Little Rock Township is one of the first townships in the U.S. to require a public vote on data centers.
🍿WATCH THE FULL MEETING BELOW...
Liberty does not sustain itself, it relies on the people to stay engaged, revisit the principles of self government, and take responsibility for its execution. Rights carry an inherent duty to hold institutions accountable, and to act as the ultimate check on power.
On May 5, 2026, the People of Little Rock Township fulfilled this duty. They did not wait for the government to fall into maladministration before taking action.
Instead, they acted preemptively to protect the community’s public good, and common benefit.
By lawfully organizing a special meeting as "We The People," they presented, debated, and unanimously voted on a resolution, and ordinance to assert direct local authority over commercial data center development.
The Power of the Township
A unique feature of the Township is that it allows for direct control by the residents. The people do not need to wait for permission from elected officials to govern. It is the people themselves, not the board, who run the meeting, and exercise authority.
This structure ensures that government remains quickly responsive to the will of the community.
In this instance, the meeting was conducted by the residents through a lawful process, with Joe McElroy appointed as moderator.
Grounded in Fundamental Law
The measure establishes that any future data center proposals must undergo full transparency, and public review, ultimately requiring approval by township voters in a binding election.
This action is rooted in the following foundations:
The Illinois Constitution: Specifically Article I, Section 1, which declares that all men have inherent and inalienable rights and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. The Preamble further underscores the purpose of the state is to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the people.
The U.S. Constitution: The guarantee that government remains accountable to the governed, as supported by the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, which reserve powers to the states and the people respectively.
The Declaration of Independence: This action rests on the moral foundation that our rights are unalienable and derived from a higher, divine authority, rather than granted by the state.
Protecting the Common Benefit
By asserting this authority, the people are ensuring that commerce, and development serve the common benefit.
This preemptive step is designed to protect the environment, respect private property rights, and preserve the character of the community against potential infrastructure strain, loss of property value, and environmental impact.
Their action comes amid growing local concern as data center expansion is proposed across Kendall County.
As the founding fathers intended, the stability of the Republic depends on adhering to these original principles, rather than shifting toward personal opinions, or administrative convenience.
The People of Little Rock Township have reaffirmed that the root of all political power resides in them.
Public Notice
The full Resolution and Ordinance are available on the Little Rock Township website and through the Township Clerk.
Dated: May 5, 2026
Lucy Rechsteiner,
Little Rock Township Clerk
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