The Taylorville City Council met at 7 PM on Monday to discuss various ordinances and different approvals. However, a key point from Monday’s meeting was during the public comment portion.

During the public comment section, three local business owners spoke out to explain that they are not satisfied with the city’s reasoning or possible decision to remove the brick pavers that make up the current sidewalk on the Taylorville Town Square. The bigger public discussion was about the Library Board Director, Ann Chandler, choosing to terminate the employment of the Library Director, Lorachelle Eck.

During the meeting, Eck spoke up about her disappointment and how the library board was running the library. Eck stressed that the work environment was hostile, and that employees were scared to raise concerns in the workplace without receiving retaliation.

Upon the termination of Eck, two staff members of the library resigned immediately. One of those staff members was former Youth Director, Audrey Miller, who also spoke during the public comments portion of the city council meeting. Miller asked that the city seriously examine how library trustees are appointed and if they have received adequate training on Illinois library governance. Miller urged the city to require periodic review of board policies by the city attorney. Miller also asked that the council hold the appointed officials accountable for their actions with the responsibility and authority appointed to them.

There was also a member of the community, Kayla McGraw, who spoke to represent the 508 residents who signed a petition demanding accountability from the library board of trustees. According to McGraw, in the time that Eck was director of the library, the library saw nothing but growth, and that during Eck’s one year of being the library director the community has become more involved in the library. McGraw also noted that the library board of trustees, terminated Eck, with no formal charges filed, or any evidence given that she violated library policy.

Prior to the public comment section, the meeting's regular agenda items were discussed.

Among those agenda items were various ordinances that required approvals. The first ordinance discussed was making appropriations of 1.5 million dollars to defray the Expenditures of the City of Taylorville. This appropriation was approved across the board.

The next item under ordinance was the approval of amending section 9-2-1 of chapter 2 of title 9 of the Taylorville City Code. This amendment would add the 2026 update of the NFPA 855 Life Safety Code. To learn about this specific city code, CLICK HERE. This motion was also approved 8-0.

The board also discussed approving the execution of a business development district number 1 redevelopment agreement by and between The City of Taylorville and David Brummer of 137 East Vine Street, Will Bland and Courtney Bland of LOV Properties, and Robert Goeckner and Goeckner Incorporated. These three redevelopment agreements were approved 8-0 with Mayor Barry as the deciding vote. However, there was a redevelopment agreement as well that was by and between the city and Bekim Letniku, which passed 7-1, with Alderwoman Megan Bryant voting no.

The motions to approve the special events permits for the Annual Old Timers Boogie, the graduation parade, and the homecoming parade were all approved 7-0.

The council also heard from Ted Bailey of Bailey Energy Group, who gave a short update on energy renewal pricing.

Under the street and sewer portion, the motion to approve the purchase of steel wheels for the sewer camera from EJ Equipment at a cost not to exceed, $3,500 dollars, a motion to approve Benton Engineering to proceed with the engineering design phase for the pavement, sidewalks, and curbs on the downtown project, as well as a motion to accept the proposal from Illinois Valley Paving of $85,078.37 for work associated with resurfacing West Main Cross from Houston Street to west of Silver Street in Taylorville were all approved 7-0.

To conclude the meeting, Mayor Bruce Barry gave his mayoral update, and the council also heard updates from the City Attorney, Rocci Romano. The treasurer's report and the motion to approve the payment of bills totaling $439,373.38 were also approved 7-0.

For more updates on city council meetings, keep following along with taylorvilledailynews.com.