Benton County human resources director resigns

VINTON — Sue Wilber, Benton County human resources director, resigned this month after several disagreements with other county offices.

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Benton County Attorney Ray Lough discussed the human resources department before the Benton County Board of Supervisors accepted the resignation.

Lough said that an attorney retained by Wilber had contacted Lough in the spring, asking for preservation of documents. Lough said this procedure usually signals the beginning of a lawsuit.

Lough referred this to the county’s insurer, the Heartland Group.

At some point, Wilber’s attorney contacted Heartland about separation. Heartland did an evaluation and decided that discussions would be appropriate, so they engaged in negotiations on behalf of the county.

An agreement was reached the week of Aug. 12. The board was informed of it Aug. 15.

Lough said that the severance agreement essentially has a lump-sum payment and other obligations that are a part of her contract. Lough discussed the lump sum payment with Heartland, thinking that the county didn’t want to pay it.

Heartland agreed, as the county’s agent, that Heartland would pay this on the county’s behalf.

Lough and Heartland talked about how this will affect premiums. Because the county is in a pool, it receives rebates based on claims. The county has an excellent track record for safety and liability claims, Lough said.

Because Benton County was doing so well in those other areas, the human resources action won’t affect Benton County as they thought it would.

Lough asked that the board accept the agreement. “And we’ll move forward,” Lough said.

Doug Cook asked from the audience what the terms were. Lough said the agreement is in the auditor’s office.

Cook also asked about legal matters regarding the previous human resources director, and a lawsuit filed by Auditor Hayley Rippel. Lough said he can’t comment on these, but he is in contact with Heartland about them.

Lough noted that Heartland insures 10 counties, and Benton is the only county with an on-staff human resources director. Two counties use outsourcing. The other seven do their own.

Lough looked at outsourcing as an option. He gave notes to the supervisors to study.

Lough is thinking about asking for request for proposals or outsourcing services, or hiring another director. He said the county should at least explore the options that are out there.

Lough said the county needs to move rather quickly on this. Supervisors will address the issue again Aug. 27.

In other business, the board approved a utility permit for Alliant Energy in Cedar Township. Wires will be moved from overhead to underground along 50th Street in sections 3, 4 and 5.

Supervisors approved a resolution to assign a secondary roads employee to working grade foreman. Shane Clark was approved as the grade crew foreman.

Tim Sage, from the Salem Cemetery Association, requested approval for a fee increase to care for soldiers’ graves. He recommended increasing the current $5 fee due to increasing costs.

The cemetery is in Eldorado Township.

This led to a discussion about who pays for this — the township, county or veterans affairs. Chairman Richard Primmer asked Seeman to look into it and make a recommendation.

Following a closed session to discuss matters of litigation, Scott Hansen, former emergency management agency coordinator, met with the board.

Hansen said that he put in an open records request in June with the auditor’s office. He sought handwritten notes from then Human Resources Director Sue Wilber taken at the Board of Supervisors’ meetings. He also asked digital notes.

Hansen then received a note from Lough, who said these notes are not confidential. He reached out to the Iowa Public Information Board and the auditor’s office. He heard nothing from Wilber.

Since Wilber’s resignation, Hansen wondered if his request for notes should be fulfilled.

“The answer is ‘I don’t know,’” said Lough. He pointed out that while notes might be public information, they might also have confidential stuff in them that require editing or redacting.

Lough said he doesn’t have the notes but will pursue them.