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El Dorado Hills General Manager Being Paid To Do Nothing

EL DORADO HILLS (CBS13) -- Members of the board who hired the El Dorado Hills general manager have asked him to not work, and he says he has no idea why.

Taxpayer money is being used to pay for El Dorado Hills' general manager John Skeel to do nothing. We tried to find out why, but the board is not offering answers. What we did find out, is that paying for a GM isn't cheap.

"Since being put on leave, this is now a waste of money because being paid to do nothing is not serving anybody," said Skeel.

John Skeel just started as general manager of the El Dorado Hills Community Services District in January. Five weeks ago, the board told him they want him out the door.

"They told me I was on leave and they'd come up with a story as to why I was gone, and that's when I would hear from them," said Skeel.

With a salary of more than $126,000 taxpayer dollars, it means they've already paid him more than $10,000 to stay home.

Neda: So five weeks later and you still don't know why?

Skeel: No, and it's really difficult. Employees are asking, the community's asking me and I can't say anything.

CBS13 started asking questions, but we got no answers over the phone so we went directly to the board who refused to comment.

The interim general manager only gave us her attorney's phone number who said the leave of absence is a private personnel matter.

It's not just Skeel's salary that's costing taxpayers. Getting him out here took time and money. He was the board's pick after a five-month national search of over 70 applicants.

His recruitment, like his salary, cost a pretty penny. Board members flew to his place in Colorado and they flew Skeel and his wife into town and covered about $10,000 of his moving expenses. On top of his salary, Skeel also gets a $375 per month car allowance.

Skeel says he was hired to cut costs, but thinks some of his proposed cuts may have upset the board. In the end, it's his job that may be cut, with him and taxpayers losing out in the process.

"I would like to get back to work so I'm actually earning my money," said Skeel.

The board's attorney says they are working with Skeel's attorney to come up with some solution. In the meantime, tax dollars are still being spent while one of their highest-paid employees just waits.

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