IONIA — On Wednesday afternoon, the Ionia County Personnel Committee voted to reinstate a fired Highway Office employee.
Linda Pigue
Stephanie Fox
Just a number of hours later on, Ionia County Administrator Stephanie Fox and Finance Director Linda Pigue the two resigned, productive March 31 and March 16, respectively.
Fox has been the county administrator considering that 2011, while Pigue was employed in early 2020.
The Personnel Committee voted 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon to reinstate Bud White to his career with back again pay and positive aspects. Commissioners Larry Tiejema and Ga Sharp voted of course though Scott Wirtz voted no.
Fox had fired White on Feb. 18. White has been with the county for 31 several years amongst his component-time and entire-time work. He most not too long ago was street superintendent.
A county formal furnished the resignation letters of Fox and Pigue to the Daily News. Fox emailed both equally resignation letters to county commissioners soon prior to 6 p.m. now.
Bud White
Fox said she was resigning dependent on the Staff Committee’s failure to uphold White’s termination, which she mentioned was built “in very clear accordance with existing board resolutions, policies, and the advice of county attorneys.”
“I can not commence to categorical my disappointment that the board has picked to reinstate Mr. White, an untrustworthy employee,” Fox wrote. “What is specially disappointing is that (Street Department Director) Mr. (John) Niemela’s six months of work at the Street Division carried extra fat in the board’s selection than Ms. Pigue’s 18 months as the interim Road Division director and my 37 yrs of experience with the county.”
In her letter of resignation, Pigue also cited the Personnel Committee’s failure to uphold White’s termination as her reason for resigning. She stated a variety of accusations in opposition to White, which apparently ended up introduced up in closed session at his listening to and which Sharp mentioned at Wednesday’s conference would not be talked over in open up session.
“Since I believe I have demonstrated Mr. White to be dishonest and untrustworthy, I will resign alternatively than proceed seeking to establish and avert misappropriation of county and state methods,” Pigue wrote.
Far more than 20 Road Office staff attended Wednesday’s conference to demonstrate their help for White, and quite a few spoke in the course of general public remark.
Browse Fox’s resignation letter here: Fox resignation
Study Pigue’s resignation letter here: Pigue resignation
A entire story about Wednesday’s Staff Committee’s conference and the resignations of Fox and Pigue will be printed in Friday’s Day by day News.
