At the beginning of our City Council meeting today, Mayor Briscoe made the following public statement concerning the forensic audit about to commence:
“The City Treasurer is not the target of the forensic audit and any statements to the contrary by current or past City officials or staff is unauthorized and unsanctioned by the City of Sun Valley.”
We have a series of special City Council meetings scheduled this month in our effort to initiate the forensic audit, search for a new City Administrator, review the Lane Ranch North applications and, of course, conduct our normal monthly business. Here is the current schedule:
April 9, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 11:00 a.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Forensic Audit
April 10, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 1:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Lane Ranch North / City Administrator Search
April 16, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 5:30 p.m. – Ketchum City Hall, Ketchum - SV Marketing Alliance Quarterly Report
April 18, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 11:00 a.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Forensic Audit
April 19, 2012 – City Council Regular Meeting – 1:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley
April 23, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 4:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Continuation of 4/19/12 Meeting
The first thunderstorm of the year happened late this afternoon in Sun Valley. After a beautiful day, a big twist and bend in the weather created an intense thunderstorm that passed over the town. Shortly after the storm cleared, the sun came out again and I captured this photo of the hill above the Sunrise subdivision in Elkhorn.
The millstones of justice grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine.
- John Bannister Gibson, 1780-1853, American jurist
Here’s a photo I took earlier this winter. It’s one of my favorite views: Sun Peak and the Red Barn.
Since I started Nils Ribi’s Blog in 2006, I have used a nice and useful format provided by WordPress that has worked quite well. As with all things that have been around for a while, it is time for an update, so for the past few days, I’ve been working on what you now see. This blog page format is also more photo friendly and will give me the opportunity to share more of my photos with you, as well as updates on City matters. I hope you like it.
Today the Idaho Mountain Express published a story regarding the complete dismissal by Judge Butler of former Sun Valley City Administrator Sharon R. Hammer’s lawsuit against the City and our insurance carrier earlier this week.
I am particularly pleased the City confirmed in the story that not only was this lawsuit by Hammer wholly frivolous, so was the previously withdrawn lawsuit that named me, along with the City:
‘A news release issued by the city Thursday states that it “strongly maintained that this insurance lawsuit was wholly frivolous from the day it was filed, as was Hammer’s previous lawsuit. …” ‘
Here is a link to that story:
Sun Valley Mayor Briscoe spoke with the Idaho Mountain Express this past week. In their Friday, February 3, 2012 issue he gave an update on where the investigation into matters regarding the now former City Administrator is headed.
Here is a link to that story:
The Twin Falls Times-News, as of today, has been the only newspaper in Idaho to report, both in print and online, the action taken by our Mayor and City Council at our meeting last Thursday, January 19th. Here is the link to their story:
Sun Valley Mayor Fires City Administrator After Three-month Dispute
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Here is the latest update on the suit filed against the City of Sun Valley, myself, fellow Council member Bob Youngman, and City Attorney Adam King by City Administrator Sharon Hammer.
On Monday, January 16, 2012, following an inquiry from the press, I issued the statement below in response to their question about the withdrawal of the Hammer lawsuit:
I want to thank all of my friends and supporters who stood by me during these rather difficult past two months. The dismissal of the Sharon R. Hammer lawsuit and the investigative report that has cleared me of the accusations raised by Ms. Hammer are clear affirmations of the fact that I never harassed or threatened anyone in my role as city councilman. I was asked by two Sun Valley City officials to bring before the council evidence of questionable practices by Ms. Hammer and I did so. The charges made against me were an obvious smoke screen designed to divert attention from legitimate inquiry into certain financial practices at city hall during the last administration. I don’t doubt that the chicanery and wild antics of Ms. Hammer and her husband will continue for some time to come but I am pleased that the public will soon have an opportunity to judge Ms. Hammer’s conduct for themselves.
Also on Monday, January 16, 2012, the City of Sun Valley issued the following press release regarding the withdrawal of the Hammer lawsuit:
The day after a contested court hearing, including motions to stop Plaintiff’s harassing discovery requests and sanction Attorney James Donoval, Sharon Hammer voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit against the City of Sun Valley, Councilman Nils Ribi, City Attorney Adam King and Councilman Robert Youngman. Ms. Hammer’s two other lawsuits against the City of Sun Valley are still active.
City of Sun Valley officials are glad to see that this unfounded lawsuit has been dismissed. While their counsel, Kirtlan Naylor, communicated all settlement offers by Ms. Hammer to the City, this resolution of a voluntary dismissal by Hammer is the appropriate action.
At no time did the City’s insurer, ICRMP, threaten that legal counsel or insurance coverage for the City was in jeopardy, contrary to allegations by Hammer.
Mr. Naylor stated in court at the hearing, held January 11, that the City’s investigative report, which has been the subject of much discussion in the news and court filings, has been turned over to the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney for an independent review of possible criminal conduct. For that reason, it cannot be released for public consideration at this time.
The City of Sun Valley appreciates the patience of its citizens as appropriate steps are taken in this matter. Mayor Briscoe is committed to ensuring a strong and effective administration to conduct the business of the City. The dismissal of this lawsuit will allow the administration to now focus on the governing of the City and providing appropriate services to the citizens of Sun Valley.
This is an update on the suit filed against the City of Sun Valley, myself, fellow Council member Bob Youngman, and City Attorney Adam King by City Administrator Sharon Hammer.
This past Thursday, December 29, 2011, Kirtlan Naylor, the attorney representing the City and those of us named in the suit, made the following statement to the Idaho Mountain Express which appeared on December 30, 2011 at this link:
“Sharon Hammer has sued the City of Sun Valley, and the pleadings that will be filed in defense of this lawsuit will shed light on these circumstances. Only one side of this matter has been made public so far, so I would hope people withhold judgment until all facts are known.”
May you have peaceful and happy days!
