SHELBYVILLE TOWNSHIP, IL. (ECWd) –
The Shelbyville Township board of trustees held its regular meeting on Monday evening, June 5, 2017. During the meeting they went into executive session to discuss an appointment to the vacant seat of Township Supervisor. It was vacant because former supervisor Steve Shoaf (D), who ran for election and won the seat at the ballot, resigned his current term, and resigned from his newly elected term, prior to taking office.
This vacancy resulted in the township legally unable to pay any bills, pay any general assistance, and pay any payroll.
Jim Miller (D), second vice-chairman of the Shelby County Democrats, was one of the applicants for the vacancy.
The township trustees adjourned their regular meeting and held an “Emergency Meeting” for 8:05 p.m. that same night.
During the emergency meeting, they voted and approved to appoint Jim Miller (D) as township supervisor.
Tuesday morning, June 6th, Jim Miller (D) called in and refused the appointment.
This move leaves all of the employees without paychecks, since the township supervisor is the only person with the statutory authority to write the paychecks, pay bills, and provide general assistance payments.
Jim Miller (D) failed the township, the needy persons of the township, and the employees of the township by verbally requesting the appointment at an open meeting, submitting a resume’ for the position, and then summarily rejecting it after the township board voted in favor of his appointment.
Steve Shoaf (D), former township supervisor failed his employees, the residents and voters, and needy persons of Shelbyville Township by resigning prior to his term ending, and resigning from his newly elected term prior to taking office. Him, of all people, should have known the importance of his duties and how his resignation effects the livelihood of all employees of Shelbyville Township.
The newly elected trustees have their hands tied by the legislature and could not write checks even if they wanted to.
Illinois State Representative Brad Halbrook (R) is working on language for a Bill to amend the Township Code to provide for a line-of-secession in the event of a resignation or death of a township supervisor. This Bill would hopefully allow the appointment of a temporary township supervisor until a replacement can be named.
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