Police department involved in City investigation
After KYMN filed 2 data request forms, the City responded with redacted information regarding disbursements to Everett and Vanderwiel totaling over $30,000. From that information it appears the City started using the investigative services of the company in November 2015. One of the early charges lists a Union identified as LELS, that stands for Law Enforcement Labor Services, the police union. It was a nearly 6 hour meeting in December that included reviewing information from complainants, identifying discrete allegations and work on a plan for investigation. It then says, send information requests to City and to LELS. On January 11th of this year, there is a charge for reviewing communications from complaints regarding additional concerns; conference with HR Director Michelle Mahowald and contact with LELS to arrange and confirm follow-up meetings.
A summary of allegations by the respondent was provided to a B. Fitzsimmons. He appears to be Brandon Fitzsimmons of Flaherty & Hood, the City’s retained law firm. According to his bio, Fitzsimmons is a senior attorney who concentrates much of his practice on responding to labor and employment related inquiries; conducting internal employment investigations. I spoke briefly with Police Chief Monte Nelson who said Interim Administrator CC Linstroth is the point person. He said, “so that we’re not violating any rules and we’re respecting employees rights”. Linstroth has not yet returned my phone call.
Faribault man’s rage puts him in jail
A Faribault man is in jail for threatening to kill his neighbor. On Sunday Rice County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call to the 4000 block of 230th st east where they found 57 year old Jay Kevin Quinnell screaming at the callers husband. Quinnell went off on tangents to the officers that were oftentimes incomprehensible, he also went from calm to screaming within moments. 
Quinnell threatened to slit his neighbors adams apple. Deputies had been called to the area 3 times by neighbors within a 12 hour span. Quinnell is charged with Threats of Violence with Intent to Terrorize, a felony carrying a maximum 5 year prison term and a misdemeanor 5th degree assault. He remains in jail on a $25,000 conditional bond. His court appearance is scheduled for May 9th. Quinnell has multiple convictions for dwi and drugs and was deemed inimical to public safety in 2008 in rice county and in 2013 in Dakota County. He also has a history of violence.
Special meeting will focus on E. Cannon River Trail
The Northfield City Council will hold a special meeting/work session tonight regarding the E. Cannon River trail. The Dundas City Council will also be in attendance. They chose to continue their meeting from last night to tonight at Northfield City Hall. City Administrator John McCarthy said there’s really 2 separate projects, the trail and a regional park. He said, “Northfield’s gone through a couple of Mayors, I think 3 city administrators plus an Interim plus 3 engineers since the project started and each of those folks are going to have some different ideas, some different priorities and there may have been some misunderstanding as we went through the process”. McCarthy says Northfield has proposed a cooperative agreement regarding Dundas’ financial share. There are also other issues not the least of which involves a State Statute that appears to demand the Planning Commission’s approval before Northfield can move forward and questions over wetland credits that were purchased. The meeting begins at 7 o’clock and is open to the public. Mayor Graham will be in studio tomorrow morning at 7:20 with a recap. Listen for tonight’s Beyond the Open Mic as Victor Summa and Don McGee discuss the trail. That’s just after the news at 6 o’clock.
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