Barton County has approved a financial settlement agreement with two former employees at Central Kansas Community Corrections.
At Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a $25,000 settlement agreement with Amy Boxberger and a $10,000 settlement agreement with Tyler Lehmkuhl. These are in addition to the settlements Boxberger and Lehmkuhl received from the county’s insurance company, said County Counsel Patrick Hoffman.
Half of the county’s settlement – $17,500 – will come from the Courthouse General Account of the General Fund, Wages Line, 001-18-5000, and the other $17,500 will be paid from the Finance General Account of the General Fund, Miscellaneous Contractuals Line, 001-26- 5755.
Boxberger was CKCC director and Lehmkuhl was her assistant until last November, when County Administrator Matt Patzner confirmed they were “no longer employed with Barton County,” as of Nov. 17. Director of Juvenile Services Marissa Woodmansee served as interim director until Brooke Haulmark was named as the new director at the start of this year.
Hoffman presented details of the settlement at Tuesday’s meeting:
• “Last November, the county offered a severance payment to two former employees.” They declined and later presented a claim to the county’s insurance carrier. The insurance company and the former employees’ attorneys later agreed to a mediation conference and reached an agreement. The insurance company asked the county to contribute a portion of the settlement offer.
• “In approving this, the county does not admit any liability or wrongdoing and in fact the county does not believe that any laws were violated. However, in the best interest of preserving the county’s time, energy and resources, it is the recommendation of staff to approve the payments.”
Note: This story was updated on April 23 to correct the amount of the settlement with Lehmkuhl. The county's portion is $10,000.
The insurance agreement with Boxberger
According to the “Settlement Agreement and Release,” both Boxberger and Lehmkuhl were terminated from their positions on or around Nov. 21, 2023. The county expressly denies liability or wrongdoing with regard to their terminations but reached a settlement agreement in mediation.
• The county, along with its insurer, EMC Insurance Companies, will pay Boxberger a total of $113,000 in exchange for a full release and settlement of the claim.
- $56,500 was paid via payroll check, “representing alleged but disputed lost wages.”
- $56,500 was paid to Boxberger with another check, “representing alleged but disputed lost wages.” (Claimant has made certain allegations that her termination was unlawful, in violation of Title VII and her First Amendment rights.)
- Barton County is responsible for $25,000 of the above amounts. The remaining $88,000 is the responsibility of EMC Insurance Companies.
The insurance agreement with Lehmkuhl
• The county, along with EMC Insurance Companies, will pay Lehmkuhl a total of $57,000 in exchange for a full release and settlement of the claim.
- $28,500 was paid via payroll check, “representing alleged but disputed lost wages.”
- $28,500 was paid to Lehmkuhl with another check as a Form 1099-MISC “Other Income” payment.
- Barton County is responsible for $10,000 of the above amounts. The remaining $47,000 is the responsibility of EMC.
