Municipal Law

Tom Adams has experience in representing units of local government in Monroe and St. Clair Counties, Illinois.

He served as the City Attorney for Columbia, Illinois from 1974 thru 2010 (34 years) by aldermanic board appointment and worked for five elected Mayors of Columbia.

As Columbia City Attorney he created over 2500 ordinances and resolutions and has defended challenged ordinances in court and has represented clients challenging the validity or enforcement of City ordinances.

As the Attorney for the City of Columbia and the Monroe County, Illinois Building Commission he acquired extensive knowledge and experience in municipal finance – including alternate revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, working cash fund bonds, refunding bond issues to refinance outstanding bond issues at reduced interest cost, installment sales financing, lease purchase financing, industrial project revenue bonds, tax anticipation warrants, sales tax rebate financing, and other types of municipal finance.

He has experience in negotiating labor and other municipal contracts and he has experience in representing municipalities and individual property owners in zoning disputes in Illinois (which is a state that allows parties who own property located within 120 feet of a zoning ordinance violation to prosecute the violation and enforce the zoning ordinance if the municipality fails or refuses to do so).

Tom has knowledge and experience in all areas of Illinois Municipal Law and he can provide valuable legal assistance in resolving problems involving units of local government or local districts and in providing legal representation in the trial and appellate courts in Illinois in municipal law cases.