COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon and Treasurer Tom Malzahn on Thursday released copies of checks and ledgers showing the names of three county employees who received settlements.

Both elected officials had previously released versions of the checks and ledgers in response to a records request from The Press, but the names of Scott Clark, Amber Schafer and Christina Anderson had been redacted, or blacked out. Malzahn and Brannon said civil attorneys in Prosecutor Barry McHugh's office had advised them not to release the names.

In a meeting of county officials on Wednesday, Brannon questioned whether he had to follow the advice of McHugh's attorneys. McHugh responded that, as an elected official, Brannon could release the information despite the attorney's advice.

Following the meeting, The Press asked Brannon and Malzahn to reconsider releasing the unredacted documents. On Thursday, both did.

"It is the appropriate thing to do," Brannon said.

Schafer, a 911 operations manager, received a $60,000 settlement on December 30. According to a tort claim she filed against the county, Schafer had been on paid leave from March 2012 to March 2013 - possibly up until the claim was settled.

Clark, the county's former community development director, received a $30,000 settlement and release payment from the county in January. Anderson, a former employee in the human resources department, was paid $12,000 on March 5.

The Board of Commissioners, Sheriff's Office and Prosecuting Attorney's Office denied The Press' records request for copies of the signed settlement agreements.