The City of Villa Grove is considered an Aldermanic-City Form of government under the State of Illinois Statutes, which includes the following:
- The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer and is elected at-large to a four year term, as is the City Clerk. In 1997 the City Treasurer position was changed from elected to appointed but the term remains the same as the Mayor and Clerk’s.
- Two aldermen from each of three wards are elected to serve 4-year terms, which alternate every two years.
- Other offices and vacancies are filled by appointment by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the City Council – including high school student advisory members.
- The City Council, as a whole, makes decisions regarding laws and rules to be enacted and enforced by the City, with the guidance provided by reference to the Illinois State Statutes and the Illinois Municipal League.
In the fall of 2018, the Mayor and City Council established and hired the position of City Administrator. Jacki Athey began filling the position as of October 1, 2018, which includes:
- Attendance of all Council-level meetings while fulfilling the functions of personnel officer, purchasing/procurement officer and budget officer.
- Preparation of various reports to the Mayor and City Council concerning the status of the City’s affairs, and is charged with the investigation of all complaints and enforcement of all City Ordinances.
- Representing the City in all facets of grant research, solicitation, application and administration of such programs.
- Acting as the City’s liaison to various other agencies and organizations in certain capacities.
- Maintaining ongoing education and training in regards to the professional administration of a municipal government entity.
- Additional duties as assigned by the Mayor.
OFFICIALS
Mayor: Cassandra Eversole-Gunter
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: mayor.eversolegunter@villagrove.org
Alderman, Ward I: Matthew Pangburn
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: matt.pangburn@villagrove.org
Alderman, Ward I: Anthony Hooker
Term ends May 10, 2027
Email: tony.hooker@villagrove.org
City Clerk: Michelle Osborne
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: michelle.osborne@villagrove.org
Alderman, Ward II: Kerry Cheely
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: kerry.cheely@villagrove.org
Alderman, Ward II: Derek Johnson
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: derek.johnson@villagrove.org
City Treasurer: Jacqualine Athey
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: jacki.athey@villagrove.org
Alderman, Ward III: Thelma Blaney
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: boots.blaney@villagrove.org
Alderman, Ward III: Gilbert Nieto III
Term ends May 12, 2025
Email: gilbert.nieto@villagrove.org
Council Advisory Members
The Mayor routinely appoints two local high school students to serve on the City Council. School administrators nominate youth who are interested in political science careers or just have a strong urge to serve. They attend meetings, bring items to discussion and, although symbolic, are called to vote on all City business. The Council enjoys their interest, ideas and participation – as well as the opportunity to teach young leaders about how the City operates. We appreciate our student advisors and their enthusiasm!
Advisory Member 1
Advisory Member 2
Building Inspector: Mike Broeker
Term ends May 8, 2023
Email: bldg.insp@villagrove.org
Planning & Zoning Board: Chairman is Mike Cline
Email: pz.board@villagrove.org
Board Members Also Include: Secretary Beth Elston, Mike Broeker, Rachel Dewitt, Joe Landeck, J. Allen Nelk, Scott Smith, Mayor Eversole-Gunter
Park Board: Please contact City Hall for details as this changes annually.
Email: park.board@villagrove.org
Board Members Also Include: Mayor Eversole-Gunter, Alderman Johnson, Luis Rund, John Schweighart, Heath Wilson and Ellen Zimmerman; Advisory member Jim Mikeworth
CITY COUNCIL
City Council meetings are set by ordinance as the second Monday of each month, at 6:00 p.m. Standing Committee of the Whole meetings are set as the fourth Monday of each month, also at 6:00 p.m. Planning and Zoning meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. but are only convened if there is business for discussion. To see our Current Years Schedule, Click here.
How to request to be on a meeting’s agenda? Call the Administrative and Billing Office at 217-832-4721 to determine what date is available and what forms/paperwork should be provided the week before to be given to Council officials for preview in their meeting packets.
ORDINANCES
American Legal Publishing, a company from Ohio, is utilized by communities across the country for the recodification of their local ordinances. Simply put, they review all new stand-alone ordinances to make sure there are no conflicts with any other state or local laws, and then incorporate them into the Code. The last codification, done as the S-9 Supplement, contains all local ordinances enacted through December 13, 2021, and can be found at:
Any new ordinances passed since December 13, 2021 (either to create new laws/items or repeal prior ones) can be found in the pdf links below.