BENTON COUNTY (KFSM) -- The Benton County Quorum Court voted Tuesday (April 12) to approve an ordinance that appropriates $80,000 in funds to hold the balance of the sheriff’s salary and benefits for the remainder of 2016.
Sheriff Kelley Cradduck submitted a letter of resignation to the Quorum Court Monday that listed several condition upon which he would resign if the Justices of the Peace approve the agreement.
The conditions include continued pay until an interim sheriff is appointed by the Quorum Court and takes the oath and within ten days of that time the county will issue Cradduck 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.
All those stipulations add up to about $80,000.
"My initial reaction is relief," Justice of the Peace Barry Moehring said. "It also allows the sheriff's office and the jail to get on with the business of law enforcement."
The Quorum Court approved the appropriation ordinance unanimously.
"What we did tonight is actually the best course of action," Moehring said.
Former Benton County Major Nate Atchison also spoke before the Justices of the Peace.
"I just wanted to remind them that it is not about the money, it is about the employees there that are serving the citizens of Benton County," he said.
Atchison added Cradduck's resignation would improve productivity at the sheriff's office.
"They have been working through a very stressful situation, and I think this being approved will do so much more for Benton County," he said.
The Quorum Court will meet Friday (April 15) to accept or reject Cradduck's resignation. If the Justices of the Peace accept it, they plan to hold a special meeting April 25 to appoint an interim sheriff.
"This is a fantastic ending to a horrible situation," Atchison said.
The meeting had residents in Benton County sounding off.
"That's quite a bit, for an exit plan, for somebody who has broken the law," said Mark Campbell, who lives in Bentonville. "It kind of just gives me a bad feeling."
According to the Benton County Clerk, the interim sheriff would serve until the end of 2016 and an elected sheriff would take over January 1, 2017.
Cradduck is facing a felony charge of tampering with public records and misdemeanor charge of tampering in Benton County. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 21.