Many officials serve the City, spending countless hours of work, sacrificing time with families and friends,. and
bringing a broad spectrum of experiences to their job. Look below see what each official's job is and about the person who holds the office at the present time.

Mayor
The mayor holds an elected position for the term of four years, and draws a salary of $3,500 per year. He is the "CEO" of the city and is required to see that laws and ordinances are executed. The mayor presides over council meetings and usually does not vote unless a tie occurs; he also has the power to veto ordinances which create liability against the city or that expend funds. He is the administrative supervisor of all non-elected officers and employees. State law also mandates that the mayor be the local liquor control commissioner.

Ron Hunt has held the office of Mayor since 1993, and was previously an Alderman of Ward II. His current term will end in April, 2009. Mayor Hunt retired from the University of Illinois in 1999 and in his spare time enjoys traveling with wife Becky. He resides at 212 East Elm Street, or you can email him at city.hall@villagrove.org

Alderman
The position of alderman is also elected, and pays $100 per meeting (or approximately $2,400 per year). The Council of six aldermen is the legislative body of the City, and is responsible for creating and/or changing local ordinances. The Council also assesses taxes and spends the resulting tax dollars where needed.

The City is now required to have three "wards", with two elected representatives from each area. While each alderman serves a four year term, those terms are staggered--allowing an election of one alderman per ward every two years.

The current aldermen are listed below, with the date of his or her initial election/appointment to the Council and his/her end of term. You may contaact any of the aldermen at home, or by email at city.hall@villagrove.org

In addition to serving his/her respective wards, each alderman is also appointed to specific committees. These small groups of aldermen oversee specific operations of the City government and departments.
 

Ward I  

Mike Akers, who lives at 402 North Pine Street, was
elected in April 2005. His current term ends April
2009. When Mr. Akers is not working as a Paramedic
Supervisor for Arrow Carle Ambulance, he enjoys
working in his yard, camping and spending time with
his wife Kim and his sons.

Stan Miller, who lives at 13 North Main Street, was
elected in April 2007. His current term ends April
2011. Mr. Miller owns Pop's Village Ice Cream
Shoppe. In his spare time, Mr. Miller enjoys spending
time with his wife Pam, children and grandchildren.
 

Ward II  

Darrel Griffith, who lives at 11 North Henson Road,
was elected in April 2009. His current term ends April
2011. Mr. Griffith is retired from the University of
Illinois Agronomy Department. In his spare time, Mr.
Griffith enjoys helping his wife Mildred in her garden,
traveling and spending time with his children and
grandchildren.

Terry Harbin, who lives at 114 Hickory Lane, was first
appointed in April 2003 and elected in April 2005. His
current term ends April 2009. Mr. Harbin is retired
from Union Pacific Railroad. In his spare time, he
enjoys fishing, doing home projects, and spending
time with his wife Debra, children and grandchildren.

Ward III  

Lois Wilson, who lives at 501 South Spruce Street,
was appointed in March 2007. Her current term ends
April 2009. In her spare time, Ms. Wilson enjoys
sewing, spending time with her husband Jerry,
children, grandchildren and taking care of her great
niece.

Robert Stipp

Clerk
The Clerk has multiple tasks, the most important being responsible for attending and recording all activity of the Council, as a journal or "minutes". She also keeps the corporate seal of the City, and certifies the passage and publication of ordinances as well as other public documents. She holds an elected position for the term of four years, and is paid a fixed amount of $225 per month plus $112.50 for each special (non-regular) Council meeting requiring her attendance.

One duty specific to the clerk is the role of local election authority. In this capacity, she issues and receives all petitions to run for City office, and certifies the names of candidates to appear on local election ballots to the Douglas County Clerk's office.

Brandy Hopkins has held the office of City Clerk since January 2005. Her current term will end in April, 2009. Ms. Hopkins has worked full-time at City Hall as an Office Clerk since 2003. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family. She lives at 411 South Spruce, or you can email her at brandy.hopkins@villagrove.org

Treasurer
The Treasurer is considered the custodian of all municipal funds, and keeps records of cash accounts, investments and bonds as required by law. She reports monthly on the financial status of the City to the Council, and prepares an annual report for the Douglas County Clerk, Douglas County Collector and State Comptroller. She holds an appointed position for the term of four years, and receives the same salary as the City Clerk.

