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March 28, 2024

Kevin Trogdon Ousted from Mass Transit Board

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On October 9, 2012

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:

September 30, 2012

July 10, 2012

August 12, 2012

 

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14 Comments
  • Angela Mason
    Posted at 20:53h, 09 October

    MAYOR. IS. NEXT.

    • john
      Posted at 07:51h, 10 October

      Please 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 October

        I’ll work on it – it might take a couple days to get the info.

        • john
          Posted at 10:44h, 10 October

          these things you should already have

  • Edgar County Watchdogs
    Posted at 21:08h, 09 October

    Yep.

  • Angela Mason
    Posted at 21:18h, 09 October

    Angela Mason liked this on Facebook.

  • sandy
    Posted at 09:51h, 10 October

    I 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 October

      who witnessed this and who told watchdogs or is this hear say

      • jmkraft
        Posted at 21:22h, 10 October

        We don’t reveal our sources (as in more than one).

        • john
          Posted at 18:45h, 11 October

          so not many at board meeting mainly board so a board member called you

          • jmkraft
            Posted at 19:23h, 11 October

            We 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 December

    It 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 December

      Justice moves slow, but it does arrive.

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