by Sarah DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
Six local bodies — the City of Geneseo, Geneseo Community Unit School District #228, Henry County, the Geneseo Public Library District, the Geneseo Park District, and Hammond-Henry Hospital — have the authority to levy property taxes. Ahead of levy season, we assessed each on the public availability of its meeting information.
What we measured
The rubric evaluates five aspects of transparency: knowing what is being decided, seeing the documents behind the decision, verifying afterward what happened, getting answers when questions are asked, and being able to watch or hear the discussion itself.
Each category — agendas, packets, minutes, responsiveness, and broadcasting — is worth five points, for 25 total. All six bodies were held to the same five categories.
Illinois’ Open Meetings Act establishes minimum legal requirements for public meetings. This review evaluates transparency practices beyond those requirements, so a low score does not indicate a violation of the law.
How each body scored
City of Geneseo — 25/25, A. The city posts agendas, full board packets, and minutes, answers questions when asked, and livestreams its meetings with recordings archived. It was the only body to earn full points in all five categories.
Geneseo CUSD #228 — 20/25, A-. The school district posts agendas, packets, and minutes, and answers questions when asked. It received no broadcast points: meetings are not livestreamed or recorded.
Hammond-Henry Hospital — 18/25, B+. The hospital posts agendas and minutes and answers questions when asked. Meeting materials are largely included in online documentation, with occasional gaps. Meetings are not broadcast.
Geneseo Park District — 17/25, B. The district posts agendas and minutes and answers questions when asked. Meeting materials are available on request but are not posted with agendas. Meetings are not broadcast.
Geneseo Public Library District — 17/25, B. The library posts agendas and minutes and answers questions when asked. Materials are available on request but are not posted with agendas. Meetings are not broadcast.
Henry County — 10/25, D. The Current’s review found that the county’s agendas routinely provide limited detail about discussion topics. Packets are rarely shared even on request — supporting documents generally must be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, whose response window can extend beyond the meeting date, limiting advance review. Minutes are posted but routinely a cycle or more behind. The Current has received responses to some questions, while others have gone unanswered. Meetings are not broadcast.
What they said
City of Geneseo
In the city’s response, City Administrator Brandon Maeglin said accessibility and proactive communication remain priorities.
“We are proud to see the City of Geneseo receive positive marks on The Geneseo Current’s Transparency Report Card. Open government, accessibility, and proactive communication are top priorities for our team,” Maeglin said.
He cited timely answers to public inquiries, remote access to city meetings, and thorough meeting materials posted in advance as parts of that commitment.
Geneseo CUSD #228
Superintendent Dr. Laura Delgado emphasized the district’s responsibility to keep the community informed.
“We have a responsibility to be transparent and accountable to the community we serve, and we take that very seriously. Providing public access to our Board of Education meetings is an important part of that commitment,” Delgado said.
“We believe families, staff, and community members deserve clear, timely information about the decisions that shape our schools, and we will continue to communicate openly and provide opportunities for public engagement.”
Geneseo Park District
In the Park District’s response, Andy Thurman noted that the district received full points for agendas, minutes, and responsiveness.
“We are particularly pleased that the District’s responsiveness was recognized, as providing accurate information and answering questions from residents is an important part of how we serve the community,” Thurman said.
The district also pointed to budgets, annual financial reports, audits, public notices, policies, and other documents available on its website. It acknowledged that complete board packets and meeting broadcasts are not services it currently provides.
“As a public agency, we continually balance opportunities to provide additional information with the staff, technology, administrative resources, and ongoing records-management responsibilities required to provide those services effectively and consistently,” Thurman said.
Henry County
The Current met with County Administrator Erin Knackstedt and Henry County Board Chair Kippy Breeden on Tuesday, October 6, to discuss the county’s scores. The meeting resulted in agreement on further steps to address the communication gap, specifically access to meeting packets and responsiveness to questions.
“The County is always looking for ways to engage with our communities and I look forward to working with you to provide another layer of transparency to local government in Henry County,” Knackstedt wrote in a follow-up email.
Other responses
As of publication, Hammond-Henry Hospital and the Geneseo Public Library District had not provided comments.
Scores reflect materials verified on each body’s official website in early October 2026 and The Current’s direct experience requesting information. Statements about future improvements have not been counted as implemented changes.