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County attorney advises conservative response to deputy-treasurer grievances; commissioners direct written warning and offer of paid leave
Summary
Following fact-gathering, the county attorney advised commissioners to focus on undisputed facts and preserve attorney-client privilege, and the board directed the attorney to draft a written warning and consider offering up to two weeks paid leave to the deputy treasurer to ease workplace tension.
Daniels County's attorney briefed commissioners in open session on June 15 about recent grievances and personnel issues in the treasurer's office and outlined legal risks and options for board action. The attorney said he had prepared an internal memorandum summarizing facts and that his role was to advise on legal exposure and process, not to recommend a specific discipline.
"The safest approach that you have here is to focus on undisputed facts and to focus on stabilizing the workplace," the county attorney told the board, adding that if commissioners address legal questions they should move into executive session to preserve attorney-client privilege. He identified the principal risks as potential hostile-work-environment claims, allegations of retaliation or political interference, and possible workplace-safety failures.
Commissioners discussed next steps. One commissioner said he would like a "stern warning" placed in the file for an identified staff member referenced in the memo; the county attorney agreed to draft a written warning for the board's review. The attorney also presented an operational option: offering the deputy treasurer paid time off to reduce tensions in the office. Commissioners agreed that offering up to two weeks of paid leave as an option (not as a disciplinary penalty) could be appropriate; the attorney said he would prepare the language and documents for final board consideration.
The county attorney emphasized limits on the board's authority over elected officials: he advised that formal disciplinary action does not apply to an elected treasurer and recommended any expectations for an elected official be presented as guidance rather than discipline. The board directed the attorney to prepare both a proposed written warning and an offer letter for up to two weeks paid leave so commissioners could review and approve them at a subsequent meeting.
