Cass County commissioners vote to immediately terminate county administrator Patrick Jordan

Cass County commissioners voted unanimously on a motion to immediately terminate County Administrator Patrick Jordan, with the board approving removal without severance during its regular meeting.

The board’s motion, introduced by Commissioner Northrop, called for immediate termination “without severance paid pursuant to section 3(a)(3) and (5) of his employment agreement,” citing conduct that “offends common decency or morality or brings discredit upon the county or the board in misconduct, gross negligent conduct,” Northrop said as he moved the action.

The motion went to a roll-call vote and passed. Commissioners who registered a vote during the roll call included Commissioner Ferrera (Yes), Commissioner Northrop (Yes), Commissioner Grice (Yes), Commissioner Lee (Yes), Commissioner Marchetti (Yes), Commissioner Lawrence (Yes), Commissioner Langley (Yes) and Chair Jones (Yes). The board recorded the motion as passed.

Chair Jones indicated the board had received an investigation report from the county attorney into allegations against the county administrator before the motion. The chair said corrected versions of the report would be shared with commissioners after the meeting because of typographical errors in an earlier version.

The board did not discuss specifics of the report in open session beyond confirming receipt of the county attorney’s findings and asking that department heads be available for related salary-committee work on a separate personnel matter. The county attorney who prepared the report was referenced by the chair but not named on the public record during the meeting.

After the termination vote, commissioners discussed next steps for county administration. Commissioner Lawrence asked that the board consider compensation or other support for Interim Administrator Jennifer Renfro, who has stepped into the administrator duties; Commissioner Lawrence said discussions about retroactive pay or an adjusted compensation package would begin promptly. Chair Jones said implementation steps would start “probably tomorrow morning.”

The board did not provide additional personnel details or release the investigation report text during the meeting; the chair said a corrected copy would be distributed to commissioners as a blind copy following the session.

The action takes effect immediately as recorded in the board’s roll call and meeting minutes; the board did not vote to provide severance.

The board also directed administrative staff to coordinate interim-administration logistics and communications following the vote.