Emerado Mayor and Auditor Dispute Leads to Mediation Board Formation

A complaint filed by Janelle Klava, the city auditor of Emerado, North Dakota, against Mayor Jake Lanes has prompted the establishment of a mediation board. This board will determine future communication protocols between the two officials following a heated exchange on September 30, 2023, during a special city council meeting focused on the city’s budget.

The Emerado City Council is set to review the mediation board’s recommendations on communication during a meeting scheduled for Monday. The board, which convened on December 1, consists of three members: one appointed by Klava, another selected by the City Council, and a third chosen collaboratively by the other two members.

While the precise details of the board’s recommendation remain undisclosed, Klava expressed concerns about its impartiality. After attending the board meeting, she described the recommendation as “very biased” and “one-sided.”

Lanes, when approached for comments, refrained from discussing the mediation process or the argument. Efforts to obtain a comment from Emerado Council President Joel Linneman were unsuccessful.

The initial argument between Klava and Lanes arose when Klava indicated her frustration over having to spend two days revising the city budget, which she believed should have been the responsibility of the council members. The complaint states that Lanes interpreted her remarks as an accusation about his job performance. This disagreement escalated until Klava attempted to exit her office. At that point, Lanes allegedly warned 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 the confrontation, Klava recorded another interaction with Lanes before the council meeting, during which she stated, “A mayor does not threaten somebody that works for them.” Lanes replied, “And an auditor doesn’t attack the mayor.” The next morning, he sent an email to Klava apologizing for his outburst, acknowledging her frustrations and expressing hope for a resolution.

Klava’s formal complaint was filed with the Emerado Police Department on October 6, 2023. If the City Council approves the mediation board’s recommendations, both Lanes and Klava will need to agree to the terms before they can be enacted. Klava has already indicated her reluctance to accept the recommendations, stating, “As far as my opinion on the recommendations, no, I will not be accepting those.”

This ongoing dispute highlights the challenges of governance and communication within small municipalities and raises questions about the dynamics of power between elected officials and appointed staff. The outcome of the mediation process remains to be seen as both parties prepare for the upcoming City Council meeting.