Clay County Administrator Dean Brookshier resigned Wednesday.
Brookshier will be paid more than $240,000 in severance pay, unused vacation pay and unused sick time. This is despite Brookshier not giving the county the 90 days of notice required by his employment contract. Under his employment contract, failing to give 90 days of notice meant that he wouldn’t be “entitled to any benefits in addition to those afforded him under the law and County policy.”
In a 2-1 vote in executive session Wednesday, the county commissioners waived this requirement.
Clay County commissioners Luann Ridgeway and Gene Owen voted for Brookshier’s separation and release agreement and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Clay County presiding commissioner Jerry Nolte said he was under “contractual and legal restrictions” which prevented him from discussing why he voted against the exit package.
Brookshier’s resignation comes after a petition delivered to the state auditor last month by Clay County residents to audit the county’s finances and operations following concerns about transparency and failing to pay bills on time.
Brookshier’s letter of resignation did not address why he decided to resign.
“It has certainly been an honor serving in this position from 2011-2018… I am happy to assist you during the transition period,” Brookshier said in his letter, which was addressed to the commissioners.
Aviva Okeson-Haberman is a KCUR news intern. Follow her on Twitter @avivaokeson.
