Kankakee County Board Meeting Erupts In War Of Words

A war of words erupted twice during the February 14 Kankakee County Board meeting between member Robert Ellington Snipes (District 18) and Board Chairman Andy Wheeler.

The first was during a vote on appointments to the I-KAN Joint Education Committee. Snipes began by requiring the re-appointments, of Tinker Parker and Ray Fairfield to that panel, be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. Snipes began discussion by asking how many African-Americans are on the panel.

Wheeler replied, “I don’t know.”

Snipes then said, “I need an African American appointed to the committee” and accused Wheeler of choosing to avoid the question. “I don’t know why this has been a problem down through the years,” Snipes continued.

Ultimately, the board approved the appointments of Parker and Fairchild.

Later, Snipes and State’s Attorney Jim Rowe got into a heated discussion about how Andy Wheeler got appointed to a vacant board seat where he was not a resident. Rowe countered that Snipes accusation of non-residency was false.

Wheeler was appointed to the seat in District 26 in November 2020 and, on November 18 of that year, he was appointed by the full county board as its chairman, once again.

Snipes, raising his voice, re-asserted this failed to meet the 30 day residency requirement. Rowe agreed, but said that a second appointment by the board in December was made beyond the 30 day requirement. Wheeler was re-appointed as Chairman the same day.  Snipes said there is no record of that December meeting, declaring it never happened.

Wheeler had been a member of the board and chairman previously in another district, and Snipes then brought into question Wheeler’s explanation at the time for leaving that seat and moving to take care of his mother.

Snipes said “Why didn’t you just move mama?” That’s when Wheeler had had enough, angrily telling Snipes, “You keep my family out of your mouth!”

Snipes then directly accused Wheeler of being fraudulently appointed to the board and chairmanship. He challenged Wheeler to prove his 30 day residency at the time of his appointment.

Wheeler replied “I don’t need to prove anything!”

Then Wheeler cut Snipes microphone and adjourned the meeting.