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Sedgwick County commissioner issues statement on recent investigations

Sedgwick County commissioner issues statement on recent investigations

Sedgwick County commissioner issues statement on recent investigations

Sedgwick County commissioner Dave Unruh has issued a statement regarding the recent personnel investigations at the county and the issues that led to the resignation of the county manager and county counselor.

Unruh said in the statement that he had expressed significant concerns about the hiring of Michael Scholes as county manager in 2015, and one of them was about the management and treatment of county staff.  Unruh said there were concerns about a high turnover and “good people forced out or retired early.”   Unruh said there also appeared to be an effort between the former manager and former counselor Eric Yost to work against the commission.

Unruh said in the recruiting process for a new county manager, Scholes was not on the list of recommended candidates, but commissioner Richard Ranzau wanted to interview him.  The commission majority of Ranzau, Jim Howell and Karl Peterjohn voted to hire Scholes, and Unruh said he supported it at the time to show commission unity.  He said he now regrets that decision, and he said it became clear as he observed behavior and heard stories from trusted people inside and outside the courthouse that the county had a growing problem.

Unruh also said he remains disappointed “that two commissioners continue to defend one person rather than believe so many employees and partners.”  Unruh also said he hopes the unproven and inflammatory allegations will stop.

Howell and Ranzau have said political reasons were behind Scholes’ departure, and they have called for FBI investigations into commission decisions and activities.

Unruh is leaving office in January after choosing not to run for another term.  Wichita city council member Pete Meitzner was elected as the new district one commissioner in November. 

 

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