Crystal Falls City Manager is suspended for 15 days and may be removed.
By Aaron Martin
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7:14 p.m.
Read more: Local, Politics, Community
CRYSTAL FALLS -- Last night's special meeting of the Crystal Falls City Council was short and to the point. City Manager Charles Nordeman is suspended with pay for 15 days and the city will not appoint an interim city manager right away.
Mayor Janet Hendrickson said the city is in heavy debt and feels some council decisions were made without proper financial disclosure from Nordeman.
"There isn't any bright spot in the future going in the direction of Mr. Nordeman,” said Hendrickson. “We feel that we have to search another avenue of leadership."
Nordeman has 15 days to ask for a public hearing. If he chooses not to, the council will then decide to either reinstate or replace him following the suspension.
The news came as a surprise to some residents, but was expected by others.
"I was surprised. I heard about it on TV and I didn't really understand why they were doing that,” said Myrna Dickman, a 30-year Crystal Falls resident. “But I think you know between him and the council they should be able to get together and work something out."
"I was not overly surprised,” said resident Lyman Echola, “because of the problems I've seen in local government at all levels."
Mayor Hendrickson said the city's financial problems made the move necessary.
"I have been hounded by many citizens,” she said. “I've been talked to by a number of employees wondering when the situation is going to reverse itself, and I think we just have to take this method of action."
TV6 made calls and left several messages for City Manager Nordeman today that were not returned.
