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Cass County board and county engineer exchange proposals on contract terms; compromise offer drafted
Summary
Board and County Engineer Doug discussed proposed changes to the engineer's employment contract, including lowering the termination-without-cause threshold and severance length. After a lengthy meeting the board signaled support for a compromise: a four-fifths termination threshold with six months' severance, to be formalized in writing.
The Cass County Board of Supervisors and County Engineer Doug discussed proposed amendments to the engineer's employment contract in a lengthy exchange about job security, notice and severance.
Doug said he had sent a written proposal on April 24 requesting that paragraph 10A be amended so that termination without cause could occur on a four-fifths vote (instead of unanimous) provided severance was extended from six months to nine months. Doug told the board he had not yet received a formal written reply and expressed concern about job security if the board lowered the threshold to a simple majority: "I do not feel comfortable because the first meeting in JulyJuly 7ththe termination of the county engineer, three votes and I'm done. I don't have any job security at all," he said.
Board members said they were seeking a predictable, mutually agreed process and repeatedly said they preferred to reach a written agreement rather than act in piecemeal motions. Several supervisors said their intent was not to remove the engineer but to make contract language consistent with other board decisions. After discussion, a working compromise emerged: present Doug with a written counteroffer changing the termination threshold to four-fifths while retaining six months of severance pay and removing a clause referencing a particular employees association. Several supervisors signaled they could support that compromise and asked staff to formalize the proposal in writing for next week's agenda.
The board also reviewed a legal opinion explaining that, absent a mutually executed new agreement, the current contract terms would continue and might expire June 30, 2026. Supervisors and the engineer agreed to follow a written exchange to preserve a clear record of proposals and responses; both sides said they wanted the negotiation concluded as a signed amendment rather than repeated oral motions.
No final contract signatures were recorded at the meeting; staff will draft a written counterproposal reflecting the board's compromise position and place it on the next agenda for formal action.
