Polk County employee sues supervisors over alleged hostile work environment
May 14, 2025
ADMINISTRATOR SARAH BOWES. SHE CLAIMS DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SARAH BOWES SAYS SHE’S BEEN SUBJECTED TO HARASSMENT, RETALIATION AND A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, SHE CLAIMS SHE WAS PASSED OVER FOR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN JANUARY. THE JOB CAME OPEN WHEN JOHN NORRIS WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. BOWES SAYS HER JOB DESCRIPTION SAYS SHE WOULD SERVE AS ACTING ADMINISTRATOR IN THE ADMINISTRATOR’S ABSENCE. FRANK MORASCO OF THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WAS NAMED AS INTERIM INSTEAD. THE LAWSUIT, FILED MAY 10TH, NAMES POLK COUNTY AND THREE OF ITS FIVE SUPERVISORS. THEY ARE CHAIRMAN MATT MCCOY AND JILL ALTRINGER AND MARK HULME, WHO ARE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF THE ELECTED OFFICE. SUPERVISORS ANGELA CONLEY AND TOM HOCKENSMITH ARE NOT NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT. KCCI REACHED OUT TO THE SUPERVISORS WHO ARE AND THE PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY. HOME RESPONDED, QUOTE, I WILL NOT BE COMMENTING ON THE LAWSUIT AT THIS TIME. AND THAT WAS A CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER. SUZANNE BENTLEY. KCCI ALSO GOT A RESPONSE FROM POLK COUNTY. IT SAYS IT DOES NOT COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION. QUOTE, EVEN WHERE THE SAME PERSON HAS FILED NINE SEPARATE LAWSUITS OR CLAIMS AGAINST THE COUNTY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE COUNTY DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS AND
Polk County employee sues supervisors over alleged hostile work environment
Polk County Deputy Administrator Sarah Boese has filed a lawsuit against three elected supervisors, claiming she has been subjected to harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment.Boese alleges she was passed over for the interim county administrator position in January, despite her job description stating she would serve as acting administrator in the administrator’s absence. Instead, Frank Marasco, a sheriff’s office director, was appointed as interim administrator after John Norris was placed on administrative leave.The lawsuit, filed on May 10, names Polk County and supervisors Matt McCoy, Jill Altringer, and Mark Holm, who are in their first year of office. Supervisors Angela Connolly and Tom Hockensmith are not named in the lawsuit. KCCI reached out to the named supervisors and the plaintiff’s attorney for comments. Mark Holm responded, “I will not be commenting on the lawsuit at this time.”Polk County also issued a statement, saying it does not comment on pending litigation, “even where the same person has filed nine separate lawsuits or claims against the County in the last few years.” The county denied the allegations and stated it intends to defend the matter in court.» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
Polk County Deputy Administrator Sarah Boese has filed a lawsuit against three elected supervisors, claiming she has been subjected to harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment.
Boese alleges she was passed over for the interim county administrator position in January, despite her job description stating she would serve as acting administrator in the administrator’s absence. Instead, Frank Marasco, a sheriff’s office director, was appointed as interim administrator after John Norris was placed on administrative leave.
The lawsuit, filed on May 10, names Polk County and supervisors Matt McCoy, Jill Altringer, and Mark Holm, who are in their first year of office. Supervisors Angela Connolly and Tom Hockensmith are not named in the lawsuit. KCCI reached out to the named supervisors and the plaintiff’s attorney for comments. Mark Holm responded, “I will not be commenting on the lawsuit at this time.”
Polk County also issued a statement, saying it does not comment on pending litigation, “even where the same person has filed nine separate lawsuits or claims against the County in the last few years.” The county denied the allegations and stated it intends to defend the matter in court.
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