Tensions flare at Reardan meeting

REARDAN — In a heated special session, Reardan Mayor Kathy Eastman clashed with council members over her decision to hire a full-time deputy clerk without prior approval, sparking accusations of budget overreach and lack of transparency just weeks into her term.

The Wednesday meeting at Community Hall, called to discuss the 2026 deputy clerk position and review attorney contracts, quickly devolved into personal barbs. Council member Leanne Merkel, recently fired as deputy clerk by Eastman, questioned the hiring of Juliet Richards at $19 an hour for 30 hours weekly, initially without benefits.

“I don’t believe you have the right to add a full-time position without going through council first. That’s a budget item,” Merkel said.

Eastman defended the move, citing flexibility in budget lines. “Our budget’s like Gumby. We can move it wherever we want, as long as we stay in the balance,” she said, referencing Merkel’s past comments.

Debate extended to the town’s attorney contract with David Bingaman, effective Jan. 6, 2026. Merkel pressed whether all contracts require council approval.

“No, that does not go through council,” Bingaman said, citing state law that attorneys serve at the mayor’s discretion.

Council member Dan Graham lamented a shift from collaborative decision-making. “All of a sudden, it wasn’t something happened. It’s like, well, here it is, this is the way it’s gonna be,” he said.

Public comments revealed community divisions. Resident Marian Foster urged council support for Eastman. “Kathy was elected by our town to be mayor. We expected the council to support Kathy,” she said.

Tommy Gilbert echoed the sentiment: “The people wanted Kathy, and I think the council should support her.”

But Suzanne Schulz criticized Eastman’s attorney choice. “I’m really disappointed that you hired the lawyer you did,” she said.

Whitney Poitra called for unity amid change. “The one thing that is going to hurt this is going to be people who do not want to see change,” she said.

Graham, responding as a citizen, highlighted past fiscal improvements. “Our town is fiscally very sound, more so than ever before,” he said.

Sammy Hughes accused Merkel of holding a grudge. “I feel like Leanne just has a grudge because you fired her,” Hughes said.

Eastman adjourned the meeting, noting the next on March 5.

Bingaman, introducing himself, emphasized his role: “I don’t have a dog in the fight other than the town of Reardan.”

The session underscored early tensions in Eastman’s administration, with residents pleading for cooperation in the small Lincoln County town.