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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) Former Valley City mayor Bob Werkhoven said the grievance investigation against him was biased and the questions from the mediation attorney were slanted against him as she ignored documents, evidence and testimony favorable to him.
Werkhoven said the grievance against him was politically motivated by city officials and city commissioners who actively campaigned against him during the 2014 mayoral election.
During an interview with KOVC’s Steve Urness, Werkhoven cited a document issued from Fargo attorney Benjamin Thomas that says the grievances should have been treated at complaints.
Werkhoven says had the city pursued this approach it would have saved the city a lot of money in attorney’s fees.
Center For Mediation Consultation attorney Patricia Monson of Fargo conducted an investigation that included interviews from several city employees, city commissioners, the mayor and the four people who filed the grievance against the mayor. They included Police Chief Fred Thompson, Valley City Administrator David Schelkoph, Valley City Attorney Russ Myhre and Police Lt. David Swenson. The four accused Werkhoven of creating a hostile work environment earlier this year.
Interim Valley City mayor Matt Pedersen says the investigation was conducted fairly and was an accurate account of what happened to these city employees.
Below is a written response by Werkhoven concerning the grievance investigation and a letter from attorney Benjamin Thomas to city auditor Avis Richter and the final grievance reported issued by attorney Patricia Monson.