Citing increased risk, political bickering and even possible open-meeting law violations, the League of Minnesota Cities took the extraordinary step Wednesday of eliminating insurance coverage for the embattled city of Greenfield.
The unanimous decision came at a regularly scheduled meeting of the League Board of Trustees in St. Paul, but it followed months of acrimony and controversy in Greenfield.
A petition drive is underway asking Mayor Jill Krout to resign; the city is looking to hire its third city administrator in two years, and council meetings are as contentious as ever.
Videos of the rowdy meetings have been posted on the Internet, which has only served to inflame political passions on both sides.
Last month, during one such meeting, Krout fired interim city administrator Jim Willis, who had been recommended by the league as someone who might be able to help the city straighten out its political mess.
At the same meeting, Krout said that a fellow council member was "stalking" her and that Willis had "appeared to be dealing with me in a threatening manner."
Add to this allegations of possible open-meeting law violations by the three-member majority on the council, and league trustees said Wednesday that enough is enough.
"I think we have tried to help the city," said Willmar Mayor Les Heitke, chairman of the League's Board. "We've helped more than other cities, but they will do what they want to do. ... All insurance coverage of the city of Greenfield is now canceled."
