EDGAR CO. (ECWd) –
Monday morning, during a county board study session, Kevin Trogdon was asked by the chairman to resign from the East Central Illinois Mass Transit District Trustee position. The reason for the request was because that position is statutorily incompatable with the county board position.
He did resign in his own unique way, by stating he would not write a paper resignation and the chairman could use “this” (fortified with a vulgar hand jesture for which one finger is customarily used) as his resignation.
It looks like someone finally read the statutes governing the board and concluded that one would have to be a complete idiot not to understand the one sentence we have pointed out for the past 3 months or so.
Almost thirteen weeks ago we informed the Edgar County Board that two of their appointed East Central Illinois Mass Transit District (ECIMTD) Trustees were statutorily disqualified from serving as trustees of the Mass Transit District. We came across the issue while reading the statute governing the district.
Craig Smith (Mayor of Paris) and Jerry Lowery (Clark County Board) are the remaining two illegally appointed Trustees of the East Central Illinois Mass Transit District.
“No Trustee may be an Elected Official…”
The statute was easy to read and comprehend, as are most statutes. There is no reason to believe one need be an attorney to interpret it the way the legislature intended…wait, one of them, Craig Smith, is an attorney who obviously read neither the statute nor the by-laws of the board.
It’s one simple sentence: “No Trustee of any District may be an elected official of the municipality or municipalities or county or counties creating the district.” Looks pretty straight forward to me, and I would think anyone with a 3rd grade education could understand it. If that’s not enough to cause their immediate termination, the ECIMTD’s own by-laws include the same language, as does the statute governing Counties – but it includes many more restrictions other than just a transit district restriction.
Be that as it may, we informed the County Board, during at least 2 meetings, in writing, with a copy of the statute as well as verbally at least 3 different times during public meetings and it still took this long to act. Only after writing the State’s Attorney did any action take place, and that still took well over a month.
I also sent a letter to the Clark County State’s Attorney and the Clark County Board informing them they had a county board member illegally appointed as trustee to the district. Clark County took some action, but we are still unclear as to what that action was/is.
Our previous articles on this subject:
14 Comments
Angela Mason
Posted at 20:53h, 09 OctoberMAYOR. IS. NEXT.
john
Posted at 07:51h, 10 OctoberPlease show who all started East Central Illinois Mass Transit District
All names and boards ect.
Some might like to know
There charter maybe
jmkraft
Posted at 08:03h, 10 OctoberI’ll work on it – it might take a couple days to get the info.
john
Posted at 10:44h, 10 Octoberthese things you should already have
Edgar County Watchdogs
Posted at 21:08h, 09 OctoberYep.
Angela Mason
Posted at 21:18h, 09 OctoberAngela Mason liked this on Facebook.
sandy
Posted at 09:51h, 10 OctoberI have known Kevin for 25 yrs.. I am shocked and disappointed that he
would take this course of action in a public forum. Shame on you Kevin,
I have always respected and liked you, this is really beneath you.
john
Posted at 13:58h, 10 Octoberwho witnessed this and who told watchdogs or is this hear say
jmkraft
Posted at 21:22h, 10 OctoberWe don’t reveal our sources (as in more than one).
john
Posted at 18:45h, 11 Octoberso not many at board meeting mainly board so a board member called you
jmkraft
Posted at 19:23h, 11 OctoberWe don’t reveal our sources
Incredulous
Posted at 08:44h, 11 October“He did resign in his own unique way, by stating he would
not write a paper resignation and the chairman could use
”this” (fortified with a vulgar hand jesture for which one
finger is customarily used) as his resignation.”
After i picked myself up off the floor and taking a moment
to catch my breath from laughing so hard, this question
presented its self; How old is this person? In what world
is such a gesture an acceptable sentiment for a PUBLIC
OFFICIAL?? I can understand his consternation at being called
out as a law breaker but seriously?
Wonder if there’s a ‘profanity’ law still on the books that
covers public display of idiocy…
Please tell me you got it on video, i’d post stills all over
Facebook and the web for good measure making sure to tag his
name on every one.
I guess maturity and grace aren’t a requirement for public
service.
Ashley
Posted at 16:02h, 03 DecemberIt seems everybody is worried about the board members. My question is
why no charges are being filed against Kami Miller and Ashley Miller.
jmkraft
Posted at 16:11h, 03 DecemberJustice moves slow, but it does arrive.