OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- A controversial $109,000 severance for a former Ottawa County executive aide came in the aftermath of an employment complaint targeting his boss -- John Gibbs -- for treating him like a “personal servant.”

Ottawa County, through a Freedom of Information Act request, released an October 2023 complaint filed by executive aide Jordan Epperson that cited various allegations of wrongdoing by county staff.

Epperson ultimately was given the financial award following a Dec. 10, 2023 county board vote, but several commissioners now allege the vote was predicated on misinformation.

Epperson and former Ottawa County Interim Administrator Ben Wetmore both received severances on Dec. 10 , with Wetmore getting $175,000.

Both were hired when John Gibbs, fired in late February 2

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