County accepts Kern resignation; Gross to complete the term

The Perry County Board of Commissioners officially accepted County Clerk Kevin Kern's resignation Thursday afternoon and declared a vacancy in the office. Kern's last day will be Friday, April 19.

Du Quoin resident Josh Gross was appointed to fill the vacancy in the office of the county clerk through the end of the term in November 2014.

Kern, who has taken a position with Congressman Bill Enyart's office in Belleville, endorsed Gross, who was recommended by the Democratic Central Committee for Perry County.

In other business, the board:

• approved special use permits for Tony Helton to open a retail firearms and archery business on Rose of Sharon Road (36 month permit), Joseph Keller to place a new 2013 mobile home on W. Lincoln in Cutler (10 year permit), Andrea Choate to place a 2012 mobile home on Union School Road (9 year permit) and Lisa and Wade Grazkewicz to build a 1,200 square foot interior design studio on Route 13.

• tabled a resolution transferring the county's cable franchise agreement from New Wave Communications to RBI Holding II LLC until State's Attorney David Stanton has a chance to review it.

• awarded the motor fuel tax bids for the County and Unit Road District to the low bidders.

• passed a resolution granting raffle licenses to Perry County Sportsman's Club, St. Paul United Church of Christ mission group and Wyatt D. Eisenhauer Memorial Fund.

• explained to Pete Doerr that the county would not comment on the lawsuit filed by former County Engineer Doug Bishop. The county's policy is not to comment on specific employees or pending litigation. Doerr was told to request a copy of Bishop's contract through Jeff Ashauer, the county's Freedom of Information Act officer.