March 27, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
He’s back!
One month after announcing his resignation, Second District member Joe Johnson is back on the county commission.
Actually, he never really left.
Although Johnson had announced in a letter at the February meeting that he would be resigning effective March 1, the commission never voted on the resignation to make it official.
“I had (County Attorney) Hilton (Conger) to check with CTAS (County Technical Advisory Service) as far as the resignation and when it’s effective and its effective when this commission accepts it,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling during Monday night’s monthly meeting.
Second District member Jimmy Midgett made a motion that Johnson’s resignation not be accepted. First District Commissioner Mason Carter offered a second to the motion.
Third District member Jack Barton asked if Johnson is willing to serve.
“I spoke with him and he said he would appreciate it if we decided to do that (not accept the resignation),” replied Midgett.
The vote not to accept Johnson’s resignation was approved on a voice vote of the commission.
Johnson, who was seated in the audience during the meeting, took his place at the table with the other commissioners, after the vote was announced.
Johnson announced his resignation in a protest move after the commission in February failed to approve his proposed new pay plan for EMS staff. At the time Johnson said he was ashamed of the commission’s actions and no longer wanted to be part of the group. He asked County Mayor Stribling to read his type written resignation letter to the commission at the end of last month’s meeting.
Had the commission approved Johnson’s resignation, it would have had up to 120 days to fill the vacancy but the appointee could have only served until August, when the next general election is held for the office.