December 1, 2023 |
Photo – Town of Medicine Bow sign – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Medicine Bow town council chose to rehire a former town employee to fill the vacant clerk treasurer position.
Former Medicine Bow clerk treasurer Karen Heath was selected to fill the same position again during a special town council meeting on Wednesday evening.
Medicine Bow has had a revolving door of town clerks since Lucy Schofield resigned as mayor in July. At the same time, Megan Eskew also resigned her position as the town’s clerk and treasurer. Deputy Clerk Joshua Smith briefly took Eskew’s place before resigning as well. During a July 14th special meeting, the Medicine Bow town council chose Madison Tirpak to replace Smith as deputy clerk. Tirpak’s tenure was short-lived, however, as during the August 14th town council meeting, Charity McCullough was chosen to act as deputy clerk.
McCullough held the position until early November, when Alice Miller was hired to replace her as deputy clerk. In the meantime, the town continued to seek a full-time clerk and treasurer.
At Wednesday evening’s special town council meeting, former clerk and treasurer Karen Heath was chosen to retake her position in town hall. Mayor Pro Tem Justin George said Mayor Bradley Buum, who was not present at Wednesday’s meeting, recommended hiring Heath again.
Councilman George asked for a motion to appoint Heath as the town’s clerk and treasurer. Councilwoman Kristy Wickizer made the motion and Councilwoman Sharon Kahl seconded. The motion passed and the council went into executive session.
Following the executive session, the council opened the floor to citizen participation. Medicine Bow resident Vicki Kelley said Heath was under consideration for the same position in June. Kelley said the town attorney at the time, Robert Piper, said not to hire Heath because of her previous role as treasure for the town.
Early this year, the Wyoming Department of Audit began a thorough investigation of the town’s finances. Several months later, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation became involved in the forensic audit. Councilwoman Kahl said DCI removed over a dozen boxes of financial reports from the town hall in June.
Kelley said Heath was acting as town treasurer during the time covered by the DCI investigation. The Medicine Bow resident asked if the town’s new attorney, Cameron Smith, has weighed in on Heath’s appointment. Councilman George said Attorney Smith informed him that Heath could be rehired as clerk treasurer because she isn’t accused of a crime. Councilman George said if working for the town earlier in the year prohibits serving now, then Councilwoman Kahl and Mayor Buum could not be on the council.
Councilwoman Wickizer said in June, Heath was nominated as an outside consultant to assist with town hall duties, not to serve as town treasurer.
Kelley asked how the DCI investigation was progressing. Councilman George said the town is waiting for the state agency to return the documents taken during the summer.
Karen Heath was chosen to be the new Medicine Bow town clerk and treasurer.
All audio for this story was used, with permission, from a recording made by Charity McCullough.
