FAYETTEVILLE -- Three department heads will not be employed with Washington County after Dec. 31, officials said Thursday.
County Attorney Steve Zega, Planning Director Juliet Richey and Grants Administrator and Public Utilities Coordinator Renee Biby received letters Thursday saying their services are no longer required.
County employees
Three Washington County employees were let go Thursday. About 18 employees, including the ones listed below, were interviewed or asked for resumes in November to be rehired for their positions.
• Wayne Haines, county Veterans Service officer
• Brad Phillips, assistant superintendent of the Road Department
• Charles Ward, superintendent of the Road Department
• Michael Watson, interim Human Resources director
• Carly Sandridge, reporter and coordinator for the Quorum Court
• Jean E. Mack, director of the Juvenile Detention Center
• John Adams, Information Systems director
• Michelle Viney, Environmental Affairs & Recycling director
• John Luther, emergency management department director
• Glenda Audrain, Library System director
• Ashley Farber, comptroller
• Ron Wood, buildings and maintenance director
• Tony Wappel, county archivist
• Angela Ledgerwood, Animal Shelter director
• Karen Beeks, executive assistant for the county judge
Source: Washington County Judge’s Office
Fast fact
The Washington County judge oversees about 192 employees in 17 departments.
Source: Staff report
County policy
Washington County employees who aren’t rehired by incoming County Judge Joseph Wood will lose their jobs effective Dec. 31, as per county policy. “Unless rehired by a newly elected supervising county official, an employee’s employment shall cease at the biennium Dec. 31 of even numbered years,” according to the employee handbook.
Source: Staff report
Employees who are not rehired by the incoming county judge are automatically fired, according to county policy.
Joseph Wood, a Republican, will replace County Judge Marilyn Edwards, a Democrat. Wood is expected to leave his position with the secretary of state Jan. 2 and be sworn in as county judge Jan. 3.
Wood said in a message employees were notified but wouldn't comment further.
"Out of respect for the employees and their privacy, I will not comment on personnel matters," Wood said.
Wood said previously he planned to talk with certain employees as part of his plan to improve county services.
Zega confirmed he was fired but did not want to comment further.
Richey and Biby did not return messages left on their cellphones. Biby left her office by 4 p.m., according to an assistant.
County offices are closed today and Monday, leaving four days left of employment for all three employees.
George Butler, chief of staff for the county judge, said Zega, Biby and Richey met with interim Human Resources Director Michael Watson and were given letters.
Watson answered his personal cellphone but said he did not want to talk on it. He then did not answer an email or a message left at his office.
Richey has been with the county since 2005 and is well-respected in the Planning Department, Butler said. Biby was hired in 2006 and promoted to grant administrator last year. She also has done well with the county, Butler said.
Biby recently helped get county legislation passed to increase oversight of community sewer systems in the county. The move drew criticism from some Republican justices of the peace.
Edwards hired Zega as county attorney Jan. 1, 2015, county documents show. Previously, he served as a justice of the peace and is a military veteran.
All other employees retained their jobs, Butler said. No further terminations are expected, he said.
"I think everybody else that didn't get a letter were informed that they still had their jobs," Butler said.
Employees had been waiting nervously for weeks to hear whether they would keep their jobs.
About 17 county employees provided resumes and re-interviewed for their jobs last month in front of a four-member transitional team representing Wood. The team consisted of former state Rep. Doug Matayo; Herbert Morales, president of Latin American Business Solutions in Rogers; Julie Harris, Wood's campaign director; and Tom Lundstrum Jr., a former Washington County election commissioner. All have spent considerable time involved in Republican state and local politics.
On Monday, Wood talked in person with some employees but did not make a decision, employees said Tuesday.
Butler said the termination letter referenced Wood had someone else in mind for the three employees' jobs. Butler said he would not immediately release the letter because it is part of a personnel file. He said there are no documents listing those who were let go.
Butler said Wood must advertise for the positions, even if he already has new employees picked out. Employees also can file grievances, he said.
Edwards said during her retirement party Tuesday she trusts the employees. They have institutional knowledge that is valuable and keeps the county running smoothly, she said.
"You are only as successful as the people around you," Edwards said.
NW News on 12/23/2016