Bourbon County commissioners approve settlement, hold multiple executive sessions for job interviews and legal consultation

Bourbon County commissioners met in regular session and spent much of the evening in a series of executive sessions to interview candidates for county positions and to consult with outside counsel, then approved a settlement with a former employee.

The body moved repeatedly into closed session under Kansas statutes that permit private discussion of personnel matters and attorney–client communications. "I move that we go into executive session per KSA 75‑43‑19(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of the individual…this is going to be an employment interview," said an unidentified commissioner who made several of the motions to close the meeting. Commissioners identified at least one candidate by name during the session roll calls (Sean Aylward) and later interviewed Nick Groser and additional applicants in 20‑minute interview blocks.

The commissioners also invoked KSA 75‑43‑19(b)(2) to consult with counsel by phone; the record names counsel as Jacob Billenberg and Bob Johnson. Speaker 5 moved the legal consultation into executive session and set a 7:00 p.m. return time. After that closed discussion the commission returned to open session and gave direction to staff: "I move that we allow Commissioner Birbauer to reach out to HR, and execute what we decided," the same unidentified commissioner said, and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

In open session the commission voted to approve and sign a release of claims and settlement agreement with Susan Walker. "I move that we approve and sign the release of claims and settlement agreement between the county and Susan Walker," the commissioner stated before the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The chair circulated the signed agreement for commissioner signatures and directed that the provisions be carried out as written.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn and a plan to reconvene for a work session on strategic planning after a short recess. No further details about the financial terms of the settlement or the specific personnel actions resulting from the interviews were stated on the public record during the session.

What happens next: the commission directed follow‑up to human resources and prepared to begin a work session on strategic planning after the regular meeting adjourned.