By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – A controversy involving conflict of interest charges against a Berrien County commissioner appears to be resolved after a report earlier this month from a retired judge. Meanwhile, long term County Administrator William Wolf announced he’s leaving that post next June.
The conflict of interest controversy goes back to a civil suit filed in July in Berrien County Trial Court when contractor Doug Hartzler sued Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin, Berrien County Commissioner Teri Freehling and the estate of Freehling’s late husband, Patrick, who died in a farm accident in May.
Hartzler also claimed that Teri Freehling should have recused herself from votes on drain work that benefited her husband. Freehling was appointed to the county board in 2015 and has been elected to two terms since then. She represents the Baroda area as well as Bridgman, Lake Township and part of Oronoko Township.
Berrien County Commissioners had asked retired Berrien County Trial Judge John Dewane in October to study the situation and report back his findings. That request came after Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic declined to prosecute Freehling on misdemeanor conflict of interest issues.
Berrien County Board Chairman McKinley Elliott presented a
summary of Dewane’s report at the Dec. 12 Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting. While Dewane didn’t find evidence of wrongdoing on Teri Freehling’s part, Elliott did take action to suspend Freehling from the Personnel and Human Services Committee for 60 days.
“It’s incumbent upon us to avoid anything that appears improper,” Elliott said. “Even if it may be legal, we want to hit a higher mark, an ethical mark.”
He said he took the action to emphasize the importance of following the board’s bylaws and to show that commissioners adhere to a higher, ethical standard. Freehling has acknowledged that she abstained from some votes but not others involving her late husband.
Elliott read a prepared statement at the meeting outlining Dewane’s work and conclusions. Elliott noted that Dewane consulted with Sepic and others about the matter. Elliott said the county board is working to amend board by-laws to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
As for Wolf, he has been the county administrator since 2005 and will be leaving that position June 12. He said he’s announcing his decision now to give the board time to find a new county administrator. Previously, he served eight years as the county treasurer and four years as the Benton Harbor mayor.
Wolf read a statement announcing his decision at the Dec. 19 meeting. He noted that the county board had extended his contract to the end of 2021 in February but that the situation had changed since then.
“At that time there existed an alignment of values and purpose between the Board and me as your Administrator that I can barely recognize today,” he stated. “… When a similar relationship between the County Board and their appointed County Administrator no longer exists, a change is necessary.”
“Berrien County is financially robust, innovative and has consistently provided high quality services to the public. I attribute this success to the competence, integrity and professionalism of our employees who daily execute their responsibilities within a management structure that encourages transparency, mutual respect and trust.”
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