Roodhouse Mayor Ends Lapsed Contract with City Controller

Tension continues as mayor replaces controller without contract renewal

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:55am

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A realistic oil painting depicting the exterior of a nondescript government building, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and casting long shadows across the facade. The scene conveys a sense of quiet contemplation and isolation, reflecting the political tensions within the community.The removal of Roodhouse's city controller exposes the deep political divisions within the small town's government.Roodhouse Today

The mayor of Roodhouse, Illinois has removed the city controller, Amy Hacker, from her position after discovering she had been working for three years without a valid contract. The mayor, Jim Riley, said he was already considering replacing Hacker and was reviewing her contract terms when he realized it had expired in 2023. Hacker's husband, a Republican nominee for county commissioner, declined to comment. Riley has appointed a new city controller, Lauren Virgin, to replace Hacker, though the appointment still needs to be confirmed by the city council.

Why it matters

The removal of the city controller highlights ongoing tensions between the mayor and city officials in Roodhouse. Riley's election in 2025 resulted in an exodus of aldermen and city staff, which some attribute to longstanding personal conflicts within the small town's political circles. The dispute over the city controller position is the latest flashpoint in these tensions.

The details

According to the service agreement, Hacker was designated as a contractor for the city, with her hourly rate increasing over time from $40 to $45 per hour. Mayor Riley said he doesn't know why Hacker was allowed to continue working after her contract expired in 2023, guessing that health issues with the previous mayor likely caused the contract renewal to slip through the cracks. Riley said he was already considering replacing Hacker when he discovered the expired contract, though he declined to specify his reasoning. Hacker was given three weeks' notice but chose to leave after two days, with her final day being this past Monday.

  • Hacker's contract with the city expired in 2023.
  • Riley has been mayor of Roodhouse for one year.
  • Riley's election win in 2025 resulted in an exodus of aldermen and city staff.

The players

Jim Riley

The current mayor of Roodhouse, Illinois who removed Amy Hacker from her position as city controller.

Amy Hacker

The former city controller of Roodhouse who was working without a valid contract for three years.

Greg Hacker

The Republican nominee for Morgan County Commissioner and husband of former city controller Amy Hacker.

Lauren Virgin

The new city controller appointed by Mayor Riley, who previously worked at Farmers State Bank for 10 years.

Steven Pope

A Roodhouse city alderman who has opposed some of Mayor Riley's appointments.

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What they’re saying

“When I thought about the possibility of replacing her, I just wanted to check the contract to see if there was any stipulations I needed to follow and stuff, and then I realized that it was from '22 and had expired in '23.”

— Jim Riley, Mayor of Roodhouse

“We as the council of Roodhouse would love to fill this empty seat next to me, but let's learn to work together, communicate through all possible options, not just yours, Mr. Mayor. There's a reason why we are governed as a group and not just one person.”

— Steven Pope, Roodhouse City Alderman

What’s next

The appointment of Lauren Virgin as the new city controller still needs to be confirmed by the Roodhouse City Council.

The takeaway

The removal of the city controller highlights the ongoing political tensions in Roodhouse, where the mayor's actions have led to the departure of multiple city officials. The dispute underscores the need for better communication and cooperation between the mayor and city council to effectively govern the community.