A complaint filed by Janelle Klava, the city auditor of Emerado, North Dakota, against Mayor Jake Lanes has led to the establishment of a mediation board. This board has been tasked with recommending a communication strategy for the two parties moving forward. The Emerado City Council will review the board’s recommendations on December 4, 2023.
The mediation board convened on December 1, 2023, consisting of three members: one appointed by Klava, one by the City Council, and a third selected by the first two members. Although the specifics of the recommendation remain undisclosed, Klava expressed concerns regarding its impartiality. She described the proceedings as “very biased” and “one-sided.”
Mayor Lanes declined to comment on both the mediation meeting and the preceding argument when approached by the Grand Forks Herald. Attempts to reach Joel Linneman, the council president, for his perspective went unanswered.
The dispute that initiated this complaint took place on September 30, 2023, just prior to a special city council meeting focused on the budget. Klava reported to the Emerado Police Department that during a conversation in her office, she expressed frustration over having to revise the budget for two days, a task she believed should have been handled by the council members. This prompted an emotional response from Lanes, who suggested that Klava was implying he was neglecting his duties.
Their argument escalated until Klava attempted to leave her office. Allegedly, Lanes shouted after her, “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 this incident, Klava recorded a subsequent conversation with Lanes, where she stated, “A mayor does not threaten somebody that works for them.” Lanes retorted, “And an auditor doesn’t attack the mayor.”
The next day, Lanes sent Klava an email apologizing for his outburst. He acknowledged the situation and expressed a desire to resolve their differences promptly. Klava formally lodged her complaint on October 6, 2023, which has now culminated in the mediation process.
Should the City Council endorse the mediation board’s recommendations, both Lanes and Klava will need to agree to the terms before implementation can proceed. Klava has indicated her reluctance to accept the recommendations, stating, “As far as my opinion on the recommendations, no, I will not be accepting those.”
The outcome of this mediation process could significantly impact the working relationship between Emerado’s mayor and city auditor, as the council seeks to promote a more constructive environment for governance.
