Peoria Standard

Carlinville Park District commissioners will no longer receive perks or benefits, Commissioner Robert Duckles told the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) in a letter posted on the group's Illinois Leaks website on Friday.

ECW, a government oversight group that had sent the district a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on the topic, hailed Duckles' vow, saying the district has now joined three other state park districts in eliminating compensation of any kind given to commissioners, former commissioners or their family members.

In his response to the FOIA request, Duckles said commissioners had received fee waivers for their children to participate in youth sports programs, and although he said he disagreed with the group's interpretation of the statute regarding compensation, he agreed that the practice should be stopped.

The ECW said other park districts in the state have not made the same commitment.