Fired McHenry Co. planning director sues to get back job

Fired McHenry County planning director SuzAnne Ehardt is suing the county in hopes of winning back her job.

Ehardt, fired in June over claims she acted inappropriately in front of a citizens panel, claims in court documents that an arbitrator's ruling upholding her dismissal was unlawful.

"(The) decision is not in accordance with the laws of the county of McHenry, state of Illinois or United States of America," the suit states.

The litigation does not seek any monetary damages, but asks a court to overturn Ehardt's firing and order the county to reinstate her to her $100,000-a-year position.

County Administrator Peter Austin, who made the decision to dismiss Ehardt in June, declined to comment Wednesday, saying he had not had an opportunity to review the court filings.

Ehardt's dismissal came about a month after a reportedly contentious meeting of the Regional Planning Commission, a citizens panel helping to draft the county's 2030 comprehensive land-use plan.

According to some at the meetings, Ehardt bullied and verbally attacked some of the commission's members. Ehardt and members of the county's planning staff denied those claims.

In November, an arbitrator upheld Austin's decision, ruling that he acted appropriately and within his authority to remove Ehardt.

One day later, county officials announced the hiring of Dennis Sandquist, formerly Lake County's deputy director of planning, to fill Ehardt's position.

Ehardt had served as the county's planning director since 1998 and been a county employee for 29 years.

Her suit is scheduled for a May 12 court date before McHenry County Judge Maureen McIntyre.