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ALTON – Major membership changes were approved for the Alton Amphitheater Commission at this week’s Alton City Council meeting, including the resignation of Chair Dan Herkert and the appointment of three new members.
Dan Herkert, who volunteered with the Alton Amphitheater Commission since 2013 before becoming its chair in 2021, wrote in his December 2025 resignation letter that his time with the amphitheater has been an overall “rewarding experience.”
“From concerts featuring icons such as Kenny Rogers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nelly, and The Steve Miller Band to creating local favorites like the Alton Food Truck Festival, the Alton Jazz & Wine Festival, and restarting the Alton Expo, the last 12 years have truly been a rewarding experience,” Herkert wrote in his resignation letter, noting it had been an honor “to showcase our community in a positive light.”
Herkert went on to describe a shift in circumstances in recent years which solidified his decision to resign from the position, which he said he devoted “hundreds of volunteer hours” to each year.
Among other claims, Herkert said city administrators’ lack of outreach to the business community has caused a sharp decline in sponsor revenues, and that Hotel Tax funds were improperly used on the Clark Bridge lighting instead of Riverfront Park improvements as required by City Code.
Herkert submitted his resignation as of Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, and his resignation was unanimously approved by the Alton City Council on Jan. 14, 2026.
Also approved was the appointment of three new members to the Alton Amphitheater Commission, including Shawna Schrock, Lindsey Laird, and Rob Honke. Each will serve a term of three years from January 2026 to January 2029.
A full recording of the Jan. 14, 2026 Alton City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.
