(Spirit Lake)– Mayor Eric Nielsen again Tuesday defended his appointment of a former councilman to the Opportunity is Calling Committee that’s looking into the feasibility of establishing a municipal telecommunications utility.
In a prepared statement read to the city council, Nielsen stated “Pat McNorton was a leader in having the issue placed on the ballot and has the energy and expertise to follow through”. Nielsen continued “The OCC has shown faithness in Pat by electing him chairman.” Nielsen went on to say “The purpose of the meeting is to unite the communities and to recommend a firm to our council that can do a feasibility study. The present council will then vote to determine whether or not the city wants to develop this utility. As you can see our council will always have a final say on what happens”.
Nielsen read his prepared statement after stating that he had received a petition calling for the removal of Pat McNorton from the committee, siting a conflict of interest. But City Attorney Earl Maahs told the council it was his opinion such a conflict does NOT exist.
Based on that opinion, Nielsen again said his appointment of McNorton will stand.
