Resolution Establishing County-Wide Code of Conduct for Land Agents Advances With Conditions

Montgomery County Board Development & Personnel Committee | May 4 Meeting

Article Summary: The Montgomery County Board Development & Personnel Committee on Monday, May 4, 2026, voted unanimously to recommend a resolution establishing a county-wide code of conduct for land agents and energy project representatives, pending review by the State’s Attorney and office holders affected by the new rules.

Land Agent Code of Conduct Key Points:

• The proposed resolution references existing criminal trespassing law and adds a county-level code of conduct.
• Features include a no-contact list requirement, mandatory registration of land agents, mandatory recording of agreements and enforcement provisions.
• The structure was modeled in part on a code of conduct posted on Pattern Energy’s website.
• County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser raised questions about her office’s role in the registration, mapping and recording requirements, which the committee acknowledged.

HILLSBORO — The Montgomery County Board Development & Personnel Committee on Monday, May 4, 2026, voted unanimously to recommend a resolution establishing a county-wide code of conduct for land agents and energy project representatives, sending the draft forward for legal and office-holder review.

The recommendation is a response to the steady cadence of wind and solar development activity in Montgomery County in recent years. Committee Chair Chad Ruppert described the draft Resolution Establishing a County-Wide Code of Conduct for Land Agents and Energy Project Representatives in detail at the meeting and walked members through its main provisions.

What the Resolution Would Require

According to Ruppert, the resolution references the in-force Illinois criminal code regarding trespassing and sets out a county-level code of conduct similar to one already posted on Pattern Energy’s website. Provisions include:

• A no-contact list landowners can use to opt out of solicitation by land agents.
• Mandatory registration of land agents and energy project representatives.
• Mandatory recording of agreements between landowners and energy companies.
• Enforcement provisions to back the code of conduct.

Maggie Poteau of Pattern Energy was present at the meeting; the minutes do not record any direct comment from Poteau on the resolution.

Clerk Raises Implementation Questions

County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser raised questions about her office’s role in implementing the resolution, specifically the mandatory registration, mapping and recording requirements. Committee member Russ Beason said he agreed with the resolution in concept but wanted to ensure the document is reviewed by the State’s Attorney and the County Clerk before final adoption.

The motion to recommend approval pending those reviews was made by Jeremy Jones and seconded by Chris Daniels. The committee passed it unanimously.

Energy Project Context

The resolution is being advanced as the county sits at a crossroads on energy development. At the same meeting, Ruppert reported that no new lease agreements have been recorded with respect to The Shoals Wind Project. He also pointed to the federal administration’s plan to halt all wind projects on national security grounds tied to potential radio interference.

Ruppert read an email at the meeting reporting that UKA — one of the developers active in the area — is no longer pursuing any wind projects in Montgomery County. The committee also discussed the 1.5-mile municipal Extra Territorial Jurisdiction that incorporated communities with zoning ordinances can exercise over surrounding unincorporated land.

A separate solar project — Geronimo Power, a 200-megawatt facility — was rescheduled for a July update; representative Jack Haley was unable to present at the May meeting. A public hearing on the Elm Lawn Solar project is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in the County Board Room at the Historic Courthouse.

Next Steps

The resolution returns to the committee — or proceeds to the full county board — once the State’s Attorney and affected office holders have completed their review. The minutes do not specify a timeline for that review or for final county board action.