A little more than 14 years ago, I created Municipal Minute because I love to write and I thought it would be a helpful resource for local government officials and employees on all things local gov – it wasn’t because
Municipal Minute
Municipal Minute, published by Ancel Glink, P.C., focuses on legal issues affecting local governments in Illinois. The blog covers topics such as local government law, municipal litigation, labor and employment law, land use and economic development, election law, and workers' compensation. It provides updates on legislative changes, court decisions, and administrative actions relevant to municipalities, townships, park districts, and other local government entities. The blog also addresses practical legal challenges faced by local governments, including open meetings, freedom of information, zoning, and enforcement of local ordinances. Content is authored by experienced attorneys at Ancel Glink, offering timely legal insights tailored to public sector clients.
Latest from Municipal Minute - Page 9
Seventh Circuit Finds No Fourth Amendment Violation in Police Pursuit Case
City police officers responded to a report of
gunshots in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. While investigating the report, the
officers approached Juan Mendez on the front porch of his home. Mendez
initially did not respond to the officers questions and suddenly…
The New Year Countdown – Amendments to the Illinois Vehicle Code
This year, Municipal Minute will be counting down to the New
Year with updates on legislation that will be effective starting on January 1,
2026.
Public Act 104-0141 amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to
update the definition of the word…
The New Year Countdown – Township Open Spaces
This year, Municipal Minute will be counting down to the New
Year with updates on legislation that will be effective starting on January 1,
2026.
Public Act
104-0048 amends the Township Code to provide more flexibility in
township-owned open spaces.…
Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Validity of Constitutional Amendment Election
In a recent election contest
lawsuit, an Illinois Appellate Court upheld the dismissal of a challenge to a 2022 constitutional amendment election. Weckbacher,
et al. v. Watson, et al.After a constitutional amendment
was passed by Illinois voters at the…
Court Dismisses Discrimination Charge relating to Code Enforcement Action
An Illinois Appellate Court ruled in favor of a municipality in a housing discrimination case that had been dismissed for lack of substantial evidence by the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Schoff v. Illinois Human Rights Commission.The owners of…
Quorum Forum Podcast – New Laws for the New Year
Ancel Glink’s Quorum Forum Podcast released Episode 99: New Laws for the New Year, which is summarized below:
Farewell, 2025—and a warm welcome to the New Year! In this
holiday episode, the Quorum Forum podcast hosts its annual tradition…
Court Upholds City’s Response to FOIA that No Records Exist
In 2023, a requester
submitted several FOIA requests to a city police department seeking law
enforcement records regarding himself. The city’s response letter denying the request stated that (1) the records were exempt under 7(1)(a) and (2) “NO RECORDS FOUND.”…
In the Zone: Court Upholds Revocation of Conditional Use Permit for Beer Garden
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court’s denial of an injunction against a planning and development committee that had revoked a conditional use permit to operate an outdoor beer garden. Minocqua Brewing Company v. Daniel Hess.In…
Illinois Supreme Court Grants Immunity to School District
In Haase v. Kankakee School District, the Illinois Supreme
Court considered whether a school district and its employees were
entitled to immunity for a student injury under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees
Tort Immunity Act (“Tort Immunity Act”).…