Rebuffed in his attempt to get raises for the emergency ambulance service, second-district Commissioner Joe Johnson resigned his post, slapping a letter of resignation on the county mayor’s desk at the end of the meeting.
“I’m ashamed of this commission tonight,” Johnson declared as he gazed at his fellow members, irritated by their reluctance to grant raises to EMS despite the county having a $4 million fund balance.

The commission passed raises for most other county employees during its meeting, leaving Johnson at a loss as to why they would overlook EMS.

“You put this off another year and you’re not going to have an ambulance service,” Johnson warned as commissioners debated the question of raises. “You’re going to have three more resign tonight if there’s no raises.”

Johnson pointed out that there are members of EMS who hold degrees and countless hours of specialized training who are only making $12 or less an hour. He noted that the low pay has caused good employees to go looking for work in other counties who pay a more competitive salary.

“We have to stop letting this sit on the back burner,” Johnson told the commission.

However, commissioners moved forward and passed pay raises for other county employees, pledging to re-visit the EMS pay issue next meeting when they were better prepared to if it could be budgeted this year.

Their pledge was not good enough. Johnson walked forward from his desk to the county mayor’s desk and handed him a sealed envelope. It contained his resignation. The wording was simple and to the point.

“I am writing this letter to inform you (County Mayor and County Commission) that I am resigning my position as County Commissioner, second district. I feel that I am not as effective as I should be in my duties as a commissioner. The decision was not an easy one to make. My work to make the pay equal in all departments has failed. I feel the commission does not realize how important it is to treat all the employees the same. I do not want to be a part of a commission that raises some departments and ignores others.”

After the reading of the letter, Johnson again voiced his displeasure at the actions of colleagues and bid his final farewell.

“With that said, I’m done,” Johnson declared.

However, technically Johnson is not done. First, his resignation must be approved and made final. Second, he will remain on the ballot for reelection this year as his resignation came after the cutoff date to get his name off the ballot.