(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Plan Commission voted Wednesday afternoon to terminate Clint Knauer from his role as county planning director after county officials said the matter involved employee handbook standards tied to pending criminal charges.
The vote came during the commission's regular meeting at the Steuben County Community Center. Jim Slabaugh cast the lone vote against the termination.
During the public discussion, commissioners and attorneys largely referred to the matter by position and employment status. Knauer was not publicly named during the debate itself.
County attorney Donald Stuckey told commission members the action involved county handbook and employment standards -- not a criminal conviction or determination of guilt.
Knauer was arrested in April following an alleged confrontation at the Steuben County Community Center involving an upset customer. Knauer was booked on preliminary charges including battery, criminal confinement, and official misconduct.
The case remains pending, and Knauer has not been convicted. All individuals referenced are presumed innocent unless and until their guilt is established in a court of law
County commissioners had already removed Knauer from his building department leadership role earlier this week. Because Knauer also separately served as planning director under the Plan Commission, that board needed to take its own vote on Wednesday.
During the discussion, commission members also talked about formally separating the planning director and building department leadership positions moving forward rather than continuing the combined structure previously used by the county.