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Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said her office had settled with Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock, of Fenton. Hancock agreed to pay his own legal fees and promised never to try to hire family again, but won’t have to leave office.

“This is a civil matter,� Price Smith said in a statement. “My top priority is public safety, fighting violent crime and advocating for victims. I will not allow my office to be used to settle political scores.�

She also said the case, which alleged Hancock violated the Missouri Constitution when he tried to hire his stepdaughter as an aide, had fundamental problems. The county counselor, who acts as the council’s attorney, collected evidence against Hancock in this case, and would likely serve as “star witness� in his prosecution, which Price Smith called “extremely problematic.�

And Hancock, she said, does not pose a threat to public safety.

Hancock said Friday he was relieved.

“I feel a great sense of relief that this is now over and we can go on with doing the important business of government without having this hanging over my head,� he said.

A spokesman for County Executive Sam Page, who has feuded with the councilman and appointed the county counselor, suggested Friday afternoon that Page was dissatisfied with the outcome.

“Promising to never violate the Constitution again may be a political promise but it is not a legal remedy,� spokesman Doug Moore said in a text message.

This past summer, Hancock tried to hire his stepdaughter, Hollie Galati, as his legislative assistant with a salary of $51,888 per year and additional benefits, according to county documents.

In August, former prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell filed to remove Hancock from office, arguing he was in violation of nepotism laws outlined in the Missouri Constitution.

He dismissed that case, but filed a new one in late December. Bell also alleged, in a separate case, that County Clerk Diann Valenti tried to help Hancock cover up the hiring.

But Bell resigned on Jan. 2 to take his new seat representing Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.

And it was not immediately clear who would appoint the new prosecutor: Page said he would. At the same time, then-Gov. Mike Parson said he had the sole authority to pick a replacement for Bell, and sued the county.

A county judge and an appellate panel sided with Parson, and Price Smith was seated Jan. 3.

The day Price Smith took office, she dismissed the case against Valenti.

Friday, less than a month after Bell filed the second case against Hancock, Price Smith dismissed it, too.

Her office estimated it could take over a year to resolve, said it would require at least one prosecutor who would otherwise be working on criminal cases.

And taxpayers were going to foot Hancock’s legal bill, after the County Council passed legislation to do so.

Price Smith’s office estimated on Friday it could cost $100,000 by the time the case made it to trial.

She also said she anticipated problems with the prosecution.

Prosecutors may have violated rules about gathering evidence in the case, Price Smith’s spokesman, Chris King, said in Friday’s news release. For instance, county Counselor Dana Redwing called Hancock to question him about the hire and recorded the conversation. The counselor, the county’s top attorney, is supposed to represent the council and its members in legal matters, King said.

Redwing had also served as a “star witness� for prosecutors during the investigation, the release said. Recording the conversation and then serving as a witness created ethical and legal problems that could lead to the prosecution losing in a trial.

Late Friday, Page’s office sent a statement on behalf of Redwing. She said she was “deeply concerned� by Price Smith’s characterization of county efforts in the Hancock investigation.

“The suggestion that this was politically motivated rather than a legitimate constitutional concern is itself a political statement,� Redwing said in the statement.

“Any suggestion that the County Counselor’s office or County employees acted improperly in gathering evidence fundamentally mischaracterizes our role and obligations,� the statement continued.

Hancock declined to say how much he will pay for his attorney’s fees.