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Ottawa County commissioners settle on five months’ pay and $75,000 offer for Jordan Epperson
Summary
In a Dec. 10 closed session, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners determined a consensus to offer Jordan Epperson five months’ pay plus $75,000 in a separation package to obtain a release of claims after an HR-related investigation and an unredacted resume disclosure.
Chairperson Joe Moss told commissioners during a closed session Dec. 10 that HR Legal Counsel had recommended a separation agreement to resolve claims brought by Jordan Epperson, and that counsel had cited comparable awards. "The severance recommendation that Mr. Wolf drafted was 6 months pay and health insurance, along with a payment of $150,000," Moss said as he presented the draft agreement.
Commissioners discussed details of Epperson’s allegations, including claims against HR and an employee named John Gibbs, and that two different job descriptions (one preferring a master’s degree and one requiring it) and the public release of Epperson’s unredacted resume were relevant to the dispute. Commissioner Doug Zylstra said he favored "2 months’ severance and immediate dismissal," while Commissioner Jacob Bonnema said he would prefer dismissal with no severance. Commissioner Rebekah Curran proposed a payout in the range of $50,000–$60,000.
Several commissioners offered alternative packages: Commissioner Roger Bergman proposed six months plus an additional year if Epperson remained unemployed after six months (a proposal described as potentially totaling about $80,000). Commissioners Miedema, Rhodea and Cosby expressed support for six months and payments around $100,000, while others favored smaller packages. After each commissioner stated their position and the board discussed timing for separation, the board determined a consensus to extend an offer of five months’ pay and $75,000 as the separation package.
No formal public vote on the separation amount is recorded in the minutes; the transcript notes that a motion to come out of closed session passed at 12:56 p.m. Justin F. Roebuck, Clerk/Register, and Chairperson Joe Moss signed the closed-session minutes. The county’s HR legal memo and any final separation agreement are not included in the record provided.
