Foeller to resign county post

One of the five members of the Union County Board of Commissioners is resigning.

Commissioner Alex Foeller has announced that he plans to resign from the board, effective at the end of the day on May 11.

Foeller’s resignation was accepted by the board at a regular meeting which was held Friday morning, April 27, at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

Foeller, of Anna, was appointed as a county commissioner in November 2017. 

He had been appointed to fill a position on the county board created by the resignation of commissioner Dale Russell.

Foeller, a Republican, was a candidate in the March primary election. He was unopposed in the primary.

Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds said at Friday’s meeting that the board has 60 days from the time of Foeller’s resignation to appoint a successor.

Foeller submitted a letter of resignation which was dated April 26.

The letter was  addressed to the Union County Board of Commissioners and the board’s chairman, Bobby Toler Jr.

Foeller’s letter stated: 

“In July of 2017, I was approached by the Union County Republican Chairman, Stan Hunter, and then-Commissioner Dale Russell about the possibility of being appointed to Mr. Russell’s seat in the event that he would resign for health and personal reasons.

“It was at that time that I agreed to do so, with the full expectation that I would have adequate time to devote to the task of joining many other talented individuals at the County for the betterment of our community.

“Since that time, however, many events have converged in my life to take more of my available time than I am able to offer.

“While the mission of the County is more important now than ever, I am not able to continue to devote the necessary time to execute the office as I swore to do. 

“Though the office is not a ‘full-time’ job, it has certainly taken on that level of commitment, skill, and devotion.

“Few understand exactly how many decisions need to be made, how many people need to be helped, and how many hours need to be invested in order to do the job of a commissioner with excellence.

“And though I am qualified for the task, and very much wish to continue, I am unable to commit that time of mine which belongs to others first.

“I cannot continue to devote the time necessary to the County, and still fulfill my personal obligations.

“To prevent the possibility of doing the work of the County in any other way than with complete excellence, I have opted to resign.

“As a result, I ask that you accept this as my letter of resignation from the office of County Commissioner, effective at the end of the day on May 11, 2018.”

Other Business

In other business at Fridday’s meeting, the commissioners approved an auditor and information technology, IT, provider.

The county had received one bid for auditing services. A bid from Sikich, which has an office in Springfield, was approved.

A proposal from Mayer Networks for IT services was provided. The firm has an office in Carbondale.

The board had received five proposals for IT services. County board chairman Bobby Toler Jr. said all of the proposals were excellent.

Proposals were presented during an April 18 special meeting of the county board.

One of the proposals was submitted by Tech Guy Consulting in Anna. Tech Guy founder Josh Ditto was in attendance at Friday morning’s meeting.

During the public comment period at the meeting, Ditto voiced concerns about what he saw as disparaging and unprofessional comments which he said were made about his business.

Ditto particularly focused on comments that he said were made by commissioners Max Miller and Dale Foster. Miller was at Friday morning’s meeting. Foster was not present.

Miller said that Ditto’s proposal was one of three finalists for the service.

Ditto said that his proposal was the only one submitted by a bidder from Union County. He said that he wanted to ensure that a decision was made based on professional considerations and not personal agendas. He also said that he had concerns about money for IT services going out of the county. 

Commissioners Toler and Danny Hartline assurred Ditto that comments made at the meeting did not have any bearing on their decisions regarding the service.