Council Turfs City Manager

City council officially terminated city manager Ann Mitchell’s employment, with cause, Friday morning.

The move is effective immediately.

The unanimous vote came following a 45-minute closed session.

No specifics for the reasons for the firing were given outside of council finding she breached the city’s Respectful Workplace Policy.

Council had suspended Mitchell with pay a week following the public release of the municipal inspection report during a special council meeting. They had also launched an investigation at the same meeting.

During the Sept. 29 council meeting, councillors indicated they would be sending the embattled top city administrator a termination notice.

Mitchell’s tenure with the city began in early 2023 following council voting to hire her the previous December.

Her role with the city was shaky at the start before her battle with Mayor Linnsie Clark erupted in August 2023 during a council meeting, leading to Mitchell threatening to sue the mayor for defamation by the end of the year.

An investigation launched in the wake of a code of conduct complaint filed by Coun. Shila Sharps following that public dust up between the mayor and Mitchell in August led to an internal investigation.

That investigation led to sanctions against the mayor which were later overturned by the courts.

A subsequent municipal inspection review noted the dysfunction at city hall generally and the strained relationship between Clark and Mitchell.

The Owl will have more once information is available.