Months of tension at Northfield City Hall reached a head on Friday when City Administrator Al Roder said he's moving on.
Roder, who was hired in 2006, will become city administrator in Norfolk, Neb., a city of 25,000 people.
"I have endured a frivolous lawsuit, baseless allegations and innuendos of wrongdoing that have been proven false through independent investigations, and micromanagement at unprecedented levels," Roder wrote in a resignation letter sent Friday.
His relationship with Northfield Mayor Lee Lansing has been strained for more than a year, he wrote, adding that he has enjoyed working with the City Council.
In October, Lansing sued the city, Roder and three council members, alleging violations of public-records and open-meetings laws in discussions of Lansing family property. The suit was later dropped.
The City Council censured Lansing in December for ethics code violations reported by a city-hired investigator, which included attempts to influence Roder's actions involving a municipal liquor store that Lansing wanted to move to property in downtown Northfield owned by his son. And last summer, former Police Chief Gary Smith surprised Roder and other local leaders with a news conference at which police said hundreds of young people in Northfield could be on heroin or another dangerous drug. Smith took a sudden leave of absence two weeks later, but not before giving the Rice County attorney results of a preliminary criminal investigation believed to involve Roder.
The probe was ultimately forwarded to Goodhue County authorities, who have not disclosed details. "We were asked to take a look at the whole big picture" of Northfield city government, said Carol Lee, assistant Goodhue County attorney, who added that her office may finish its review of the investigation within a month.
"I think Al is a talented administrator, and I think he'll have a fine career," Lansing said on Friday. He declined to comment on the letter.
Roder's last day in Northfield will be Aug. 1. He said he'll start his new job no later than Aug. 18.
Sarah Lemagie • 952-882-9016
