Settlement with county calls for creation of annual award recognizing advocacy

The former supervisor of the Freeborn County Crime Victims Crisis Center won a $40,000 settlement last month with Freeborn County over claims she was wrongfully terminated in June 2011.

The settlement came after mediation in February between Rose Olmsted and her lawyers and Freeborn County officials in Minneapolis. The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners finalized the settlement at its March 18 meeting.

Both sides agreed to the terms of the mediation and will not appeal.

“While my separation from the county and its aftermath has been one of the most difficult and devastating experiences of my life, I am optimistic that some long-lasting good for this community has come from it,” Olmsted said in a news release. “I look forward to turning the page and continuing my work on behalf of crime and disaster victims and other under-represented populations in this community and region.”

Olmsted was a 38-year county employee when she became one of 11 county employees out of work during the 20-day state government shutdown in 2011. When the shutdown ended, she was the only worker the county didn’t rehire.

In addition to her supervisory position in the Crime Victims Crisis Center, she oversaw the Domestic Abuse Prevention Program and spearheaded the Freeborn County Crisis Response Team.

Olmsted claimed she was directly targeted for termination by Freeborn County Department of Human Services Director Brian Buhmann in retaliation for her past complaints against him and what she described as an “abusive and hostile” environment at DHS.

She also alleged that her gender and age motivated the decision.

The settlement states that in addition to providing the monetary compensation, the county will establish the Rose Olmsted Advocacy Award to be awarded annually to a Freeborn County resident, professional or volunteer whose advocacy exemplifies service to others.

The news release states the award recognizes Olmsted’s years of service and the advocacy she provided on a county, state and national level for victims of child abuse, sexual assault, crime and domestic violence and for those affected by natural or human-made disasters.

Olmsted and five others will form a committee to select the recipient of the award each year.

Her lawyer, Lawrence Schaefer of Schaefer Halleen LLC. in Minneapolis, said he has been inspired by Olmsted’s commitment to the people of southern Minnesota and noted that even through her litigation, she tried to use the experience as an impetus for change.

“I believe the award is a result of that commitment and will lend significant exposure to — and indeed be a stimulus for — the important work being done on behalf of the neediest citizens of the Freeborn County community,” Schaefer said.

Olmsted previously filed complaints with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about the termination. The complaints were dismissed.

Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said the county will pay for $25,000 of the settlement, while the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust will pay $15,000.

Of the money, Olmsted will receive $24,000, while her lawyers will receive $16,000, he said.

Kluever declined further comment.