Former Lewis County Engineer and Public Works Director Tim Elsea speaks at a meeting in May 2016 about the process to add sidewalks along Borst Avenue in Centralia.
Two Public Works administrators in Lane County, Oregon, resigned in late December following an investigation into a “personal relationship” between the two.
Public Works Director Tim Elsea and Assistant Director Petra Schuetz remained on paid administrative leave until their resignations took effect Jan. 2, according to separation agreements they signed Dec. 21.
Elsea was hired to lead the Public Works department in August 2016 after six years as public works director in Lewis County.
Lane County hired an outside investigator after allegations against Elsea and Schuetz were raised in early December, Lane County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky told Public Works employees in an email.
“I became aware of an allegation of violations of policy on Dec. 5 and took immediate steps to determine the validity of the allegation,” Mokrohisky wrote. “While the investigation revealed no criminal conduct, there were violations of policy that were also inconsistent with our values and the expectations of our leaders.”
The separation agreements were released in response to a public records request. Michael Hudgins, a private investigator, interviewed Elsea, Schuetz and multiple witnesses this month.
“The investigation sustained that Tim Elsea, Lane County Public Works director and Petra Schuetz, assistant Lane County Public Works director, had engaged in a personal relationship in violation of the Lane County Public Works Fraternization & Nepotism policy,” Hudgins’ report to Lane County Counsel Stephen Dingle said.
The Public Works policy and procedure manual defines a personal relationship as “a relationship between individuals who have or have had a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.”
The manual adds that management and supervisory level employees “shall disclose any relationship related to subordinate employees who are relatives or with whom they have a personal relationship … and shall defer any and all procedural or policy decisions related to or affected by personal relationships or family status to more senior management.”
The policy applies to all staff but “is particularly true for relationships between superiors and subordinates within the same chain of command.”
Efforts to reach Elsea and Schuetz were unsuccessful.
Dan Hurley, head of the Lane County Waste Management Division, has been appointed interim Public Works director while the county searches for a new director and assistant director.
“Please know that my decision to accept their resignations was not easy, and was reached as a result of thorough evaluation of the facts, thoughtful consideration of the available options and a commitment to the long-term best interests of the department and organization,” Mokrohisky wrote to employees.
Schuetz joined the county as assistant public works director in June, after 12 years working for the city of Coburg, including five years as the Coburg city administrator.
The separation agreements say Elsea and Schuetz relinquish the right to hold the county liable for any damages. Both will be given neutral job references to prospective employers.
Elsea’s base salary was $134,430 this year. Schuetz’s annual salary was $105,955, but she only worked half a year.
Neither Elsea nor Schuetz will receive a severance or separation payment, according to the county.
