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Murray County Board hires outside investigators and approves HR director’s return amid personnel probe
Summary
The Murray County Board voted Oct. 2 to retain Flaherty and Hood P.A. to investigate preliminary allegations against two county employees, authorized Commissioner Dennis Welgraven to sign the engagement letter, and approved Human Resources Director Sharon Giese’s immediate return to work.
The Murray County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 2 to retain outside investigators and took personnel actions after a closed-session review of issues arising from a Sept. 23 discussion of the county administrator’s performance.
After moving into and then returning from a closed session conducted under Minnesota Statutes section 13D.05, the board approved hiring Flaherty and Hood P.A. as investigators to examine preliminary allegations involving two county employees. Commissioner Roger Zins moved to retain Flaherty and Hood; Jackie Meier seconded and the motion passed. The board then authorized Commissioner Dennis Welgraven to sign the engagement letter with the firm.
County Board Attorney John Edison told the board two firms were considered, including Wiley Riber Law and Flaherty and Hood, and that rates, travel time and investigative procedures had been discussed. The board’s action followed a recap that the Sept. 23 meeting about the county administrator’s performance prompted members to initiate a further investigation.
The board also voted to approve Sharon Giese’s request to return to work as Human Resources Director effective immediately. Commissioner Dennis Welgraven moved for approval; Loy Woelber seconded and the motion passed. The board authorized Welgraven and Commissioner Mark Carlson to work with legal counsel to establish the board’s expectations for Giese moving forward, as discussed in closed session.
Separately, the board addressed an unrelated labor matter: a Step 3 grievance filed by ASME related to a change in holiday pay policy. Jackie Meier initially moved to appoint Commissioner Dennis Welgraven as the board’s Step 3 representative; the motion was amended to include Roger Zins as a co‑representative and the amended motion passed. John Edison explained that unresolved Step 3 grievances rarely move beyond that level, but if not resolved here the matter would proceed to mediation.
The board cited Minnesota Statutes section 13D.05 when convening the closed session to consider personnel matters. No detailed allegations against individual employees were made in open session and the board did not disclose the investigators’ scope beyond conducting the inquiry. The meeting adjourned after routine closing matters.
