MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Commissioner Bill Pursel recently replaced fellow Commissioner Drenda Keesee as representative to the county Family and Children First Council.
Several Knox County residents have called for Keesee to step down from the council in light of her son, Gary Thomas Keesee Jr., being indicted on 27 counts of sexual abuse.
Keesee Jr. remains in the Licking County Justice Center following his April 23 arraignment in Knox County Common Pleas Court.
Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel set a July 1 trial date for Keesee Jr.
Last month, Pursel read a prepared statement that said the Board of Commissioners will refrain from commenting on the pending proceedings.
“With all that is going on with the Keesee family, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Keesee, and I recommended that it would be one less area for people to complain about if I moved to the Family and Children First Council,” Pursel said on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t a vote decision by the commissioners, specifically Bill and I,” added Lester. “We talked to Drenda and told her that to take some of the pressure off of her, it might be a good idea, and she agreed. So it was a general consensus.”
Keesee did not return messages seeking comment.
The effect on county business
Lester previously said he has encountered questions about Keesee’s family situation as he attends events throughout the county.
On Tuesday, he said the situation has affected the commissioners’ office staff.
“Jason, Penny, and the IT [department] are taking the brunt of it, responding to emails and phone calls and public records requests,” Lester said.
Jason Booth is the county administrator. Penny Doyle is the clerk/executive assistant to the commissioners.
When allegations first surfaced in February about Keesee Jr., Commissioner Keesee did not attend two commissioner meetings. She has attended meetings since then, except for scheduled days off.
Pursel and Lester said Keesee’s personal situation has not affected anything else in conducting county business.
Keesee usually arrives in the commissioners’ office 20 to 30 minutes before the Tuesday or Thursday session starts. She leaves soon after the session ends.
“It’s actually been beneficial that that’s all she’s in here because I think she believes and understands that people elected her to be in this position to do a certain job,” Pursel said. “It’s for her to figure out what that certain job is, just like I had to do. And Barry’s figuring that out, what that certain job is.”
“It hasn’t changed any of our decision making or anything like that,” Lester said.
Booth agreed.
“She’s been involved in those discussions, and county business is moving forward as it always does,” Booth said.
“I’ve seen no impact on the day-to-day operations of the county.”
Lester noted that while it only requires two commissioners to be involved, he said Keesee has been involved.
“It isn’t like she hasn’t been involved in any decision making,” he said.
The Family and Children First Council meets quarterly. Its purpose is to streamline services for families seeking government services.
All 88 Ohio counties have a council, and the Ohio Revised Code mandates that a county commissioner serve on it.