Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, April 1, 2013
(SALEM) - Mike Goering, the manager of Washington County’s Solid Waste District has been suspended without pay pending “the outcome of the legal process going on right now.”
Marcia Walker of the Leader-Democrat reports that those are the words of Commissioner Dave Brown, who also serves as president of the solid waste board, which held a special meeting last week. Goering's annual salary is $65,427.
The decision was unanimous and came in the wake of Goering's arrest last Friday on five charges of alleged sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of alleged attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, all Class B felonies.
Goering remains incarcerated on a full cash only bond of $120,000. A bond reduction hearing is set to take place Tuesday, April 2, at 4 p.m. in Washington Circuit Court. A special prosecutor, Sonia J. Leerkamp, has taken the case over for the state.
Also during the special meeting, the district board appointed Charles Clark, an employee at the landfill, interim manager.
Tammy Elliott, controller for the solid waste district, said that Goering was planning to retire July 1 and landfill employees have been picking up additional duties in anticipation of that change. Clark will be interim for 120 days, during that period of time, he will have to become certified.
Goering became manager/director of the county's solid waste district in 1992 but his employment with the county extends to 1986, when he was hired as county highway engineer. Washington County later eliminated that position.
He served two terms as county commissioner for District 1, serving from January 2001 through December 2008. He lost his bid for a third term in the 2008 primary election. Goering also ran unsuccessfully for the Indiana Senate in 1994 and 1998.
Members of Washington County's board are Commissioner David Brown, president; Salem Mayor David Bower, vice-president; Mike Bowling, representing Pekin; Wally Terkhorn, representing Salem City Council; David Hoar, representing the Washington County Council and John Fultz and Phil Marshal, Washington County Commissioners.
The state requires all Indiana counties to form solid waste management districts, which are required to develop solid waste management plans.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.