Kendall County Animal Control Director resigns

Kendall County officials are on the lookout for a new director for the county’s animal control facility in Yorkville following the resignation of former director Laura Pawson.

Pawson’s last day on the job was Wednesday, April 21, County Administrator Scott Koeppel confirmed. Two county board committees have approved a revised job description for the post, Koeppel added, with a vote on formal approval expected for a county board meeting next week.

Though officials didn’t provide any further information on why Pawson resigned, Amy Cesich, a county board member, said it was unrelated to a performance evaluation Pawson attempted to appeal last November.

“I think she had really redeemed herself coming back from it,” Cesich said in an interview, adding that Pawson hadn’t given an exit interview.

A Record Newspapers FOIA request seeking to obtain Pawson’s performance evaluation had been previously denied on the grounds it contained private personnel information not subject to the public transparency law.

With the vacant director position now posted online, Cesich said officials will seek to hire someone that will stick with the county long-term.

“The animal control director job is a huge responsibility because it’s one of those 24-7 types of jobs,” Cesich said. “The person over there has to manage I believe up to five or six employees and volunteers, keep up on whatever the state requirements are.”

County officials appointed Pawson animal control director in 2015.

The Record Newspapers has reached out to Pawson and her attorney for comment.