Defensive! Thornton Township board scolds community for asking questions (shades of Tiffany Henyard)

The Lansing Journal’s YouTube channel is being sponsored this month by Universal Martial Arts Ministry in Lansing, Illinois. UMA Ministry teaches more than the physical skills of martial arts and taekwondo. They also develop a sense of culture, discipline, accountability, and spiritual awareness for students of all ages. Like The Lansing Journal, Master El is intentional about building community, so we are proud to have him sponsor our videos this month. Universal Martial Arts Ministry: • Classroom: 3517 Ridge Road, Lansing IL 60438 • Website: http://www.umam1.org • Facebook:   / universalmartialart   • Email: masterel@umam1.org ===== Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: https://thelansingjournal.com/subscri... ========= "An engaged public is a gift," says Publisher Melanie Jongsma in the intro to this video, "but it seemed like this administration saw it as an annoyance." Jongsma and Managing Editor Carole Sharwarko attended the budget hearings and board meeting of the Thornton Township Board on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. To be honest, it felt like not much has changed since the days when Tiffany Henyard dodged questions and accused people of attending meetings for "clickbait." 0:00 - Sponsorship message from Universal Martial Arts Ministry 0:44 - Introduction and assessment by Melanie Jongsma and Carole Sharwarko 6:24 - Supervisor Napoleon Harris calls to order the budget hearing for the Road and Bridge Fund 8:22 - Public comment by Wendy Kelly 9:40 - Public comment by Gardis Watts 11:06 - Public comment by Paul Robertz 13:34 - Public comment by Alicia Nichole 15:41 - Finance Director Robert Hunt reads the Road and Bridge Fund budget to the public 22:07 - Highway Commissioner Antwon Russell makes an impassioned speech defending the Road and Bridge Fund 25:52 - The trustees circle the wagons and speak in defense of the budget — Chris Gonzalez, Valeria Stubbs, Byron Stanley, Mary Avent, 32:56 - Supervisor Harris calls for a motion to approve the Road and Bridge Fund budget 33:35 - The Road and Bridge Fund budget hearing is adjourned 34:34 - Supervisor Harris calls the next budget hearing to order at 5:33 36:22 - Public comment by Gardis Watts 38:56 - Public comment by Alicia Nichole 40:43 - Public comment by Trina Stump 43:09 - Public comment by Rosetta Davis 46:13 - Public comment by Anthony Williams 47:47 - Public comment by Ryan Sinwelski 50:42 - Public comment by Nina Graham 54:31 - Clerk Nesbit responds to complaints about providing information 55:53 - Finance Director Hunt reads the General Assistance Fund budget 1:01:53 - Supervisor Harris defends the General Assistance Fund, asks public to "stop the nonsense" 1:05:10 - Finance Director Hunt reads the General Fund budget 1:16:20 - Supervisor Harris defends the General Fund budget 1:19:05 - Trustee Gonzalez defends the General Fund budget 1:24:25 - Trustee Stubbs defends the General Fund budget 1:26:02 - Trustee Avent defends the General Fund budget 1:27:30 - Trustee Stanley defends the General Fund budget 1:28:39 - The budget hearing adjourns 1:29:06 - Supervisor Harris calls the board meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. 1:30:27 - Pastor Nathaniel Bowman opens the meeting in prayer 1:31:52 - Public comment by Gardis Watts 1:34:48 - Public comment by Jennifer Robertz 1:38:08 - Public comment by Paul Robertz 1:41:24 - Public comment by Vivian Allen 1:44:40 - Public comment by Kimberly Christmas 1:47:59 - Public comment by Alicia Nichole 1:51:18 - Public comment by Trina Stump 1:53:29 - Public comment by Angela Russell 1:56:46 - Public comment by Ryan Sinwelski 2:00:03 - Public comment by Dan Lee 2:03:33 - Public comment by Wendy Kelly 2:06:48 - Clerk Nesbit closes public comment 2:07:10 - Minutes, bills, events, and budgets approved 2:14:23 - Amending a credit card ordinance 2:16:36 - Supervisor report and call for unity Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard once consumed a lot of our reporting time, and we appreciate the viewers and subscribers who joined us during that era in our local history. The Lansing Journal continues to show up at public meetings and keep our community informed and connected about what happens. If you are interested in this kind of local news, subscribe to The Lansing Journal: • Our YouTube channel:    / @lansingjournal   • Our Daily News email: https://thelansingjournal.com/subscri... MISSION The Lansing Journal is 501(c)(3) nonprofit newspaper based in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible to all. Subscribe to our channel:    / @lansingjournal