Madison County commissioners place employee on administrative leave, open third-party probe

Madison County Commissioners voted unanimously on July 2 to place an employee on administrative leave and to open a third‑party investigation following a closed‑session discussion of employee relations.

The emergency meeting, convened at 2:30 p.m. in the Administrative Office Building in Virginia City, was closed to the public for an employee‑relations matter. The minutes state that no decisions were made while the board was in closed session and that the meeting was reopened at 3:26 p.m.

After the meeting resumed, Commissioner William A. Todd moved “to place an employee on administrative leave and to initiate a third‑party investigation.” Commissioner Duke W. Gilman seconded the motion. The minutes record the vote in favor by Ronald E. Nye, Duke W. Gilman and William A. Todd; the motion passed. The county attorney, David Buchler, and Human Resources representative Jennifer Tezak are recorded in the minutes as having commented during the discussion; the record does not include direct quotations or further detail about their remarks.

The minutes do not identify the employee, give the reason for the administrative leave, nor name the third‑party investigator or firm. The record states explicitly that no decisions were made during the closed session; the formal personnel action was taken after the meeting was reopened.

Commissioner Todd then moved to adjourn; Commissioner Gilman seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 3:27 p.m. The minutes say the board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room of the Administrative Building in Virginia City.

County officials did not provide additional public details in the minutes about the subject of the investigation or the identity of the employee. The minutes were prepared by Sarah Carlson and attested by Clerk and Recorder Paula McKenzie.