Blue Earth City Council will pay more than $20,000 to end a case involving several complaints made against a city employee.
“We wanted to get it over with,” says Councilman John Huisman. “Because he is a union member, we couldn’t hire another full-time employee until we settled the case.”
In the agreement, David Childs will receive slightly more than $12,000 in vacation and sick leave time accrued while working at Blue Earth Wine & Spirits.
“He also asked for another $10,000 and we agreed if he would resign officially,” says Huisman.
The council took official action on the settlement agreement during their meeting held Monday and Childs also submitted a letter of resignation.
Both parties also agreed that results of an investigation conducted by the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department will not be made public.
Following a 15-minute closed-session on Jan. 30, council members placed Childs on paid administrative leave.
County authorities were hired in early February after city officials received several complaints. The allegations made against Childs were referred to being “simply an employment issue.”