County settles with former engineer

TIFTON — After almost a year of litigation, Tift County has settled the civil lawsuit filed in Tift Superior Court by former Tift County engineer Kurt Seigler against the county and former Tift County Manager Bill Park for improperly terminating his employment and violating the Open Meeting and Records Act.

“The county settled the lawsuit and he (Seigler) was awarded a substantial amount of money,” said John C. Spurlin who represented Seigler in the lawsuit. “It was a complete and total vindication for Kurt Seigler and his rights.”

Spurlin told The Gazette he had tried every way possible to resolve the issue before filing the lawsuit. “They forced us to file the lawsuit,” he said. “We begged them for a meeting, but we were denied.”

In the lawsuit, filed Nov. 2, 2006, Seigler stated that Park suspended him without pay on April 11, 2006, in violation of the board’s own personnel manual which was adopted April 13, 1998. The manual states that adverse actions such as suspension, demotion or dismissal against department heads must be done with the board’s approval. The lawsuit contended there was no vote in open session by the commission board to approve of Park’s action or to take any action against Seigler, that there was no vote to dismiss him, and that no vote was recorded in the official minutes to take any action against him.

The lawsuit contended there was no evidence or argument regarding disciplinary action presented to the board in open session as required by Georgia law.

“They heard everything against Seigler in closed session,” Spurlin said. “The board had to approve of Park’s decision, but they never took any action in open session. They clearly violated the Open Meeting Act.”

Spurlin said the commissions said in the depositions that Seigler was discussed in closed sessions and that they had not taken a vote on the issue. One commissioner swore they had reached a decision “by consensus” — but not by a vote.

Spurlin said that in a deposition, one of the commissioners “swore under oath that Bill Park had invited him to lunch and stated that he was going to terminate Seigler. And that meeting took place before any of the events that they gave as reasons for termination.”

Spurlin said of Seigler, “He had an unblemished record for 14 years with the county. He had no reprimands, criticisms or adverse employment actions until Bill Park arrived.”

“Kurt is ready to move on with his life,” Spurlin said. “He is ready to put this behind him.”

Seigler could not be reached for comment by presstime. He had told The Gazette last year when the lawsuit was filed, “I was hoping it would not come to this.”

“We are very happy with the outcome and feel it is a total vindication for Kurt Seigler,” Spurlin said.

To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.

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