County attorney, auditor fired

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County attorney, auditor fired

County News

Tuesday, 07 December 2010 17:17

JoThacker-newer

Thacker

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Wall

By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer
Osceola County Commissioners Monday abruptly fired County Attorney Jo O. Thacker and Commission Auditor Kathy Wall during the commission comments portion in its afternoon meeting.
Commissioner and newly elected Vice Chairman John Quiñones sought Thacker's termination when he spoke about the county cutting back through “grave economic challenges” and the possibility of privatizing legal services for the county.
“I think we owe it to the taxpayers to go out and look for potential savings and efficiencies,” he said. “Ultimately, what I am asking is we go out and seek the best and most price-conscious decision we can make for the county.”
Thacker's salary was $179, 942 and Wall's was $150, 054. Both women will receive severance packages in a lump sum equal to 12 months’ salary as well as any accrued and unpaid salary for the remaining year in addition to benefits earned, including annual leave, sick time, administrative leave, insurance and 401K, Larry Krause, public information officer for Osceola County, said.
In the interest of allowing Thacker and others the opportunity to create a bid proposal, Quiñones made the motion to remove Thacker as county attorney.
“It has nothing to do with Jo's performance,” Quiñones said at the meeting. “She does a phenomenal job and is someone who has given of herself for so many years.”
Quiñones did not initially get any support for Thacker's termination, however, when Commissioner Michael Harford made a motion to dismiss Wall, Quiñones asked for a “friendly amendment” to add the attorney to the motion.
Harford raised questions about Wall's department's production and reports on how county money is spent and if it's spent efficiently.
“We're not getting enough information from our auditor and we're not getting enough reportable information from our attorney,” he said. “There are eight people who sit up here and only five are elected. I think at the very least, we need to restructure this dais.”
Quiñones then seconded the motion, which ended in a 3-2 vote, with new Commissioner Frank Attkisson solidifying the move.
“It's about setting a tone for the county,” Attkisson said. “We're trying to test where we can get the best cost value.”
Commissioner Fred Hawkins, Jr. and newly elected Chairman Brandon Arrington were against both terminations from the beginning of the discussion.
Arrington said privatizing the county's legal services could bring fees as much as $200 phone calls.
“To me, a positive vote on this sends the wrong message to the world,” he said. “I wouldn't run a sock company this way.”
Hawkins was concerned about the large severance packages both Wall and Thacker will receive and if paying them these packages was going to save the county money.
“Are you willing to do that in this budget?” Hawkins asked before the vote was cast.
Both Thacker and Wall made comments before leaving the room prior to the meeting's adjournment.
Thacker, who said she does not plan to bid on the county position, said rumors were circulating in the office but she tried not to listen to them.
“There's always ways to cut the budget and cutting staff is a way to cut the budget,” Thacker, who had been with the county 13 years, said Tuesday. “I'm excited about what the future holds for me personally. I'm going to enjoy the Christmas holiday and then make my move.”
Wall, who had been commission auditor for 11 years, did not return calls seeking comment.
County commissioners appointed Scarlet Gibson as interim commission auditor and George Nickerson as interim county attorney.