 6–2. Alderman Bogacz voted in favor while serving as an alderman. September 18: The superintendent job posting is dated