FJBC undergoes investigation
Karen Peterson
Chairman Ray Swenson
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ST. IGNATIUS – The Flathead Joint Board of Control voted to suspend the employment of their executive manager during a special meeting on Friday, May 5.
Chairman Ray Swenson said he was restricted as far as what he could say about the issue while investigative procedures are underway. During a quick 20-minute meeting, the board voted to put Johanna Clark on leave without pay or benefits.
The issue started in April with what was called an investigation into procedures at the request of several board members after it was noticed that Clark’s contract was changed without board approval. Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Jane Schweitzer was hired to do an investigation into the last three years, from 2014 to 2016, concerning operations, procedures and internal accounting of the FJBC.
While an investigation is underway, the documents from the preliminary investigation are closed to the public, so the exact details of the issue are not yet released, but Swenson said they would be open as soon as the investigation is finished.
During past meetings, many board members expressed appreciation for Clark’s work. The board’s tone changed during the special meeting. Swenson said the preliminary work is finished on the investigation and the board was notified about the results. “It raised some questions in procedures and irregularities, and we are restricted on what we can say,” Swenson said.
Lake County Attorney Steve Eshenbacher agreed to continue the investigation at no charge to the FJBC to look into board procedures for the past three years, and the board passed a motion to turn the investigation over to the county.
FJBC attorney Bruce Fredrickson said the investigation raised questions that the board doesn’t have answers to without going through a forensic audit or an attorney investigation. He added that the county attorney will be able to dig deeper into the investigation.
Commissioner Paul Guenzler voted not to put Clark on leave without pay as a protest to an earlier vote. He said that he felt she was rehired illegally during the April regular board meeting. In April, the board discussed a resignation letter Clark sent to the board. She stated during the April meeting that she submitted her resignation due to lack of accountability on the board, but the board asked her to stay and voted 6 to 5 to continue her position, and she agreed. Several board members, including Guenzler, said they felt the position should be advertised because Clark resigned.
A few irrigators in the audience asked questions during the meeting, and Swenson tried to answer them as well as he could without violating the investigation. They wanted to know which county attorney was doing the investigation. Swenson assured them that Eshenbacher would handle the work. It was also asked how the executive manager’s position would be filled. Swenson said board members are stepping in to help with things like taking meeting minutes until the position can be temporarily filled.
Arlee irrigator Merrill Bradshaw said he wasn’t surprised by events during the meeting and he supports an investigation. Other irrigators said they hoped the investigation goes quickly so they have more answers about the issue.
