Mokena Library Holds Public Hearing on Budget & Appropriation Ordinance

Article Summary
The Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees conducted its legally required public hearing for the 2025-2026 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance during a special meeting on August 26. The procedural meeting was brief, as no members of the public were present to offer comment, clearing the final hurdle before the board can officially adopt the new budget.

Mokena Library Budget Hearing Key Points:

• A special board meeting was held for the sole purpose of the public hearing on the budget ordinance.

• No public comment was made during the hearing.

• The hearing fulfilled a legal requirement that must be met before the final budget can be passed.

• The entire special meeting, including opening and closing the hearing, concluded in three minutes.

MOKENA, Il. – The Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees completed a key procedural step in its annual budget process by holding a public hearing on its Budget and Appropriation Ordinance on Tuesday, August 26.

The special meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. by President Joseph Cirelli. The sole item of new business was the public hearing, which is mandated by law to provide an opportunity for public input on the proposed budget before its final adoption.

Trustee Sara Carmody made a motion, seconded by Trustee Erin Minh, to open the public hearing. With no members of the public in attendance to speak, the board promptly moved to conclude the session. Secretary Marilyn O’Rourke made a motion to close the public hearing, which was also seconded by Trustee Minh. Both motions passed with unanimous voice votes from the trustees present.

The hearing itself was adjourned at 7:18 p.m., just three minutes after the meeting began. This formal hearing followed the board’s approval of the tentative budget at its July meeting and satisfies the public notice requirements. The final budget was expected to be approved later that evening during the board’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Present at the meeting were President Joseph Cirelli, Vice President Kathy Lewandowski, Treasurer Alvin Kempf, Jr., Secretary Marilyn O’Rourke, and Trustees Sara Carmody and Erin Minh. Trustee Camille Gonzalez-Jensen was absent.