No-confidence vote sought for Coulee City mayor
File photo: Coulee City Mayor Rick Heiberg stands in council chambers during Wednesday’s council meeting.
COULEE CITY — Coulee City Mayor Rick Heiberg was the target of an attempted vote of no-confidence during Wednesday’s town council meeting.
The effort to discredit Heiberg was apparently led by former councilmember Jennifer Schwartz.
Schwartz served on the council eight years, but lost last year’s election.
Heiberg took office as mayor in January.
Schwartz wrote to the council on June 22, stating her concerns about Heiberg. Some of the accusations were part of a printed motion of no-confidence given to some people at meeting.
Her issues included accusations about the “terrible shape” of the town park, a business remodel allegedly underway without a permit and the gifting of public services by reportedly allowing nonresidents to dump tires and appliances during the town clean-up day.
Heiberg was also accused of using town employees to clear debris from his private property.
On Thursday, Heiberg denied the accusations.
“There is no truth in any of the allegations,” he said. “There is a grain of truth in each one, but overall, no facts to substantiate any of it.”
Her letter comes after the city clerk was fired by Heiberg this week, which apparently resulted in the resignation of the clerk’s assistant.
The town’s former marshal, Nathan Poplawski, told the council of his intent to sue for wrongful termination/breach of contract at the same meeting.
He worked for the city from February 2008 to March 1.
Heiberg later told the Columbia Basin Herald Poplawski was let go upon legal advice because he didn’t pass a test at the law enforcement academy.
Heiberg declined to comment why the town clerk was terminated, citing the advice of the town’s attorney.
At the meeting, Carmen Hammond said she supported the mayor and called him and his wife friends for life.
“They’re here to help us,” she said.
Joyce Kannenberg said she was there in support of the mayor and added they had been friends for quite a few years.
Sherrie Hughes said she supported the mayor.
Harold Evans said it’s time Coulee City got what it deserved.
Councilmember Scott Roberts requested the vote of no confidence be placed on the agenda.
Town attorney Katherine Kenison told council a vote of no confidence would have no legal effect, but that any citizen could pursue a petition to recall the mayor.
A recall is governed by state statute, she explained. It’s not the business of the town to be looking into a recall.
No one publicly announced their plans Wednesday to pursue a recall.
On Thursday, Heiberg addressed the accusation regarding town employees performing work on his property in an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald.
On May 3, a large tree was knocked over by a large wind storm. The tree fell down on property owned by him and his wife.
The tree was blocking Locust Street and it wasn’t possible to cross First Street. Part of the tree was hung up in telephone wires, which put great stress on two poles supporting cables.
He told a town crew early that morning to drive around and look for problems created by the wind storm.
The crew saw the tree down on his property and starting cutting parts laying in the road and hanging in the wires.
He also addressed accusations about gifting of public funds in the interview. During town clean up day, Consolidated Disposal provided Dumpsters for free, he said.
Work was done by volunteers, he said. Two public works employees helped, but it was part of their work week and they did not take any appliances or metal objects, he added. City resources were used to help citizens to help dispose of their trash.
Heiberg assured the public town business is getting done.
A police officer was working during Wednesday’s council meeting.
Coulee City was only without a clerk for five hours, as the former town clerk was hired.
Now Heiberg is looking for an assistant to help the new clerk.
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