2008 Woodie Awards
Butler Co. nixes plan for buyout
Jillian Engel
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Community
Butler County Commissioners rescinded a retirement buyout plan in a closed meeting Monday, April 7, after questions were raised about the county administrator and his wife's involvement in the package. Both sent in letters of resignation the previous day.
The $3.8 million Early Retirement Incentive Program was approved March 20 and was set to allow 57 staffers in Job and Family Services and Children Services to retire early. This included administrator Derek Conklin's wife, Job and Family Services Assistant Director Karen Conklin, who was set to retire early and earn nearly $200,000 from the initiative.
However, according to Butler County Commissioner Charles Furman, commissioners received questionable information regarding the accuracy of the numbers Conklin used in developing the program. The commissioners' desire to look into the program further then prompted Conklin to resign.
"Derek lost his confidence with the board," Butler County commissioner Gregory Jolivette said. "We weren't satisfied with the numbers he used and he thought it was best to go ahead and resign."
According to county prosecutor Robin Piper, following the vote to approve the buyout, media accounts raised concerns of potential misconduct of the reasoning behind the program's development, leading to personnel investigations.
"There were indications that there might be an odor of smoke (with the buyout program)," Piper said. "So we're looking to see if there is any smoke and if there is any fire. But so far we are not finding (anything)."
Preliminary investigations began the first week of April when county prosecutors first took interest in the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the buyout program, Piper said.
According to Piper, investigations consisted of interviewing several county officials, as well as analyzing and evaluating a variety of resolutions and financial documents.
Piper said that although the examinations of the matter have not been concluded, his department has not found any evidence that can be considered criminal conduct at this time.
The $3.8 million Early Retirement Incentive Program was approved March 20 and was set to allow 57 staffers in Job and Family Services and Children Services to retire early. This included administrator Derek Conklin's wife, Job and Family Services Assistant Director Karen Conklin, who was set to retire early and earn nearly $200,000 from the initiative.
However, according to Butler County Commissioner Charles Furman, commissioners received questionable information regarding the accuracy of the numbers Conklin used in developing the program. The commissioners' desire to look into the program further then prompted Conklin to resign.
"Derek lost his confidence with the board," Butler County commissioner Gregory Jolivette said. "We weren't satisfied with the numbers he used and he thought it was best to go ahead and resign."
According to county prosecutor Robin Piper, following the vote to approve the buyout, media accounts raised concerns of potential misconduct of the reasoning behind the program's development, leading to personnel investigations.
"There were indications that there might be an odor of smoke (with the buyout program)," Piper said. "So we're looking to see if there is any smoke and if there is any fire. But so far we are not finding (anything)."
Preliminary investigations began the first week of April when county prosecutors first took interest in the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the buyout program, Piper said.
According to Piper, investigations consisted of interviewing several county officials, as well as analyzing and evaluating a variety of resolutions and financial documents.
Piper said that although the examinations of the matter have not been concluded, his department has not found any evidence that can be considered criminal conduct at this time.
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