The Marion County Board reorganized for a second time Monday night because they violated the Open Meetings Act the first time.
Board members verbally announced who they had voted for in a prior secret ballot. With four members missing, Steve Whritenour defeated Debbie Smith 7 to 3 for chair and Tyson McHenry won the vice-chair position with seven votes. Smith received two and Debbie Reed one. The absent board members will have to verbalize their choice for chair and vice-chair at the next meeting they attend.
State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth had the board complete the same remedy as was required under an appellate court ruling in a similar case in Ogle County in northern Illinois. Because the secret vote was held during a properly called board meeting, they were not required to complete the whole process again.
