5 officials resign in Ill. village of Sparland

SPARLAND, Ill. — Five officials in the central Illinois village of Sparland, including the mayor, have resigned.

Trustee Mike Durham tells the (Peoria) Journal-Star (http://bit.ly/uivc1l ) that the resignation letters were found over the weekend “in a neat pile” at Village Hall where the board usually meets.

The officials are: Mayor Linda Medearis, Village Clerk Susan Persinger, Treasurer Margo Danger-Smith, and trustees Louis Lenz and Ralph McCasky.

The resignations are effective different times last week and this week.

The village has been under investigation by the state attorney general’s office for alleged violations of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.

Sparland also faces enforcement action from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency over a sewer problem.

Village attorney Elizabeth Beck says she’s researching how the resignations will affect village business.