Elgin City Council walks out of meeting

Thursday, Nov. 5, the Elgin City Council meeting took an unexpected turn.
The meeting was in session long enough to approve the minutes, financials and bills, before the majority of the council members walked out.
According to Mayor Schatz, they were discussing the issue of cleaning the Community Center, a pet peeve of his, as he said. “It has been discussed every month since I’ve been on the council.” As Schatz explained, “Randall Hoffman cleans (the Community Center) as he has the contract. He cleans well, there is just some touch-up work that I feel doesn’t get done.”
As reported by council members, they interpreted the repeated discussion of the subject as a personal vendetta and asked that personal grudges be left out of the meetings. At this point, the majority of the council walked out of the meeting.
Left without a quorum, the meeting ended abruptly, without addressing the new business. Members of the library board were left without a motion to secure the building they intend to purchase, and the Elgin Legion was not granted a gaming permit for their annual Turkey Shoot.
These items, in addition to other items on the agenda, will be handled at two special meetings on Friday, Nov. 20, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Room.
Since the meeting, the Mayor and Council members have resolved their differences and will meet as a group on November 20 to finish the council meeting.