Why we contacted the Public Access Bureau — reviewing the Thornton Township June 15, 2026, meeting

Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: https://thelansingjournal.org/subscri... The Lansing Journal attended the June 15 meeting of the Thornton Township Board — a meeting that lasted 23 minutes, approximately half of which was the Supervisor Report by Supervisor Napoleon Harris. This meeting video includes an introduction that explains The Lansing Journal's recent conversations with the Public Access Bureau (PAB), a function of the Illinois Attorney General's Office that is led by the Public Access Counselor (PAC). The PAC's stated purpose is to "ensure compliance with FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) and OMA (Open Meetings Act)," which are designed to ensure "honest and accountable government, the cornerstone of a democracy." Reporter Carole Sharwarko invites viewers (and readers) to let The Lansing Journal know if you are interested in learning more about the requests we filed with the Public Access Bureau. The comment section below is available, or the editorial team can be reached by emailing [email protected] 0:00 - Introduction by Melanie Jongsma and Carole Sharwarko 8:13 - Thornton Township regular meeting (late start) 10:29 - Opening prayer by Pastor Nate Bowman 11:33 - Public comment by Paul Robertz 14:35 - Clerk Casey Nesbit addresses Paul Robertz 14:57 - Approval of minutes from the May 18 meeting and closed session 15:58 - Approval of bills from the General, General Assistance, and Road and Bridge Funds 17:30 - Approval of attendance at the ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, California (See the Exhibitor and Sponsorship Prospectus PDF here: https://conference.icma.org/wp-conten..., costs and number of attendees not shared 18:04 - Approval of ICMA Dues, cost not shared 18:39 - Approval of Seasonal Workers for the Tax Rebate Project, at a rate of "$20–25" 20:01 - Supervisor Report 32:00 - Adjournment Thornton Township Board meetings are typically scheduled for 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Thornton Township headquarters, 333 East 162nd Str., South Holland, Ill. They are typically held in the upstairs board room and broadcast to the downstairs community room which is available for overflow seating. Agendas and minutes from Thornton Township public meetings are often posted on the township website: https://www.thorntontownship.com/agen... The Thornton Township meetings calendar published in December 2025 lists the full calendar of 2026 meetings and township holidays: https://www.thorntontownship.com/wp-c... Related posts: • The agenda for this meeting (which we received the morning of): https://thelansingjournal.org/2026/06... • Information about the Illinois Attorney General's systems for ensuring "Honest and Open Government": https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/o... ========= The questionable politics of Thornton Township Supervisors Tiffany Henyard and now Napoleon Harris brought new viewers and subscribers to our channel, and we appreciate their interest in our local politics. Most of the news that happens in Lansing and other parts of Thornton Township is much less dramatic, though just as important. The Lansing Journal serves a diverse community and offers a diverse range of news — stories that are often overlooked by larger media. If you are interested in what local news looks like, subscribe to The Lansing Journal: • Our YouTube channel:    / @lansingjournal   • Our Daily News email: https://thelansingjournal.org/subscri... We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: https://thelansingjournal.org/donate/ Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community. MISSION The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible. Subscribe to our channel:    / @lansingjournal