Two former Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation directors are speaking out for the first time, saying they resigned because of “continuous, unreasonable demands” and “constant waves of attacks” by a Grand Traverse County commissioner.

Jason Jones, who resigned effective September 5 after seven years, says he was "driven out" of his position. Jones states that he had ongoing negative interactions with Grand Traverse County Commissioner Christine Maxbauer. Tim Schreiner, who worked for the county for 25 years prior to Jones, says he resigned in 2008 “due to unprovoked, continuous unreasonable demands" of someone who still serves on the Grand Traverse County board. He declined to name the commissioner, citing concerns about reprisal.

The two shared the sentiments in separate interviews with The Ticker.

Maxbauer declined to comment. She sits on the county's board of commissioners and the parks and recreation board.

During his tenure, Jones describes operating in a "toxic" political environment created by commissioners who "overstepped their boundaries" and acted in a bullying manner toward other commissioners and county employees, particularly those who expressed differing viewpoints.



“After seven years, the negative environment built so much that I had to step away,” says Jones. “With a supportive board, I would have been happy to continue. But the constant pressure eventually wore on my physical and mental health...it impacted my relationships and my family.”

Jones, who says he had no history with depression or anxiety prior to his employment with the county, filed workers compensation and short-term disability claims prior to his resignation over “a significant battle” with both issues. The county's insurance company paid the disability claim.

Maxbauer publicly criticized Jones during and after his employment for performance issues, including failure to install safety equipment at Twin Lakes Park in a timely fashion and neglecting maintenance at Kids Kove playground at the Civic Center.

But Grand Traverse County Administrator Dave Benda tells The Ticker the county's facilities management department, not Jones, was responsible for installing the Twin Lakes equipment, and says the department has a certified playground inspector on staff expressly trained to evaluate properties such as Kids Kove.

Benda says the reprimand for Twin Lakes was likely “close to the last straw” for Jones.

Jones also came under commission scrutiny for authorizing an $11,500 contract with Kathy Coffin-Sheard to oversee the parks department's master swimming program, which violated county policy requiring commission approval for contracts over $10,000. Jones says he made a procedural mistake in renewing the contract, but contends the issue was blown out of proportion.

“I found out (later)...that the only other person that had the proper credentials [for the position] was Christine Maxbauer's husband, Greg Pash,” says Jones. “That part of the story was never shared by the media.”

Schreiner says when he left, he felt he "could no longer be productive for the citizens due to the demands of this one person. While I am currently enjoying my employment with the Department of Natural Resources, I am frustrated that I was not able to continue serving as a county employee.”

Jones moved to North Carolina, where he holds a parks and recreation position.



“I still had good credibility in the community and was working on some key projects (when I resigned),” Jones says. “I left because the elected officials diminished the potential Grand Traverse County has to provide the best parks and recreation opportunities...and created an environment that was unhealthy and demoralizing.”