Emerado Mayor and Auditor Face Mediation After Heated Dispute

A complaint filed by the city auditor of Emerado against the mayor has prompted the establishment of a mediation board to facilitate future communication between the two officials. The Emerado City Council is set to review the board’s recommendations regarding interactions between Mayor Jake Lanes and City Auditor/Clerk of Court Janelle Klava on December 4, 2023.

The mediation board convened on December 1, 2023, with three members appointed: one selected by Klava, one by the City Council, and a third chosen collaboratively by the first two members. While specific details of the recommendation have not yet been disclosed, Klava expressed concerns over its impartiality, stating that she found it to be “very biased” and “one-sided.”

Lanes refrained from commenting on the mediation process or the initial argument when approached by the Grand Forks Herald. Attempts to obtain a statement from Joel Linneman, President of the Emerado City Council, were unsuccessful.

The conflict began on September 30, 2023, prior to a special meeting addressing the city’s budget. According to Klava’s complaint filed with the Emerado Police Department, the disagreement started when Lanes approached her in her office. Klava indicated that she planned to inform council members of her frustration regarding the time spent revising the budget, suggesting it should have been the council’s responsibility.

In response, Lanes reportedly reacted with anger, interpreting Klava’s comments as a criticism of his performance. Klava clarified that her remarks were aimed solely at the council, not at Lanes. The argument escalated until Klava attempted to leave, at which point Lanes allegedly shouted, “And if you ever talk to me like that again, you just remember that I have your (expletive) job in the palm of my hand and I can fire you at any moment.”

Following the initial confrontation, Klava recorded another interaction with Lanes just before the council meeting. In the video, she stated, “A mayor does not threaten somebody that works for them,” to which Lanes replied, “And an auditor doesn’t attack the mayor.”

The day after their argument, Lanes sent an email to Klava apologizing for his outburst. He acknowledged his frustration and expressed a desire to resolve their differences constructively. “I do apologize for getting upset and for how I, as mayor, handled the situation,” he wrote. “I hope that we can resolve our differences in a timely manner as we move forward.”

Klava formally lodged her complaint against Lanes on October 6, 2023. Should the City Council approve the mediation board’s recommendations, both Lanes and Klava will need to agree to the proposed communication strategies before implementation. Klava has indicated that she does not intend to accept the recommendations presented by the mediation board.

This ongoing dispute highlights the challenges of effective governance within small municipalities, where personal conflicts can significantly impact professional relationships and operations.