Effingham County commissioners accepted County Administrator Ed Williams’ resignation by a unanimous vote Thursday afternoon.

But they took no action on a proposal to hire Williams as a consultant during the county’s budget process.

Commissioners delayed action on the resignation and the contract proposal until after executive session. They voted on the resignation — which Williams first put forth at their Dec. 11 meeting — with no discussion.

They then voted to remove the contract proposal from the agenda altogether.

“We’re just not addressing that item,” newly-chosen commission Chairperson Myra Lewis said.

Barring a special called meeting, Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting was Williams’ last as county administrator. His last day on the job is scheduled to be Jan. 18.

Prior to coming to Effingham, Williams spent seven of his 13 years working for the Champaign, Ill., city government as its personnel director. He was also assistant county administrator in McLean County, Ill., for 11 years. His duties in McLean County included negotiating with unions, preparing departmental budgets for personnel and revenues, personnel functions and formulating county policy.

Williams was county administrator in Reno County, which has a population of 63,000, for six years before coming to Effingham County.

Williams was one of seven finalists out of a pool of 26 candidates for the Effingham County administrator position. He was hired in May 2006.