Tarrant Regional Water District not facing charges as grand jury investigation ends
A grand jury investigation into the Tarrant Regional Water District’s settlement with former general manager Jim Oliver has ended with no charges filed, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
The board approved a $161,647 settlement with Oliver in September 2021 to resolve a dispute over a $300,000 payment that the board had revoked in June 2021. Outgoing board president Jack Stevens had unilaterally awarded Oliver 2,000 hours of paid time off in March 2021.
The settlement came after board president Leah King flagged the $300,000 payment to Oliver as improper and potentially illegal.
Oliver agreed to drop a threatened age discrimination lawsuit and any claims to the $300,000 payment in exchange for six months’ salary and remaining earned paid time off.
In an Oct. 5, 2021, letter obtained by the Star-Telegram, Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson notified the board that her office received a complaint about the proposed settlement and the board’s actions.
Wilson’s office asked the board in the letter to preserve recordings of closed meetings, including attorney consultations about “personnel matters,” documents and recordings relating to actions the board took with regards to its paid leave policy, and “any communications or other evidence made in furtherance of a felony.”
A spokesperson for the Tarrant Regional Water District could not be reached for comment after regular business hours.
This story contains information from the Star-Telegram archives.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 5:18 PM.