A Ray County resident is challenging the hiring of a county employee in court, alleging the position was filled without the approval of the full Ray County Commission.

Kurt Croix filed a petition for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the Ray County Commission, Presiding Commissioner Shelia Tracy, County Treasurer Melissa Holloway and the newly hired employee, challenging the authority used to make the hiring decision after county records showed no commission vote was taken. The employee is identified as John/ Jane Doe in the petition, which states her identity was unknown to Croix at the time of filing. The employee was later identified in commission records as Amy Finley.

According to the petition, Croix, a Ray County taxpayer, alleges Tracy acted without lawful authority when she hired the employee without approval from the full commission. He argues Missouri law requires county business to be conducted collectively by the commission and that no individual commissioner…