Illinois I-PASS chief quietly resigns

The head of Illinois’ I-PASS toll program--who was suspended without pay in February--has quietly resigned, Illinois tollway officials said.

Scott Okun, 46, resigned on March 22, according to Illinois State Toll Highway Authority spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis.

Okun was suspended without pay in February, and at the time officials said he had violated the agency's purchasing policy.

According to officials, last year he awarded a $50,000 contract to a company to print informational materials without bidding it through the state's Central Management Services department.

McGinnis has said that any contract over $30,000 must be bid through the department.

Okun's cousin worked at the printing company, although McGinnis said in February that Okun had disclosed that to his supervisors. However, Okun's managers did not know that he had disregarded purchasing rules, McGinnis said.

The DuPage County state's attorney's office has launched an investigation into the matter, and McGinnis said that the tollway authority has been cooperating with prosecutors.