Plano Mayor Mike Rennels has emphasized in an interview that an investigation is still ongoing after the city’s former director of public works turned himself in for theft last week.

Rennels said “thousands of dollars of tools” were allegedly taken from the city when Nathan Bullard resigned from his post in May.

“Tools that were purchased then left the city when Mr. Bullard left,” Rennels said of the incident. Police say the tools have since been recovered.

Bullard turned himself in to the Anna Police Department in downstate Illinois last Thursday, June 24 after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Plano, according to the Plano Police Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

When Bullard resigned from his position with the city, he said he planned to take a post as county engineer in Alexander County to be closer to family. The mayor added there was “no indication” that Bullard resigned because of the missing tools.

Plano police said of the investigation in a statement that “it was learned that over the course of time that (Bullard) worked for the City of Plano as director of public works, he purchased numerous tools under the auspice the tools were to be utilized for the use by the City of Plano.”

Rennels said he learned of the theft on his first day as mayor when he received invoices for the stolen tools and a note to contact the police department.

The city is for now without a public works director. Though the position has been posted, no one has submitted an application, Rennels said.

Bullard is due in Kendall County Court on July 13 at 9 a.m. and currently faces one count of theft under $500.