Benton County Makes Settlement Agreement with former Deputy

In a "Settlement Agreement and General Release" obtained from the county, forms signed by the Benton County Supervisors address claims for the following:

Failure to hire

Unequal Pay

Denied Benefits

Harassment

Retaliatory Harassment.

A settlement was made by Heartland Insurance Risk Pool on behalf of the county in the amount of $250,000. Along with the payment the female employee "voluntarily" to resign, and cannote ever work for Benton County again.

Video released by the county shows the hallway of the service center where Benton County Supervisor Tracy Seeman greets the County Attorney, and then engages in conversation with a female deputy. As the conversation ends, and the two turn to go their ways, Seeman reaches out and pats the deputy on the behind.

Immediately following the interaction the expression on the face of the deputy was clear that this was unacceptable to her.

The agreement also states that the county denies that they "violated (the deputies) rights or took any other unlawful action against her." The county also does not admit that they infringed on any legal rights of the deputy upon entering in the agreement.

The deputy also agrees not to pursue any other legal action against the county.

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MA October 25, 2023, 1:21 pm I cannot believe this person had to sign an agreement stating that she had to resign and could no longer work for Benton County. The officer did absolutely nothing wrong here. I would say I would not blame her for not wanting to work for a county who apparently does not hold their employees accountable when they act inappropriately, however, that should be her choice. Not a forced one. How has this not publicly surfaced until now?

Between this, the Board of Health debacle where they are firing boards with no public hearings, holding closed door sessions to discuss "working situations" of people who are paid by the board of health, and of course the nepotism hiring and glossing over of HR protocol, the entire B.O.S. needs to step down immediately.

KB October 25, 2023, 12:23 pm Where is County Supervisor Tracy Seeman's resignation from his position for violating a woman's personal boundaries by being so unethically INAPPROPRIATE?? He probably should "voluntarily" resign and not be allowed to represent Benton Co.EVER! Unbelievable that we allow our country representatives to be such an embarrassment. It is unfortunate that I am ashamed to say I live in this city and this county.

KE October 25, 2023, 2:25 pm what else can you expect in a republican county, who supported a p**** grabbing person for president

TB October 25, 2023, 2:28 pm I am very upset to see that Seeman is still employed by Benton County. This is embarrassing. Shame on him for what he did.

KG October 25, 2023, 10:51 pm The deputy..the deputy..the deputy. What about the hand that touched the deputy! This is a disgrace to all women! Action should be taken against the person that is in violation of inappropriate actions against a woman! What the heck is happening in Benton County! I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE PUNISHMENT IS FOR THE BOS MEMBER THAT PERFORMED THIS ACTION.

BF October 26, 2023, 9:14 am This is just leftover stank from the Thompson regime. It's been going on for years. What's worse, I'm sure we don't know the half of it. Heads are gonna roll! Stay tuned...

These clowns work for, and represent YOU!
Is this what y'all voted for?

MP October 26, 2023, 11:39 am How about a story and timeline summarizing all the settlements and problems that the County and this BOS has been a part of in the past few years? Off the top of my head, there were issues around nepotism, Veterans preference, who got hired in the Co Attorney's Office, and may well be others that I'm not recalling. A reminder as to which ones included financial settlements as part of the resolution to these issues would be helpful and good journalism.

Regardless, the people of Benton County are paying the price for for these issues; either directly financially through settlements, current or future increases in cost of insurance risk pool coverage, in terms of the reputation of the County to be a fair and safe place to work or a combination of any or all of the above.

Editor's note: I am working on that very topic right now! Thanks!

CC October 26, 2023, 4:45 pm Benton County just showed every female resident that any man can touch her inappropriately without consequences, and her tax dollars will even pay that man's salary. Tracy Seeman has not resigned in disgrace, and that shows me just how above the law he believes he is. This county has been a good ol' boys club for far too long. I really encourage women in the county to start running for office. If the county won't protect us, we need to protect ourselves, which means taking power through elected office. Enough is enough.

JG October 26, 2023, 7:14 pm The tax payers of Benton County do not have a clue of how bad their taxpayer dollars are being wasted, Get involved show up for the supervisor meetings and start holding them accountable. Rick Primmer and Gary Biershank should have had Tracy Seeman put on administrative leave as soon as allegations were made but they did not, it appears that they tried to hide it and cover it up. Now they should have Tracy Seeman removed from his position immediately. If they do not do their job remember that at election time and remember elections are not a popularity contest. Vote for the qualified person.
No matter what Tracy Seeman, Rick Primmer, and Gary Biershank should not be reelected.

JG October 26, 2023, 7:29 pm In response to KE. Everyone needs to realize that political party has nothing to do with their ability to do with county jobs. Voters need to get involved and vote for people that are actually qualified to do the job. Don’t use the elections as a popularity contest. All of the employees of Benton County need to be held accountable, if they are not doing their job get rid of them.

JF October 26, 2023, 9:52 pm Feel free to contact those of us women who have gone to the trouble to try to help this county and run for office if you want to hear about the reality of being a woman who tries to run for office in Benton county. There has been one female Supervisor in the history of this county and when I interviewed her in 2016, she was in her 90s and stated that she was still treated like s*** to that time since she’d been supervisor in the 70s.

KJ October 28, 2023, 10:47 am Don't forget what the BOS did to Red Shed Auto! The stink from this board is getting worse!

Editor's Note: That would have been different members of the Board of Supervisors

TB November 27, 2023, 8:54 pm I believe the way the offense to the deputy was handled VERY WRONG, had anyone else done that, they would have had the book thrown at them & immediately released from their job!
She has been BLACK BALLED and can NEVER work in Benton County again, why wasn't he fired & the same action taken, so he could NEVER work in Benton County HE'S THE ONE WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME NOT HER!
Shows how shady & bad our Sheriff's Dept really is, but I already knew this due to a situation that took place just a few yrs ago. 😡🤬

News : Benton County Makes Settlement Agreement with former Deputy

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