BENTONVILLE -- A settlement has been reached in the dispute over the firing of Sarah Wilson as Benton County comptroller, but details were not released Monday.
County Judge Bob Clinard confirmed a settlement has been reached. He said he could not comment on the details.
"The deal is signed, that's all I can say," Clinard said Monday. "Part of the agreement is I can't comment and they can't comment. I think I can say we made an agreement that's in the best interests of the county, and that's all I can say."
Barb Ludwig, county human resources manager, also declined to comment. She referred questions to George Spence, county attorney. Ludwig notified the county's justices of the peace that a grievance hearing on Wilson's firing that had been set for 6 tonight has been canceled.
The county will treat all records concerning the settlement as personnel records, Spence said. In response to a request for information under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Spence cited a provision of the act that allows the county to ask for an Attorney General's opinion before any records are released.
Wilson, who was fired April 8, had asked to be reinstated under the county's grievance policy, according to a letter she submitted in April.
Clinard, in a letter outlining his decision to fire her, said he lost confidence in Wilson's judgment after he learned she had married Scott Stober, a former county administrator who resigned after being arrested in connection with thefts from the county Road Department last year.
Stober pleaded guilty last week to theft of property, a class C felony; and to theft of service, a class A misdemeanor.
Two other former Road Department administrators also were arrested during the investigation of the thefts. Jackie Brown pleaded guilty last week to theft of property, a Class C felony; and to theft of service, a class A misdemeanor. A misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice was dropped. Grant McCracken was charged with misdemeanor accomplice to theft of property. His case was diverted. That means his charge will be dismissed if he follows the terms of his diversion. As part of that, McCracken was ordered to complete 30 days in the county work program.
County policy calls for a grievance hearing to be scheduled within 14 working days after an employee files a formal request. Wilson did that April 11. The county agreed to an initial delay at the request of Wilson's attorney. Attorneys for both sides later agreed to postpone the hearing indefinitely while settlement talks continued. The hearing was reset last week after Wilson notified county officials she had changed attorneys. Officials said then the hearing was being rescheduled to comply with the county's grievance policy.
Wilson is now represented by Stephen Wood of Rogers, Spence said. Neither Wilson nor Wood responded to phone messages left for them Monday.
General News on 07/30/2014