The Wapello County board upheld the decision to fire Rachel Dolley, citing incompetency and misconduct despite support from veterans and community members.
The commission chair, Rick Hindsley, mentioned that some big shots from the state were shocked by the state of her office. Apparently, important files were just tossed in boxes under her desk, which is a big no-no for privacy laws. Hindsley said they tried to help her improve, but it just didn’t work out.
There was a lot of noise at the meeting where they decided to fire her. Hindsley had to tell people to keep it down and not to ask questions. Some veterans, including John Fenner, argued that Dolley was in a tough spot and not getting the support she needed.
Her husband, David, chimed in too, saying she was overwhelmed with work and didn’t have enough help. He pointed out that she was the only paid employee handling a huge number of cases.
Others, like veteran Garrett Crosby, defended her, saying she was professional and really cared about helping veterans. They all feel like instead of firing her, the board should have found ways to support her better.
In the end, the supervisors don’t have much power over hiring or firing since that’s up to a separate commission. It’s a messy situation, and many are left wondering what’s next for Dolley and the veterans she served.
