For months Knox County Board members, in particular Bob Bondi and Dick Conklin, have been concerned with the process by which the board approves appointees of public bodies they’re in charge of overseeing.
Posts like township sanitation and fire protection district boards have typically approved whoever a particular entity recommends, often knowing little about the person they’re approving.
Bondi and Conklin came up with a process which was adopted last night.
Conklin says in the past the board has been asked to approve appointments with a rubber stamp.
“This was an attempt to address that by requiring any entity for which we have to appoint or give approval of an appointee or nominee that we at least get a statement by that entity,” Conklin told board members, “showing that they have basically done due diligence that they recommend this person.”
Conklin also proposed asking for resumes, something that member David Erickson moved to strike.
Greg “Chops” Bacon expressed how difficult it can be to fill these vacancies saying, “you’ve got to beg, borrow or steal to get some of these people.”
Member Lyle Johnson voted no saying he disagrees with the whole process.
State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer confirmed that the board is not liable for any appointees they approve.
