Hubbard County sheriff will retire next month; deputy under investigation resigns

Hubbard County Sheriff Gary Mills has submitted a letter of resignation, indicating he will retire April 30.

Mills has been plagued with health problems this winter due to a defective hip socket he received in a surgery more than a year ago. The socket was removed earlier this winter after Mills contracted a staph infection, and he is scheduled to undergo a second hip surgery April 9 at the Mayo Clinic.

Mills has been sheriff 10 years. He sent the Hubbard County Board of Commissioners his letter of resignation, indicating "it may be several months before I will be able to return to even limited duty."

Mills indicated that it would "not be fair to my employees or my constituents" to remain out on leave indefinitely.

He urged the board to appoint Chief Deputy Frank Homer as his replacement, to fill out the remaining two years of his term.

The board took no action on the suggestion, indicating it wanted to explore all options available.