Chief Judge James Biernat Jr. has appointed a temporary clerk in Macomb County after former clerk, Karen Spranger, was removed at the order of a different judge on Tuesday.
- Macomb County Clerk Karen Spranger removed from office
- Macomb County Deputy Clerk placed on administrative leave after Spranger removed
The judge appointed Kathy Brower, a long time county employee who has worked for Macomb County since September 1992.
On Wednesday, Deputy Clerk Jackie Ryan was also placed on administrative leave.
Brower started as a temporary file room clerk for the clerk's office in September 1992 and worked in numerous jobs for the county.
“I am honored that I’ve been chosen to assist the County with this transition. I hope that my temporary appointment will bring some stability to the great staff working at the Clerk’s Office," she said.
While the chief judge made the temporary appointment, all of the judges in the circuit court must meet to make an appointment to fill out the remainder of the term until the next general election.
According to court documents, Spranger was removed from office because she was not a resident of Macomb County which would make her ineligible to run for or hold the position of Macomb County.
Spranger's attorney has issued the following statement:
Ms. Spranger has not had an opportunity to review the opinion and order. Once received she will review her options on appeal.Spranger is also facing criminal investigations in connection to two separate incidents.
In the latest case, Spranger is accused of kicking a clerk Monday morning. The worker, a clerk in Spranger's office, reportedly says it happened after she was feeling harassed by Spranger and went to talk to her supervisor about it.
On the way out of the supervisor's office is when the clerk says Spranger tried to barge in by kicking her foot out to block the door and Spranger allegedly kicked her in the process.
The worker called 911, says Mark Deldin, Macomb County Chief Deputy Executive. "The last 15 months have not been good for the county in terms of having to deal with the newly elected clerk."
Sheriff deputies responded and began an investigation into the allegations of assault.
Spranger is also facing allegations that she improperly used taxpayer dollars.
She was accused of registering her deputy clerk's son to attend a conference in Washington D.C. using a county-issued credit card.
An investigation into the allegations is underway. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said it is a criminal offense and a felony.
Hackel confirmed a receipt that shows the costs of registration for three people at a D.C. conference earlier this month - all allegedly paid for by Spranger.
The case has been turned over to the sheriff's department with criminal charges possible.
"It was without a question something that's inappropriate," Hackel said. "That's fraudulent activity."
Spranger's attorney, however, says the accusations are untrue.
"The barrage of false accusations are a smokescreen to obscure the enormous wasted taxpayer funds," her attorney said.
