Change of minds in Deerwood
Two council members back off from resigning
The city of Deerwood will have a city council after all.
Deerwood City Clerk Mary Kadlec said Thursday that council member David Law, who resigned from the council following a contentious council meeting Tuesday in which the council was accused of micromanaging city departments, rescinded his resignation.
Another council member who had indicated he would submit his resignation Thursday, Roger Christensen, has decided not to do so, Kadlec said.
"They've decided to stick it out and see if they can resolve this issue," Kadlec said.
Mayor Brian Wasserzieher, however, has not withdrawn his resignation.
A special meeting called for Monday to consider Law's and Wasserzieher's resignations has been canceled, Kadlec said. Instead, the council will consider Wasserzieher's resignation at its regular council meeting on Oct. 2.
The accusations of micromanagement stemmed from council directives given to the Deerwood Police Department and Chief Harry Gottsch on July 17. In the directive, the council gave detailed direction on work shifts, paid and unpaid breaks, weekend and holiday hours and work logs.
About 30 people attended Tuesday's city council meeting to support the police department and Gottsch and to protest the council's directives.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.