Madison County supervisors deadlock on auditor's hire after ethics concerns from public

A resolution to appoint Leslie Beck as a part-time second deputy in the Madison County auditor's office sparked public accusations of favoritism and a heated exchange among supervisors before the board registered a tie vote on March 29, 2025, leaving the appointment unresolved.

The proposal (resolution HR032525a) would have set Beck's pay at $27 an hour, effective March 19, 2025. During the public-comment period, a speaker detailed alleged ties between Beck and local Republican leaders and said the auditor had "circumvented best hiring practices" by putting the resolution forward immediately after Beck began working in the office. "Leslie Beck is the cochair of the Madison County Republicans," the commenter stated, and urged supervisors to ask the auditor to reopen the applicant pool.

The auditor, identified on the record by her first name as Terry, defended the decision on the phone, saying she had posted the position for the required period and that Beck had been helping the office clear a backlog of claims. "I posted for the position," Terry said, adding that Beck "came in on Saturday to help get the claims done" and that the auditor's office needed trusted help while it catches up.

Supporters on the board framed the matter as an elected official's right to appoint aides. One supervisor cited the supervisor manual, saying county supervisors "should recognize and approve any reasonable and proper appointment made by an elected county officer." Dissenting supervisors said the timing and process lacked transparency: one said the resolution appeared after the person had already started work, without the interviews and public posting steps the board expects.

The chair disclosed a conflict of interest on the hire and abstained from voting. After a roll call, the board recorded a tie; the chair said the result was a tie and expressed disappointment about the political tenor of the discussion. Because the motion did not receive a majority, the resolution did not carry.

Other items on the agenda proceeded with less dispute. The board voted to grant weekend VPN access for Jay Taylor through July 31, 2025, approved hiring Collins as a part-time paramedic at $18 an hour effective March 29, 2025, and renewed an "Adopt a Highway" agreement with the Howell Bridge Club.

The meeting included several presentations: Ryan Marquardt of the Community Foundation described a grant cycle with 26 applications requesting about $240,000 and approximately $140,000 available for awards; Nick Steinbach, Hartman Glock's director of safety and compliance, notified the board about a planned anhydrous ammonia storage expansion east of town and said the item was placed on the agenda to satisfy a state fertilizer regulator's request. Chip, Madison County buildings maintenance, advised the board to replace a 30-year-old courthouse fire alarm system at an estimated cost of about $22,000.

What happens next: because the board did not approve the hire, the auditor may reconsider candidates or reintroduce a revised resolution at a future meeting. The board's next scheduled budget and tax-notice hearings are set for April 1 and April 21, 2025, and the auditors' office staffing and backlog issues remain under discussion.

Quote highlights from the meeting: "Leslie Beck is the cochair of the Madison County Republicans," said a public commenter raising ethics concerns. Terry, the auditor, said, "I posted for the position" and defended bringing in staff to reduce backlog. Chair: "If you have facts, present them," when asking the public to rely on verifiable information rather than rumors.

Votes at a glance: HR032525a (appoint Leslie Beck, $27/hour) ' tie vote after chair abstained (motion failed); VPN access for Jay Taylor through July 31, 2025 ' approved; Collins, part-time paramedic at $18/hour effective March 29, 2025 ' approved; Adopt-a-Highway renewal with Howell Bridge Club ' approved.