ashe

Ashe Post and Times

JEFFERSON �" The Ashe County Board of Commissioners has placed County Manager Sam Yearick on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately.

Commissioners voted 3-1 to place Yearick on leave, with Board Chair William Sands, Board Vice Chair Larry Rhodes and Commissioner Todd McNeill voting for and Commissioner Paula Perry voting against.

Sands said that the commissioners placed Yearick on leave because it was "time for a change and we need to move forward." Sands said that this was due to a "number of things that occurred over the last few years," but would not comment on specific incidents.

Yearick was not told the reason he has been placed on administrative leave, with Sands telling Yearick that the board didn't have to "explain anything," and that he "worked at the will of the commissioners."

Yearick has six months remaining on his contract.

Rhodes deferred any comment on the matter to Sands.

Commissioner Jeff Rose said that he had "no comment on the matter at this time." Rose was not in attendance at the meeting.

McNeill said that Yearick was scheduled for a performance review on May 21. McNeill said that commissioners had sent out a confidential survey to department heads within county government with some questions on the survey relating to the department heads' experience working with Yearick.

"It was in previous meetings and minutes (during executive session) that we had set this date to review his performance, an annual performance review," McNeill said. "Everyone was aware that that conversation was going to happen. There were surveys sent, confidential surveys were submitted to all department heads is my understanding and those reviews were comprehensive."

Yearick also asked the commissioners if he was under any sort of legal investigation as it relates to his being placed on leave.

McNeill said that was absolutely not the case, and that nobody has been accused or is under investigation for anything.

Upon learning he would be placed on administrative leave, Yearick did present various letters of recommendation and positive character references regarding his time as county manager.

These include letters from Tracy Taylor of Upper Mountain Research Station, Joseph Shimel, Park Superintendent at New River State Park and Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Laura Lambeth, chief executive officer of Ashe Memorial Hospital, Leonard Houck, president of Ashe County Fire and Rescue Association, George Santucci, president of the New River Conservancy, Jennifer Greene, Appalachian District Health Department Health Director and Jefferson Town Manager Cathy Howell.

After the conclusion of the commissioners meeting, Rhodes, Sands, Perry and Ashe County Sheriff Jim Hartley were waiting for Yearick in his office with moving boxes.

Sands said that Hartley, along with a deputy, were present just to be sure that everything went smoothly.

The county has not named an interim county manager at this time but will hold a meeting at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, with all county department heads.

The Ashe Post and Times will continue to update this story as new information becomes available.