September 26, 2023 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Process for filling vacant trustee position up to the mayor


How a vacant trustee position is filled is up to the mayor’s discretion, said Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges.

Fruhling-Voges had seven candidates to choose from for the open village trustee position after Jeff Van Buskirk recently turned in his resignation.


Fruhling-Voges appointed Tammy Vallee to fill the open position at the last board meeting.


Fruhling-Voges said three of the candidates removed themselves from consideration after deciding the timing wasn’t right for them.


Another candidate, Steve Peters, was appointed to serve on the Planning and Zoning Board.


Fruhling-Voges said when speaking to a candidate she first asks why they are interested in serving on the board and tries to see if they have an agenda.


“I always hope to get people who are genuinely interested in serving the community as a whole and not just wanting to get on the board because they have an ax to grind,” she said. “I also liked the idea of having another female on the board.  Women sometimes bring different ideas to the table than the men and we also occasionally have a different perspective when discussing things.”


Fruhling-Voges said each candidate would have been a great addition to the board but Vallee’s personality and involvement in the community through the years with a variety of activities showed that she truly was committed to the community. 


“I feel very good about appointing Tammy Vallee,” Fruhling-Voges said.

Fruhling-Voges said she thought planning and zoning would be a good place for Peters to get involved.


“It’s a good position to be in if he wants to run for a position on the board in the future,” Fruhling-Voges said.

Fruhling-Voges said there were several people who had concerns with her appointing Peters to the fuill board while his father, Mike Peters, was employed as Public Works Director.


“I think Steve would make a great board member and if he chooses to run and the voters elect him knowing that his dad is an employee, that will be up to the voters,” she said.

 The actual process to appoint a new village trustee to fill a vacancy is determined by the village president, Fruhling-Voges said.

Former Mayor B.J. Hackler had the Republican Caucus Committee suggest candidates, which he then interviewed and suggested the board as a whole. Fruhling-Voges decided to go about things differently.

Fruhling-Voges said there is only one requirement for appointment that a mayor must follow—
The new trustee must be from the same political party as the person being replaced.


“Even if there was a Republican that ran at the caucus and wasn’t placed on the ballot, there is no obligation that person would be appointed unless the village president made that decision,” Fruhling-Voges said.


Fruhling-Voges said she consulted with Village Trustee Terri Cummings during the process.

“I like the idea of bouncing ideas off another person,” Fruhling-Voges said.


Fruhling-Voges said the open board position does not have to be posted.

“Once it was made public that Jeff Van Buskirk was leaving, usually that is all that is needed to let the public know that there is an opening,” she said. “Making the appointment weighed heavy on my mind all summer because I wanted to get it right.”

Banner
Related Posts

Closings and cancellations for Friday

February 4, 2022

February 4, 2022

Email stjosephrecord@gmail.com to be included on the list. For Thursday the following schools are doing remote learning:PVOSt. Joseph #169SJOUniversity of...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board Oct. 26

October 26, 2021

October 26, 2021

I am live at village board so you don’t have to be. Visit Champaign County is here. I feel like...

Ogden Village Board to discuss recycling tonight

June 6, 2019

June 6, 2019

The Ogden Village Board discussed recycling again in May and will do so again tonight at their June meeting. In...

Live at Village Board, April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

We are here. On the agenda, the festival committee, the Fourth of July parade, outdoor dining for Roch’s and El...

Recycling returns to Ogden

July 11, 2019

July 11, 2019

Recycling is coming back to Ogden. At the July 11 meeting, the village board voted to return the recycling Dumpster...

Live at Ogden Village Board, June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

We are live in Ogden. Discussing the village resident who has four dogs according to his neighbor. The resident says...

‘We are here to stay’

September 19, 2019

September 19, 2019

AJ’s Station is here to stay. Owner Anthony Laubscher said he wanted to let the St. Joseph community know, that...

St. Joseph looks at hiring administrator

September 3, 2020

September 3, 2020

St. Joseph needs a village administrator. That’s what Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges wants to tell residents who may be questioning why...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, May 10

May 10, 2022

May 10, 2022

Me and Sawyer are here at Village Board so you don’t have to be. #dancephotosmadeuslate They discussed the outdoor cafe...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board

April 28, 2020

April 28, 2020

We are here and zooming in. #safetyfirst Jeff Van Buskirk will be replacing Roy McCarty on the village board. They...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 8

March 8, 2022

March 8, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be. VIllage Clerk Tiffany McElroy Smetzer is wearing a shamrock sweater which...

State moves towards bridge phase

March 23, 2021

March 23, 2021

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With 64 percent of the state’s seniors having received at least one dose...

Village Board to continue discussing sewer rate increase

March 26, 2019

March 26, 2019

The St. Joseph Village Board is expected to continue discussing the timeline for the upcoming sewer rate increase roll out...

Live at Ogden Village Board, Jan. 6

January 5, 2023

January 5, 2023

Trustee Jim Haan has resigned. Those interested in filling the position should contact Mayor Gabe Clements. The library has received...

Village hiring crossing guard

July 5, 2022

July 5, 2022

Organization: Village of St. Joseph Date Posted: 07/01/2022 City, State: St. Joseph, Illinois Primary Category: Administration Salary: $22.50 per day...

Comments
Leave a Reply