Jacki Athey has currently held the office of Treasurer since 2005, and her term will end in April, 2009. Ms. Athey previously held the office of Treasurer for nearly eight years before becoming Comptroller in 2001. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children, reading and creating webpages. She lives at 412 North Henson Road, or you can email her at jacqualine.athey@villagrove.org

City Attorney
The City Attorney handles all legal matters for the City. Currently we have two different attorneys, one for the handling of local ordinance violations and another for general municipal law. As a member of the Illinois Municipal League, the City is also represented by various attorneys in matters of public liability on an as needed basis.

Specific information about our attorney is indicated below.
 

Mark Petty

Most Police Matters for the City and processing of all
ordinance violation cases are handled by Mr. Petty. He can
be contacted at:

Law Office of Mark T. Petty, PC
11-13 East Main Street
Arcola, lL 61910
Phone: 217-268-3056
 

Dan Schuering

All Tax Increment Financing (TlF) matters for the City
are handled by Mr. Schuering. He can be reached at:

Rabin, Myers, Schuering & Hanken PC
1300 South Eighth Street
Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: 217-544-5000
 

Paul Hendren

All other legal matters for the City, including preparation of ordinances and advisement on numerous matters, are handled by Mr. Hendren's firm. He can be contacted at:

Miller & Hendren Law Offices
National City Bank Building, Second Floor
30 East Main Street
Post Office Box 980
Champaign, Illinois 61824-0980

 

City Collector
The office of City Collector is also appointed, usually for a one year term and to an employee of City Hall (where most funds of the municipality are collected). The main responsibility of this official is to receive any municipal revenues other than taxes and remit them to the treasurer.

The office of Collector is currently vacant.
 

Comptroller
The Comptroller duties are specifically defined by state statute, which includes the general supervision over all officers responsible for the collection and disbursement of revenues, and the custody and control of all municipal documents, books and papers. She holds an appointed position for the term of four years, and will most likely be an employee of City Hall (as there is no additional salary for this office).

The office of Comptroller is currently vacant.
 

Budget Officer
The Budget Officer does the obvious--she compiles information necessary to prepare the annual budget ordinance, which is the legal spending document for the City. She is also responsible for tracking departmental spending throughout the year, in order to make or recommend changes as needed. This office is appointed on an annual basis, and again is a City Hall employee to eliminate the need for a designated salary for the position.

Jacki Athey has been Budget Officer since 2001, after assisting in that capacity for three years. Ms. Athey also works full-time in City Hall as the office manager. In her spare time, she likes to advocate for special needs children and their parents. She lives at 412 North Henson Road, or you can email her at Jacqualine.Athey@villagrove.org.
 

Building Inspector
The office of Building Inspector is appointed on an annual basis. This position has an hourly pay of minimum wage. The main responsibility of this official is to review and approve applications for any structual changes to property in the City. It is also necessary that he be aware of state and federal regulations, especially concerning properties in flood plains.

Mike Leon is the current Building Inspector, and is also active as the chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board. He can be reached at 111 North Walnut Street, or via email at City.Hall@villagrove.org

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Reviews activities of the Plumbing/Building Inspector and Planning and Zoning Board; reviews ordinances in planning, zoning, building codes, subdivision regulations; involved in housing, industrial attraction, annexations, community appearance and other activities concerned with the future of the city.

EMERGENCY SERVICES 

Reviews the activities of the Police and Fire Departments; Reviews and updates ordinances dealing law enforcement, Public health and safety, animal control, traffic control; assist with the preparation of the Police and Fire budgets and reviews their expenditures.

FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT               
           
Reviews the franchise agreements between the City and cable television, garbage, ambulance, and other utility services; deals with any problems constituents have associated with these; assists with the preparation of the Franchise budget and reviews its expenditures.

PUBLIC WORKS

Reviews activities of the Public Works Departments, which is responsible for the City’s streets, alleys, parking, sidewalks, snow removal, street lighting, storm sewer drainage, flooding and parks; also responsible for the water and wastewater utilities (but not of the billing or other related office work); assists with the preparation of the General, Sewer and Water Fund budgets for Public Works, and for Motor Fuel Tax Fund budget items.

SENIOR CENTER

Reviews the activities of the Senior Center, in relation to generalactivities and support services to the EIU Peace Meal program(such as drivers, janitors, communal activities); assists with the preparation of the Senior Center budget and reviews its expenditures.

Student/Not-Voting Advisory Members are assigned to each committee as well.