Melvin J. “Bud” Niekamp laid out terms for resigning from the Quincy School Board Wednesday in a signed, one-page document that was formatted as a PDF and e-mailed to the media.

Adams County Judge Diane Lagoski ruled against Niekamp last week in the quo warranto lawsuit challenging his standing as a member of the board and issued a “judgment of ouster” to remove him from office. But she then allowed him to remain on the board while he appealed the ruling.

Other members of the board offered again this week to let Niekamp resign from the board, thus eliminating the legal conflict, and then be reappointed to the vacant seat. He wouldn’t get to carry the title of president anymore, even though he has been stripped of most of his duties, but at least he he could finish out the last two-and-a-half years of his term. Bud, as usual, said no.

Then he offered up his own manifesto, which requires the School Board to approve “an irrevocable resolution” to commit to 14 binding conditions. Most of them had to do with an “Oversight & Review Ad Hoc Committee” that would, among other things, resurrect plans to conduct a $400,000 forensic audit of the district’s finances and evaluate the “conduct and performance” of the School District’s legal counsel.

Bud, of course, would be the chairman of the committee, and he would get to appoint a majority of the members. That, theoretically, would mean the committee would see things his way. No more 6-1 votes.

The most entertaining of the 10 stipulations, however, would require the plaintiffs in the quo warranto lawsuit to reimburse Niekamp AND the Quincy School District for any and all expenses related to the suit. In other words, the School Board, which like the School District wasn’t a party to the lawsuit, must irrevocably force three three private citizens to write checks to the guy who lost.

Logic like that kinda makes the head spin, doesn’t it?

Maybe Bud’s handlers, the folks who apparently have some axes to grind and are using him as their vehicle, don’t realize that the longer this plays out, the more likely there could be a School Board without him on it next year. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be nice to have seven functioning members on the board and a little less sideshow, just pointing out a possibility.

Let’s say Bud decides to remain on the board while the appeals process plays out. As we have seen by the snail’s pace this case has taken, it could be months before the Appellate Court hears arguments and hands down a ruling. And it’s already mid-August.

Let’s say the Appellate Court upholds Lagoski’s ruling by the time there is snow on the ground and agrees that Bud should be removed from office, but allows him to remain on the board while he appeals the case to the Illinois Supreme Court. That, of course, will take a few more months.

Meanwhile, School Board elections are held next April — Bud won’t be on the ballot again until 2013 when his term expires  — and the case is still not resolved. Then, for argument’s sake, let’s say the state’s high court upholds the Appellate Court and orders Bud off the board.

The sitting School Board would be faced with filling the vacancy. Chances are, after enduring two years of cheap cable drama, Bud’s not gonna be the choice. The only thing for him to do then is sit in the audience with the other regular orators who offer their monthly insights during the public comment portion of School Board meetings for two years until the next election rolls around.

By that time, maybe the voters in the Quincy School District will realize the circus the board has been subjected to since 1989 and declare the “Niekamp Era” over. Another kind of “irrevocable resolution,” if you will.