Major shakeup in township's hierarchy

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION TWP. — A recent board meeting among Vermilion Township's trustees brought clarity to the government's hierarchy and various roles within the organization. On Wednesday, township trustees — Keith Sexton, a newly elected member; Don Rowe Sr., who won his race in November's election after being appointed in 2025; and Kenn Baughman, an incumbent whose current term began two years ago — confirmed who will work for them: • Kurt Johnson — who became a trustee, upon appointment in 2025 but lost his seat in November's election — became the township's administrator. The administrator oversees all staff members within the township and reports directly to the trustees. The administrator makes about $25,000 a year. • Joe Baxter, the now-former administrator, became the township building department's inspector. Neither Baxter nor anyone else representing Vermilion Township gave a clear public reason as to why Baxter switched jobs, opting for a job lower in the government's organizational chart. The building inspector makes about $58,000 a year. While the change first became public on Jan. 2, several residents attended Wednesday's meeting to figure out more details regarding this change of leadership. For instance, many wondered why there wasn't an application process. It appears that trustees simply placed Johnson and Baxter in their positions without any outside competition. Trustees stressed how the two roles, referencing Johnson and Baxter, as separate, doubling down on how Baxter is no longer serving as administrator. Baxter served as administrator for less than one year in 2025. Baxter, however, is helping Johnson during this transition, officials said. This shift, mainly involving Baxter, comes as Vermilion Township prepares to take full control of its own building department. Baxter who has the required inspection credentials, will oversee building inspections as the township completes a three-month-long transition away from using the city of Vermilion for these services. Trustees said the township's fee schedule has already been drafted and will be finalized before the transition period ends.