There was little discussion on the floor, but plenty behind the scenes, as the McDonough County Board voted 15-4 Wednesday to endorse a resolution in support of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms.

 Several counties in downstate Illinois were mailed copies of a draft resolution and asked to endorse it. Board member Lee Trotter said the resolution lacked definition.

  "It refers to ‘proposed’ legislation to modify the amendment but doesn’t get specific," Trotter. "I’ve already taken an oath to uphold the Constitution."

 In response to a request from Trotter to cite specific proposed legislation, County Board Chairman Scott Schwerer said he believes there are several proposals dealing with weapons, pro and con.

 Other members voting against the resolution included Linda Jani, Alice Henry, and Gary Sherer. "We’re whipping a dead horse here," Sherer said after the board meeting.

The board also voted, 17-2, to table indefinitely a county smoke-free ordinance. Prior to the vote, Sherer suggested it not only ban smoking in county buildings but anywhere on county property.

  Board member Clarke Kelso disagreed. "Employees go outside to smoke," he said.  "Where would they go?"

  State’s Attorney James Hoyle said the local ordinance was originally requested by the McDonough County Health Department, but that the department has since withdrawn its request. Hoyle said possible changes may yet be made in the statewide smoke free law.

 The state’s attorney said a local ordinance may not be less restrictive than the state law, but that it could be more restrictive. Hoyle suggested the board hold the issue in committee until there is a desire to act on it.

The county board also voted to reappoint Belinda Carr to a five year term on the Housing Authority of McDonough County, and appointed board member Bob Mahr to replace another board member, LeRoy Brown, on the Macomb Building Commission. Both appointments will run through 2013.
 

The board took a moment of silence to honor the memory of Martin Calvert, who died last week at the age of 90. Calvert served for 12 years on the McDonough County Board.

 Schwerer reported that the first installment of county property taxes, due September 5, was distributed this week to local taxing bodies.