Participating in one’s local government is a vital part of maintaining democracy, but fewer Antioch residents of all ages are taking part in this process. When the town lost the Antioch Review in 2001, the only way for residents to stay informed on local politics was by word of mouth. This method of data gathering is prone to error and not conducive to a busy schedule, so residents need to be aware of other channels through which they can stay involved.

One of the most effective tools that people have at their disposal for staying involved politically is the internet. Most of the information one needs to know about board decisions can be found on the village website. It has transcriptions of ordinances, resolutions and contracts that the board has decided on. It also includes complete monthly meeting schedules for the board and the commissions.

Political transparency in Antioch is maintained by the Village Clerk, Lori Romine. She is responsible for uploading all important documents to the website for public consumption.

“[Residents] have a right to see how we’re spending that money and how we’re operating their village,” Romine said. “This is their community, their town.”

Anyone can access these documents at any time, and they are very easy to use. This is a flexible method of civic engagement that residents can utilize regularly.

In addition to the village website, another resource for information on upcoming decisions and agendas is a website called The Briefing Room. Created by Romine, The Briefing Room sends email notifications to subscribers about recent developments, upcoming agenda items and town news updates.

“[W]e post the agendas 48 hours prior to the meeting,” Romine said. “You can subscribe to receive notices.”

By receiving agendas ahead of time, residents can decide if they want to attend the next meeting and hear the discussion on topics that interest them. It is an easy and automatic way for people to get information.

The most direct method to fully understand the context and complexities of certain issues heard by the board is to attend monthly meetings. They are held on the first Monday of every month at Village Hall. Trustee Mary Dominiak weighed in on villager attendance at meetings.

“I think the benefit of being here is that you get to hear the discussion,” Dominiak said. “I think it would give people a better understanding of the issues that we face in town.”

Even though it may be difficult to work one’s schedule around that of the board, attending meetings is an opportunity for residents to fully comprehend issues that matter to them in their community.

In addition to the issue of schedule constraints, primary polling for this article suggests that there is a lack of interest in local politics, and a majority of young people are especially disinterested in government. Even those who make concerted attempts to stay civically engaged on a federal level lack basic knowledge when it comes to the town that they live in.

“[A]t the local level… you can talk to us,” mayor Lawrence Hanson said. “You can at least have a bigger voice locally, so your concerns are [really] being heard.”

Local government is the level of American democracy in which individuals can have the greatest impact, so it is vital that all residents pay attention to what decisions are being made around them. Antioch residents can strive to be more engaged, but young people need to be especially vigilant. As the next generation of voters and policymakers, it is important that they learn the benefits of understanding government on every level. Civic engagement may be time consuming and uninteresting, but it is a crucial part of American democracy that must be preserved.