Limestone County commissioners accept treasurer Carol Picket’s retirement and appoint Stephanie Grill

Limestone County commissioners accepted the retirement of County Treasurer Carol Picket and voted to appoint Stephanie Grill as the county’s treasurer effective July 8. The actions took place during a brief call meeting in which commissioners thanked Picket for her years of service and addressed concerns about relations between the treasurer’s office and the auditor’s office.

Carol Picket, the outgoing treasurer, addressed the commission and cited personal health and family loss as factors in her decision to step down. In emotional remarks she said, “I enjoyed the people” and described the period following her husband’s illness and death as “hard enough,” also telling the commission she felt she had been treated poorly by some in the offices she worked with.

A commissioner moved to accept Picket’s retirement “with regrets”; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The commission then considered and approved a motion to appoint Stephanie Grill as county treasurer, with commissioners confirming she had been contacted and was willing to serve. The transcript records the effective date as July 8; initial comments contained some confusion about the exact day before the date was clarified to July 8.

During discussion about the transition, a commissioner raised concerns about reported hostility between the treasurer’s office and the auditor’s office and asked whether an outside audit should be conducted before or as the new treasurer takes office. Other commissioners and participants replied that the county conducts outside audits annually and that an external audit had recently been completed. One participant stated that “Stephanie would like an outside audit,” but no formal request for an investigative audit or referral was recorded in the transcript.

Gabby, a county staff member who spoke during the discussion, said she had offered to help Stephanie and described staffing concerns after what she said was the hiring of a new staff member; she indicated she had not been asked to remain. A speaker also referred to a claim that “85% of the office” was already filled by a new hire; that figure was stated during discussion and is recorded in the transcript as approximate.

The commissioners completed the motions by voice vote and adjourned the meeting. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote tally for either the retirement acceptance or the appointment.