Mattoon Mayor Dave Cline Resigns

Mattoon Mayor Dave Cline has submitted his resignation, saying he has moved into a subdivision outside the city limits.

Cline submitted a letter of resignation Monday morning at Mattoon City Hall, saying his last full day as mayor will be Friday.

Cline said later he had chosen to move into his new residence, knowing that would end his term as mayor. Under Illinois law, elected municipal officials must live within city limits.

The resignation comes less than a week after three city commissioners refused to approve annexation resolutions for Cline's new residence.

Cline said the annexation was designed to bring more property into the city, but City Attorney Preston Owen said Cline had delayed the annexation for several months to avoid paying for a city building permit. Cline denied those accusations.