SOUTH BEND, IN (WSBT) — St. Joseph County Council President Dan Schaetzle claims former county council attorneys were awarded “improper” retirement benefits for unworked hours.

The Indiana Public Retirement System is now investigating potentially improper retirement benefits awarded to St. Joseph County council attorneys.

The effort is being led by the county council president.

“As early as January 2024, I began to be concerned with the possible misappropriation of taxpayer dollars that helped fund a state retirement account in the Public Employment Retirement Fund for the county council’s attorney,” said Dan Schaetzle (R), St. Joseph County Council President.

Schaetzle says he sent a packet to the Indiana Public Retirement System to investigate the Public Employee Retirement Fund, or PERF.

Based on a 1982 law, all St. Joseph County employees are required to work 1,000 hours in a year to receive public retirement benefits.

Schaetzle claims former council attorneys failed to reach that requirement but still received those benefits.

Schaetzle also assures the current county council attorney has not been offered these benefits due to eligibility.

“We believe this situation requires professional examination to ensure all applicable rules and regulations were properly followed,” said Schaetzle.

One of those former attorneys, Jamie O’Brien, says this is just a political stunt by Schaetzle.

In a written statement O’Brien said, “This is a political stunt cooked up by Dan Schaetzle to try and save his sinking re-election campaign. Due to Schaetzle’s controversial status in the Republican party. He expects to lose against me when I run against him next year. I have a reputation of honesty, both in my prior work on the council and in the community. Schaetzle, using his elected position to smear me personally, politically, and professionally with some kind of trumped-up investigation, should be a red flag to voters. Schaetzle knows I did nothing wrong. Even the county auditor confirmed that I received the same benefits as the previous county council attorneys before me. The fact that Schaetzle is pursuing an investigation anyway shows how desperate he is to win using any means necessary. I have included an email backing up my claim by County Auditor John Murphy. ”

Schaetzle made it clear that this is not politically motivated.

“This goes back all the way to June of 1982. If we’re going to be transparent about how we spend taxpayers’ money, then let’s be transparent,” said Schaetzle.

Republican St. Joseph County Council Member Randall Figg said this retirement benefits were investigated in the past and found no wrongdoing.

“So, this is just a political ploy, Nick, because Mr. O’Brien is running for Mr. Schaetzle’s seat. So, he’s using county time, county funds to go after a political rival,” said Figg.

Schaetzle reassures county residents that “transparency in local government is not just important, but essential.”