BENTON COUNTY (KFSM) — Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck submitted a letter of resignation to the Benton County Quorum Court Monday (April 11).
According to a letter from Keith, Miller, Butler, Schneider & Pawlik, Cradduck’s resignation will be effective immediately on acceptance by the Quorum Court.
The letter states Cradduck will resign if the Quorum Court accepts several conditions that include continued pay until his successor is appointed by the Quorum Court and takes the oath and within ten days of that time the county will issue him a single lump sum check that includes the remainder of his pay through the end of 2016, the retirement contribution the county would have made on the remainder of his pay through the end of 2016 and the contribution amount the county would have made to his health insurance through the end of 2016.
According to the letter, if Cradduck’s resignation was accepted on April 11 and his successor was appointed immediately, the lump sum figure would be about $79,600. The lump some would drop by about $300 per day, the letter states.
As an additional condition, Cradduck would agree that between the time the Quorum Court accepts his resignation and the time that his successor is appointed, he will take no actions as sheriff and the chief deputy will manage the office and exercise all the authority of the sheriff.
To read the full letter, click here.
The resolution declaring a vacancy in the sheriff’s office will not appear on Tuesday’s (April 12) special Quorum Court agenda as it will have to be published prior to it being consider by the Quorum Court, which means the Justices of the Peace will not accept or reject Cradduck’s letter of resignation, but they will discuss it. The Quorum Court agenda also includes considering an ordinance to appropriate $80,000 in funds to hold the balance of the sheriff’s salary and benefits for the remainder of 2016. The appropriation ordinance will require 10 votes in order to pass on one reading.
According to the Benton County Clerk, if the Quorum Court accepts Cradduck’s resignation the search for his interim will begin immediately, but its not clear how long that process would take. The interim sheriff would serve until the end of 2016 and an elected sheriff would take over January 1, 2017.
