Oglesby council may seek Plan Commission’s help to inform residents about question to change government

Oglesby commissioners believe there is a need for transparency with community members about the upcoming ballot question asking if the city should adopt the managerial form of government.

Commissioners suggested Monday the Plan Commission organize informational sessions to ensure residents are fully informed before voting.

The proposal to adopt a city manager system in Oglesby was approved during a hearing at the La Salle County Courthouse in Ottawa.

Circuit Judge Jason A. Helland approved a petition signed by more than 100 Oglesby residents who seek a structural change in their city government, opening the opportunity for Oglesby to hire a city manager to oversee its departments, while Mayor Jason Curran and council members would shift to a more oversight-focused, policy setting role.

The question is set to be on the April ballot.

Although the item was up for discussion only, the Oglesby City Council mentioned involving key stakeholders, such as local business owners, residents and members of city advisory boards.

Concerns were raised about the financial burden this could place on the city, particularly regarding the salary and benefits for the city manager, which could range from $250,000 to $350,000 annually.

Commissioner Tony Stefanelli said the city may need to raise taxes or make cuts to other services to accommodate the new position.

“We need a clear picture of how this would affect our budget before people vote,” Stefanelli said. “The last thing we want is to surprise our residents with tax increases or service cuts because we didn’t properly evaluate the financial impact.”

Stefanelli proposed the Plan Commission take the lead in organizing public meetings to discuss the proposal, allowing residents to talk about and learn more about the potential changes before putting their vote in.

“These decisions should not be rushed,” Commissioner Gregory McDermott said. “It’s important that everyone understands what they’re voting on.”

City Attorney Patrick Barry informed the council that if the proposal is approved by vote in April, the city would be required to hire a city manager by early 2027. However, he noted council has the option to appoint a city manager prior to the deadline if preferred.

No official action was taken. While bringing the item to plan commission seemed favored by a majority of council members, it will be discussed again at future meetings.