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September 27, 2025

Channahon Park District illegally compensating commissioners –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On April 13, 2020

WILL CO. (ECWd) –

It is well-know throughout this State that Park District Commissioners shall act as such without compensation (70 ILCS 1205/4-1).

It is equally known that violations of the Park District Code, receipt of compensation by commissioners, are also violations of the Constitution and considered Official Misconduct.

Shall act as such without compensation” means exactly what it says – commissioners receive absolutely nothing for being a park district commissioner. Why is it so hard to understand the plain language of the statute?

We suggest this park district immediately amend its policy to prohibit commissioners from receiving any complementary, free, or discounted use of park district facilities.

Channahon Park District has in its policy to provide compensation to its Park Commissioners as such:

  • Free Golf Course passes (page 117) – a $1950.00 illegal benefit annually (not counting the driving range)

We have written extensively on this subject (click here) and note that Park Districts with golf courses are the most frequent violators of compensation laws that we have seen.

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6 Responses

  1. Would this also apply to School Board members who are treated to lunch by the Superintendent periodically, who are treated to meals from the teachers union rep, and are given free tickets to Retirement Dinners held each year, at Cantigny Golf Club (for instance)??? Just wondering?

    1. Probably not by the Illinois Special Districts statute nor by the Park District Code therein. I dunno that sort of schmoozing is covered by the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) either.

  2. ECWd has so often written about this issue that its becoming a tax wonder for the Illinois office of Attorney General, in loss to the Department of Revenue.

  3. Trump claims ‘total authority’ over state decisions, so does that mean he also has ‘total authority’ over Channahon Park District decisions too?