Illinois AG sides with Winnetka in Open Meetings Act dispute related …

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has ruled the village of Winnetka did not violate the Open Meetings Act during discussions last year about properties owned by billionaire resident Justin Ishbia.

The challenge was filed by Winnetka resident Ted Wynnychenko after the Dec. 6, 2022, Village Council meeting where discussion was held about the consolidation of several plots of land owned by Ishbia and his wife Kristin. After an hour in closed session, the council voted unanimously to approve combining the four lots into a single 3.7-acre lot for the family to build a home.

“Both sides, the property owner and those objecting to the resolution, threatened the village with litigation in open session that night,” Village Attorney Peter Friedman said during the Aug. 1 council meeting in reference to Raoul’s ruling that was made earlier that day. “In an extended closed session, the board engaged in a productive and creative discussion on how to navigate the resolution in order to…