Montgomery County Board Seats Schieferdecker, Splits on Committee Assignments

Montgomery County Board Meeting | June 9, 2026

Article Summary: The Montgomery County Board on June 9 appointed Roy Schieferdecker to fill the vacancy in County Board District 7 and swore him in during the meeting. Later the same night, the board approved amended committee and liaison assignments over the objections of two members — one of them Chairman Doug Donaldson.

Board Membership Key Points:

• Schieferdecker was appointed on a motion by Chairman Doug Donaldson, seconded by Evan Young; all were in favor.
• The oath of office was administered by County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser, and Schieferdecker took office at 5:33 p.m.
• Amended committee and liaison assignments passed by majority, with Donaldson and Young voting against.
• Thirteen members were present; Cody Gudgel was absent.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — The Montgomery County Board on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, filled a vacant seat within minutes of calling the meeting to order, then divided over how its committees would be organized.

Roll call showed 13 members present and one absent. On a motion by County Board Chairman Doug Donaldson and a second by Evan Young, the board voted to appoint Roy Schieferdecker to fill the vacancy in County Board District 7. All were in favor. County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser administered the oath of office, and the minutes record Schieferdecker as taking office at 5:33 p.m., three minutes after the meeting began.

He voted in both of the evening’s roll calls — on mileage and per diem claims and on paying bills and payroll — each of which carried unanimously with 13 members voting yes. Cody Gudgel was recorded absent.

Later in the meeting, under the Coordinating Committee report, Donaldson moved to approve the amended committee and liaison assignments, seconded by Jeremy Jones. The motion carried by majority, with Donaldson and Young voting against — meaning the chairman voted against his own motion. A copy was directed to Resolution Book 23, page 289.

The minutes record no discussion of the item and give no reason for either dissenting vote.

The assignment sheet in the board packet lists six panels. Donaldson chairs the Coordinating Committee with Dr. Patty Whitworth as vice chairman and Mark Hughes, Ethan Murzynski, Connie Beck and Chad Ruppert as members. Ruppert chairs Development & Personnel with Russ Beason as vice chairman and Rob Corso, Chris Daniels, Jeremy Jones and Schieferdecker as members. Hughes chairs Buildings & Grounds with Beason as vice chairman and Beck, Keith Hancock, Gudgel and Schieferdecker as members.

Murzynski chairs Roads & Bridges with Hancock as vice chairman and Corso, Young, Gudgel and Whitworth as members. Beck chairs Finance & Budget with Ruppert as vice chairman and Corso, Daniels, Whitworth and Young as members. Beck also chairs a Rules of Order Ad Hoc committee with Whitworth as vice chairman and Daniels, Hughes and Hancock as members.

The sheet lists 13 liaison posts. Beason represents the board on the CEFS Board; Murzynski on the Community Mental Health 708 Board; Hancock on the ETSB 911 Board and the Illinois Association of County Officials; Whitworth on the Health Department Board; Gudgel on the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation; Young on the Montgomery County Planning Commission; Daniels on the Montgomery County Senior Citizens Board; Corso on the United County Council of Illinois; Ruppert on University of Illinois Extension Services; Jones on the Veterans Assistance Commission and the Workforce Investment Board; and Jones and Whitworth on the West Central Development Council.

Liaison reports delivered earlier in the same meeting largely matched that sheet, with one exception: Daniels gave the MCEDC report, saying reports are in the board packets and were emailed, while the amended sheet assigns the MCEDC liaison role to Gudgel. Daniels also reported that the Senior Citizens Board’s last meeting was cancelled, a role the sheet also assigns to him.

Donaldson is not listed as a member of any of the four standing committees on the amended sheet, though he chairs the Coordinating Committee.

Among the other reports: Murzynski said the 708 Board met Monday, June 8, and that its funding application period is now open. Whitworth said the Health Department board will meet in August to finalize budget requests. Corso said the United County Council of Illinois meets in Galena in July. Ruppert said 4-H shows are coming up. Jones said the West Central Development Council has been discussing budget reductions. Hancock had nothing to report, and there was no ETSB/911 Board report.