WAPELLA -- DeWitt County State's Attorney Dick Koritz has told Wapella trustees to get their house in order.

Koritz said his office has received numerous complaints made against the current and former administrations in Wapella.

"The complaints are oral in nature and no police investigations have been conducted," Koritz said. "But it is obvious to me that the feuding sides in Wapella wish to have my office take their position and apply the power of my office against the other. Most of the issues in Wapella are of a political nature and those issues are best served by the voters casting their ballots in the local elections."

Koritz delivered his letter to the board Sept. 24.

Last month, the council appointed Vernon Meadows as acting president, replacing David Taylor, who resigned in August. Taylor, a DeWitt County Board member, had been elected president on April 7, but his election triggered a conflict-of-interest accusation.

The board also fired its attorney, Phil Lamkin, in September. The letter "included the signatures of the trustees, but there were no scheduled meetings during the month," Lamkin said.

Koritz encouraged board members to review and understand the Open Meetings Act.

"Trustees simply are prohibited from meeting as a group in someone's residence or a bar to discuss village business," Koritz wrote. "Those kinds of actions can be viewed as violations of the Open Meetings Act and prosecuted by my office."

The board has appointed Decatur attorney Jeff Justice as village attorney. He has discussed the situation with Koritz.

The Sept. 24 meeting was delayed 22 minutes after three residents were asked to leave by a deputy after learning public comments would not be tolerated.