Linn County commissioners terminate public works director, name interim and open search
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Summary
The Linn County Board of Commissioners voted to terminate Public Works Director Sean West, appointed Jesse Walton as interim director effective immediately and directed staff to advertise the permanent position.
Linn County commissioners voted to terminate Public Works Director Sean West and installed an interim leader for the department on a motion taken during the board's meeting April 14.
The board voted to terminate West "effective immediately." The commissioners then moved Jesse Walton, currently with the road department, into the role of interim public works director effective immediately. Commissioners also authorized advertising the vacant public works director job (job title in hiring notice to match the currently used description) on regional job sites and in local newspapers.
Commissioners said the interim appointment was necessary to maintain continuity in ongoing road and facility projects while the county runs a national search for a permanent hire. The board directed staff to post the position and accept applications until the role is filled.
The board also approved a separate motion to allow Walton to assume interim responsibilities and to proceed with recruitment steps, including placing notices "in the paper, on Indeed and other resources" used by county HR.
The board discussed related operational continuity steps at public works, including delegating immediate oversight responsibilities to Walton and preserving the department's active project timelines and bids. Commissioners have not released a personnel report providing reasons for the termination during the public meeting record; the board handled personnel matters in executive session pursuant to Kansas statute KSA 75-4319 before announcing action.
The board asked county HR and legal staff to prepare the job posting and to process the recruitment under county hiring policies. The county will provide details on the application deadline and selection timeline once the posting is published.
Provenance (highlights from meeting transcript): first public announcement of action and interim appointment appear in the meeting record; the motion to terminate is recorded and followed by motions to appoint Walton and to post the job for hire.
Ending: Commissioners said they expect the department to continue scheduled road work and to provide regular updates while the interim director assumes duties and the county completes the recruitment process.
