MARION -- Williamson County will soon seat its third Circuit Clerk in four years.
Last week, the county board accepted the resignation of Angie Kochan, who was appointed to the position in 2015 after the resignation of Stuart Hall.
Hall resigned after the sentencing of three former employees who were charged with stealing over $80,000 in bond fees from the office.
Hall was not implicated in any part of the incident.
Kochan's last day will be Friday.
On Monday, she will begin her new position as the compliance officer for the Southern Illinois University Foundation.
"This wasn't planned," said Kochan. "It was just something that kind of fell into my lap."
Kochan said she decided to submit her information for the new position that she described as "made for me."
"Everything just felt right and it clicked," she said.
"This is bittersweet," said Commissioner Brent Gentry. "We're very lucky to have an employee like Angie."
Gentry said Kochan has worked hard to turn the office around, something that makes Kochan herself proud.
"There were 47 audit recommendations when I came in," she said. "There were zero on the last audit."
Kochan also pointed out that, working with the county board, her office began a program to collect unpaid fines.
"As of last week, we've collected $1.4 million at no cost to the taxpayers," she said.
Kochan said the changes in the office have been a team effort between her and her clerks.
"I'm going to miss everyone I work with," she said, "especially Amy Hobbs and Rachel Moake. They have all worked hard and helped to make these changes and improvements."
Gentry said that "whoever comes in is walking into a gift," in reference to Kochan's work to improve the office.
Because Kochan is a Democrat, her replacement must also be from that party.
According to the agenda released on Tuesday morning, the board is expected to approve Andrew Wilson as Kochan's replacement at its meeting tomorrow morning.
Wilson is an attorney and is currently employed in the Williamson County States Attorney's office.
'It's an opportunity to continue my service to the county," Wilson said. "This is something that I will put my heart and soul into. I want to work for the people here. I hope I will prove that I am the right person for the job."
