City Reorganization

Tower City Council denies Abrahamson Deputy Mayor slot; Keeps Helmberger off TEDA
MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2019 — The Tower City Council and Mayor Orlyn Kringstad learned that there is a clear difference of opinion on the new make-up of the city council.

In reorganizing the city, at its regular Monday, January 28 meeting it was noted that Mayor Orlyn Kringstad will serve through 2022 and will be paid $300 a month in 2019 and Rachel Beldo and Steve Abrahamson will also serve as a City Councilor through 2022 and will be paid $200 a month throughout 2019. Brooke Anderson and Kevin Fitton are holdover councilors, in terms ending at the end of 2020, and are also paid $200 each month. Fitton has served the city as Deputy Mayor over the past year.

Tackling his list of appointments, Kringstad announced that he would like to appoint Abrahamson as the Deputy Mayor and Rachel Beldo moved to accept the nomination however there was only silence in the council chambers as the mayor called for support for the motion.

Anderson then nominated Fitton, to continue to serve as Deputy Mayor. Questioning if she could support that motion, following her motion to appoint Abrahamson, Beldo learned that she could indeed support such a motion and supported the motion to continue having Fitton fulfill the Deputy Mayor role. She emphasized that she had no preference, “between either gentlemen.”

The motion was successful receiving the approval of the council.

Another position where it was clear that differences of opinion exist between some city councilors and the mayor was in filling one of numerous open seats on the Tower Economic Development Association (TEDA).

The mayor recommended that Beldo join Anderson representing the city council on TEDA. He also recommended appointing Richard Hansen, as a city resident, and Marshall Helmberger as a business person, and Steve Wilson, as a resident.

“I can support most of these recommendations,” Fitton said. “But I cannot support appointing Marshall Helberger,” adding that he was “removed for cause.”

Anderson agreed saying that, perhaps, the city should not put anyone involved with media on city committees citing conflict of interest.

Defending his friend and confidant throughout his time involved in city politics, Kringstad argued on behalf of appointing Helmberger. Kringstad acknowledged that helm berger was interested in serving TEDA as a board member.

“There is no argument you could come up with that would make me vote yes,” Fitton emphasized.

Questioning the cause, for which Helmberger was removed, the mayor asked Fitton to elaborate.

Fitton responded reviewing the problems the last city council experienced with Helmberger. They included utilizing a private email address, violating data privacy law while conducting city business, contacting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency without authority from the city council in an effort to cause problems for the city, and a general attitude of insubordination how he was acting with the city council and it was determined that he was not acting in the city’s interests but his own interests. “I would suggest a different recommendation. I can support the list minus Mr. Helmberger,” Fitton said, as he moved to accept Beldo, Hansen and Wilson onto the TEDA board, leaving, for the present time, a vacant seat. The motion was quickly supported by Councilor Anderson and was approved unanimously.