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Hoopeston Mayor announces plans to resign

Longtime Hoopeston Mayor Bill Crusinberry announced his plans to resign in a letter read during Tuesday night’s Hoopeston City Council meeting.

Crusinberry, who has been absent from council meetings for the past few months due to ill health, announced his intentions in a sealed letter that was opened and read during the meeting.

Crusinberry outlined his health issues as well as his plans to submit a formal letter of resignation and the guidelines laid out by the Illinois Municipal regarding the process of a city council replacing a mayor at a later date.

“As many of you know, in February 2020 I was diagnosed with cancer. I was told it would be very treatable. Last November, I had to make a decision as to whether I would seek another term as mayor of Hoopeston. I consulted with my doctors and was told that my disease was still treatable. I talked with family and friends and decided to ask the voters of Hoopeston for their support for re-election as mayor. Nearly two years have passed and, while my cancer is still treatable, the treatments required are more extensive and have affected my everyday way of life. In talking with city supervisors, we feel that city business is being conducted thoroughly and effectively. However, I now feel that the time I have to be able to devote to conducting the business of the city does not meet the standards I expect from myself. Therefore, after much deliberation, I have decided that it is in the best interest of the city that I step down from the office of mayor of Hoopeston. I will soon be submitting my letter of resignation along with the process of the council seeking my replacement as laid out by the Illinois Municipal League. In their handbook, the league has definite guidelines which follow Illinois state statutes. This process will accompany my letter of resignation.”

Crusinberry expressed his pride at the progress Hoopeston has made in his time on the council.

“I am very proud to have worked with this council to achieve many of the goals we have set for ourselves. When asked to run for city council 17 years ago it was not uncommon to walk down the street and hear comments like ‘This town is dying.’ It’s not hard to understand why citizens felt this way. During the 90’s, Hoopeston had seen FMC remove their entire operation from town, either sold or transferring to another town. Schumacher Corporation decided that $2-an-hour labor could build their battery chargers, taking 350 jobs out of Hoopeston. Stokley’s, Vermilion Iron and various small businesses left or closed their doors. It makes it understandable why residents felt the way they did. Although not all the council’s decisions were popular, I look around now and see the town on the move. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with these council members and the ones that have proceeded them.”

Read more council news in the Hoopeston Chronicle. 

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