DECATUR - The Macon County Board on Thursday night approved a resolution giving Chairman David Wolfe authority over several non-elected department heads, but not without a lively debate.

Wolfe, D-Oakley, was absent from the meeting because he is recovering from a recent eye surgery.

Supporters of the measure and Assistant State's Attorney Randy Waks, who handles civil legal matters for the county, said it essentially codified and clarified existing procedure. But opponents said it took power from existing board committees, particularly the Environment, Education, Health and Welfare Committee.

That committee provides oversight for the animal control, solid waste management and planning and zoning departments. That committee will still control the budgets for those departments, but Wolfe will provide day-to-day supervision.

The measure passed by a 10-7 vote, with all of the 'no' votes coming from Republicans. Two Republicans, Phil Hogan and David Williams, supported it.

Other offices affected include the Highway Department, Supervisor of Assessments Office, Emergency Management Agency and county board office.

The resolution came about because of some recent controversies. In one case, the Environment, Education, Health and Welfare Committee signed off on two credit cards for the Animal Control department, but Wolfe subsequently denied the request. In another case, Wolfe questioned whether an overnight hotel stay was necessary for an employee of Solid Waste who was attending a conference in Springfield. The committee approved the request for the employee, who lives in Bloomington.

Linda Little, R-Decatur, said the resolution would basically disband the Environment, Education, Health and Welfare Committee except for budget control.

"I take offense to that," Little said.

But Environment, Education, Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Jay Dunn, D-Decatur, said he supported the motion.

"There's got to be a leader that controls those offices," Dunn said.

David Drobisch, R-Decatur, and Bill Oliver, D-Decatur, used the opportunity to again argue that the county needs a full-time administrator.

"Before I came on this board, I often wondered how it worked," Oliver said. "I still don't know how it works, and I've been here eight years."

Oliver abstained from the vote, while Karen Zaiz, D-Decatur, voted "present." Zaiz said the rules of the board are outdated and unclear, and that issue should have been taken care of first.

Stephanie Potter can be reached at spotter@;herald-review.com or 421-7984.