Commission moves ahead with Kuhl suspension

County Treasurer Mary Kuhl will no longer have access to the credit cards used within the Crook County Treasurer’s Office. The county commissioners moved on Monday morning to cancel the old cards and have new ones issued, with Acting Treasurer Tammy Jundt listed as the authorized user.

This decision was made following the arrest of Kuhl last week on charges related to her conduct while in office. Kuhl is accused of placing a customer’s license tabs on her own vehicle after claiming they were lost in the mail, adjusting the tax system to hide missing money and helping a personal friend avoid paying a registration fee.

Civil Action

On the civil side of things, the commissioners made the decision last week to send a verified complaint to the office of Governor Mark Gordon. The complaint asks for Kuhl to be removed from office.

That complaint has now been filed. It requests that Gordon direct the Attorney General “to commence and prosecute an action in the district court of Crook County asking for the removal of the Crook County Treasurer for being guilty of misconduct or malfeasance in office.”

Suspension

The commissioners also ask that Gordon issue an order suspending Kuhl from the further exercise of her duties until the termination of her trial. This will allow the board to appoint someone to temporarily fulfill Kuhl’s office.

The complaint is based on the charges filed with Circuit Court as well as, “Any misconduct or malfeasance in office discovered in previous criminal investigations and the ongoing federal investigation commencing in the spring of 2019.”

At this time, says County Attorney Joe Baron, no response has been received from the Governor’s Office.

Kuhl will appear in Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing on August 12.