Klaus resigns city council
|
|
July 11, 2013 |
By Julie Golder and Mike Weland
Bonners Ferry City Councilman Mike Klaus,
elected to office in 2009, formally tendered his
resignation at Tuesday's city council meeting.
"I hereby resign as a City councilman and Urban
Renewal Agency chairman for the City of Bonners
Ferry effective immediately," he wrote in the
letter presented the council. "I have encouraged
city leadership to make staffing changes that
are crucial to the success of the City for
nearly two years. I am resigning because City
leadership has refused to make those changes."
In an interview, Klaus said he was unable to
give additional comment due to confidentiality
laws, as most of the issues prompting his
decision were protected as executive session
matters involving personnel or legal issues.
"I have been hopeful that City leadership would
see the benefit of those proposed changes," the
letter continues, "however, inaction regarding
recent staffing issues has forced me to believe
that City leadership will continue (to) ignore
these problems."
In recent months, pressures against the city
have mounted, including a
$500,000 tort claim filed by a serving city
police officer claiming subjection to a hostile
work environment and allegations under
investigation by the Idaho Attorney General's
office regarding a test program offered the city
by the Bonneville Power Administration to test
three super-efficient hot water heaters, each
valued at $1,500.
Instead of going to needy city residents as
intended, it is alleged that none went to those
in need and only one was installed in the city.
According to the complaint, two of the units
were installed in the homes of city officials,
the third in the home of a local religious
leader living outside Bonners Ferry city limits.
All three units, it is claimed, were
subsequently removed.
"There's a lot more, and I have records and
documentation to back it up," the complainant
said. "It's surreal. You can't make this stuff
up."
If proven, he said, federal criminal charges are
likely.
In the days and weeks ahead, Newsbf.com will
closely monitor developments. |
|
Questions or comments about this
letter?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
