Pike County Board members discuss local militia
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
David Camphouse/Pike Press
Pike County States Attorney Walker Filbert responds to an inquiry by Pike County Board member Joey Cobb as to whether the county could form its own militia during last week’s regular February county board meeting.
Near the end of last week’s regular February meeting of the Pike County Board, Board Member Joey Cobb posed a question to Pike County States Attorney Walker Filbert regarding the legality of Pike County establishing its own militia.”
“Can the county form a militia if needed,” Cobb asked.
Some time was spent discussing the matter by members of the board, and Filbert provided his input on the question – that it would not be legal for the county to form its own militia.
“Pike County is a political subdivision of the state,” Filbert said. “All of our power comes from the general assembly and the state. We do what the state tells us we can do.”
Second amendment rights – the right to bear arms – were brought up by members of the county board in response to Filbert’s answer.
Filbert asserted that forming a military force is independent from an individual’s second amendment rights and that forming a militia would be illegal.
“For the county to form a militia is a completely different issue than an individual to own a gun,” Filbert said.
“As a subdivision of the state, the quick answer to the question is ‘no.’”
Board Member Mark Mountain joined Cobb in voicing interest in the idea of forming a county militia and suggested that they continue the conversation in committee, outside of the full board.
“Let’s continue that discussion in the ag committee,” Mountain suggested.
The next meeting of the Pike County Board Agriculture Committee is in the county annex building at 2 p.m. on March 13.
After the meeting, Cobb said that his question to Filbert was prompted by concerns over possible federal regulations controlling who can train security personnel.
“I had heard of some possible legislation being talked about in Congress that would prohibit the training of private security,” Cobb said. “I think it could prohibit other organizations and counties from doing the same.”
Another topic of discussion near the end of last week’s county board meeting was the planned Panther Creek wind farm, to be constructed west of Pittsfield.
Board Member Derek Ross expressed his concern that the wind farm project would do more to benefit those outside the area than it would do for local residents and landowners.
“I see these projects as serving Pritzker and the Chicago machine,” Ross said. “What does this project to to Pike County and its residents.”
Ross asked a series of questions regarding the wind farm’s relative impact on the county.
“Does this project reclassify land from ag to commercial,” Ross asked. “Would that benefit the schools? What kind of permanent jobs are going to be generated by this project.”
County Board President Andy Borrowman responded that the wind farm project must still meet several benchmarks and goals set by the county before construction of the project could start.
In other business, the board approved:
• The appointment of Katie McConnell to the 708 board for a term to expire on December 31st, 2027;
• A resolution recognizing the Quincy Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Entity authorized to Represent Pike County in its Tourism Promotional Efforts.
