LYNDEN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Lynden’s Public Works director is under fire over allegations of inappropriate conduct at his previous position.

Crosscut.com reports that at least three different women reported being sexually harassed by Jon Hutchings between 2020 and 2022 while he was working as the director of Whatcom County Public Works.

Hutchings resigned in October 2022 just as the county hired a third-party investigator to look into the claims.

One of the targets of harassment who spoke out said that Hutchings would frequently message her after hours about non-work-related personal matters. She claims that Hutchings treated her differently at work after a group meeting in which she told him to stop contacting her.

Hucthings left a note and a book on personal boundaries in the woman’s mailbox months after his resignation.

Her attorney sent a letter to the county last October, claiming that they had violated federal and state discrimination and retaliation laws.

The county settled with the woman for $225,000.

Hutchings was hired as Lynden’s Public Works director last May.