DANVILLE, IL. (ECWd) –
We knew it was only a matter of time when Steve Foster would see the truth and resign from the Vermilion County Regional Airport Authority due to a statutory prohibition of his holding that appointed office. He should have resigned a couple months ago, and at a minimum, the appointing authority should have conducted a little research prior to appointing him. (Resignation here)
As a result of Foster’s resignation, the City of Danville has on its August 21, 2018, agenda, an action item to appoint Mr. Craig Davidson as member of the board of the Vermilion County Regional Airport Authority. His term will run until 2022.
According to his emailed interest in the position, Mr. Davidson has 24 years’ experience as an American Airlines pilot, he was also a flight instructor and freight pilot. He retired from American Airlines almost 25 years ago having spent 19 years as a Captain. He has held ratings as commercial, certified flight instructor and instrument instructor, flight engineer rating and airline transport pilot rating, and an airframe and powerplant mechanics rating.
The only remaining airport authority commissioner with a statutory prohibition from serving is the board chairman, Mr. David Kietzman. This prohibition (for Kietzman) is found in the Airport Authorities Act where he must reside within the boundaries of the Authority (his property tax bill shows he does not) and he cannot be an employee of any other unit of local government (he is employed by DACC):
- “must reside within the territory of the authority”(70 ILCS 5/3.1(d))
- “each commissioner shall reside within the Authority and shall continue to reside therein during his term of office” (70 ILCS 5/3.4)
- “Qualifications of commissioners and removal from office. No person shall be appointed to the Board of Commissioners of any Airport Authority who has any financial interest in the establishment or continued existence thereof or who is a member of the governing body or an officer or employee of a municipality, a county, or any other unit of local government, (70 ILCS 5/5)
.
Our work is funded entirely thru donations and we
ask that you consider donating at the below link.
3 Comments
Elizabeth Gruber
Posted at 09:42h, 21 AugustYou guys rock. Another one bites the dust. It is amazing how this yahoos cannot even read the laws they are suppose to enforce.
Robert O. Bogue
Posted at 22:14h, 20 AugustGreat work! Foster had to know he was wrong after reading the law and after you first brought it to the board’s attention. Glad he decided to resign before he was subjected to a citizens arrest and BEFORE adding further embarrassment to the airport authority.
This next part is really sad. Keitzman is also a representative of DACC…so….. what do his actions really tell the community about his character and contributions he’s made to that school? This is shameful. The law is pretty simple and easy to read.
Consider this:
– How could Keitzman swear in a new commissioner knowing himself to be a farce and in violation of Illinois Law? Is he totally without scruples and unable to read or comprehend Illinois Law? Why do the current board members allow this? They all should know better (and probably do).
-This begs another thought. Why, why would any new commissioner worth his salt allow himself to be part of Keitzman’s dog and pony show? Obviously he hasn’t researched the law or he would make Keitzman’s departure a condition before becoming an airport authority commissioner. YE GADS….my sympathies to the Vermillion County Aviation Community.
Theodore P. Hartke
Posted at 18:19h, 20 AugustIs Steve Foster the one who responded with “a laugh” the first time he was asked to resign??