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Board to schedule statutorily required hearing on complaint against Four Rivers Vector Control District
Summary
County counsel told commissioners statute requires a board hearing on a complaint submitted by a district board member against a district director; the Board asked staff to schedule the hearing while allowing the parties time to resolve the matter privately first.
County counsel Dave Doyle told the Board on May 21 that state statute requires the Board of County Commissioners to schedule and convene a hearing to consider a complaint filed in early April by Vector Control District board member Amy Varner against the district’s president. The complaint alleges conduct that may warrant suspension or removal of the district director; statute does not give the county discretion to decline a hearing for vector control districts.
Doyle said the statute authorizes the hearing to examine conduct such as repeated absence from meetings, self‑dealing, misappropriation of funds, or conduct that exposes the district to unreasonable liability. He said the hearing is mandatory unless the parties withdraw the complaint. Doyle also noted the county has handled similar matters differently in the past for other special districts where statute affords more discretion.
Doyle recused himself from the matter because he said he is “close to this” and has attended many meetings of the district; he stepped away from the dais so the other commissioners could proceed. The board directed staff to set a hearing date; counsel said staff will coordinate a time that accommodates the parties but will proceed if the complaint is not withdrawn. Commissioners encouraged the parties to consider negotiations or adopting new operating practices as possible ways to resolve some concerns without a public hearing.
The board did not set a specific hearing date on May 21 but asked staff to work with counsel and the parties to schedule the statutorily required hearing. Counsel said this is likely the first time he has seen a vector control district matter advance to the commissioners level in his tenure.
