“(Society) staff believe their jobs and personal safety are being threatened,” Hanson wrote to the county. “As a result, we cannot feel comfortable with the county’s proposed contract in which zoo leadership will have ‘ultimate authority’ over the (society) and its employees and actions.”

Hanson also speculated that the allegations may have led to the breakdown in negotiations with the county.

“The county appears to be choosing to end a successful long-term partnership rather than protecting the rights, safety and dignity of (the society’s) employees and addressing problematic behavior of county staff,” Hanson wrote. “That is truly unfortunate.”

$6 million

Society staff and board members said they want to continue negotiations to reach agreement on a new contract. Wescott said that won’t happen.

The county argues the society has stashed away too much money — in excess of $6 million, much of it in endowment and reserve funds — instead of investing it in the zoo, and that the zoo director needs to have supervising authority over all operations to maintain the zoo’s accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The society said it has done nothing improper with its funding and is ensuring its financial stability. The society also said the zoo director does not need ultimate authority over all non-animal aspects of zoo operations to maintain AZA accreditation.

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