Clermont County Commissioner Archie Wilson announced his resignation from the board Feb. 2, the day after he was absent from a regular session where business could not be conducted due to the lack of a quorum.
Commissioner Bob Proud was the only board member present at the Feb. 1 session. Commissioner Ed Humphrey was absent after being hospitalized to receive chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“We cannot act on any official business,” Commissioner Proud announced alone at the session.
Humphrey knew he would be absent from the session so he had his doctor send a note to the board explaining his absence.
“If there are two commissioners not available and their physicians provide a letter to the county the coroner can step in and do business,” Humphrey said.
Clermont County Coroner Dr. Brian Treon was present at the Feb. 1 in case he was needed, but because a letter was not submitted from Wilson’s physician the meeting could not be held.
“I am ready and willing if my services are needed,” Dr. Treon said at the meeting.
Dr. Treon said he was notified that he may have to step in a couple days before the meeting.
Interim Administrator Stephen Rabolt said Commissioner Wilson was contacted about the session but did not respond.
Wilson has been absent from every session the past two months, and Commissioner Proud said he hasn’t spoken with Wilson since the Dec. 1, 2011 session.
Because two commissioners were not at the session, Rabolt said they would not be able to pay bills.
“I verified with the auditor’s office that there is nothing critical,” Rabolt said at the meeting. “This happens occasionally, but if it goes three to four weeks then you have a problem.”
In a letter addressed to the Board of County Commissioners Feb. 2, the day after the meeting, Wilson resigned from his position as Clermont County Commissioner.
“Please accept this letter as my notification to resign my position as the Clermont County Commissioner effective immediately,” Wilson wrote in the letter. “This resignation is based on my physician’s advice.”
Wilson concluded the letter by thanking the people of Clermont County and his good friends for their support.
After receiving the letter, and once Commissioner Humphrey completed chemotherapy treatments, commissioners Proud and Humphrey met Feb. 6 and named assistant Clermont County prosecutor Thomas Blust interim commissioner until the Clermont County Republican Party Central Committee appoints someone to replace Wilson.
“Tom knows how the government works and he was a logical person,” Commissioner Proud said about selecting Blust. “Knowing every time we have a session, we will have a quorum is definitely comforting.”
According to the Ohio Revised Code the committee has between five and 45 days to appoint someone to fill the position of commissioner.
Committee Chairman Tim Rudd said they will make both an appointment and an endorsement for the November election at a meeting March 14.
“We will do that in one motion, so it is the same person,” Rudd said. “The prerequisite will be to not only fill out the position until the November election, we are looking to put someone in who is willing to assume office and run in November.”
He said he is already receiving phone calls and letters from people interested in the appointment.
“At this point I’ve been contacted by close to a dozen people,” Rudd said. “I am getting a cross-section of people which I think is a healthy sign.”
Rudd said he has had people in the party, elected officials, business owners and people who head non-profit organizations express interest in the appointment.
He said those who are serious about being considered for appointment should contact him in writing by submitting a letter to Tim Rudd, Chairman, P.O. Box 431, Batavia, OH 45103 or call (513) 515-7353.
Rudd said those who are interested should also speak with members of the committee before the evening of the meeting to provide information about themselves and their experience.
“Most of the committee members understand that this is one of the most important functions they have,” Rudd said.