Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Friday, August 10, 2007

Lewiston administrator cited for tampering with city vehicle

By Amber Dulek | Winona Daily News

LEWISTON, Minn. — The city’s top official was cited Thursday with tampering with the city ambulance director’s van.

The misdemeanor citation is the latest sign of a breakdown of trust between the leaders of the city of 1,500 and its residents and city employees.

City Administrator Barb Hampel did not return messages left at her office Thursday, but told a Winona County Sheriff’s Deputy that she was looking in the car for keys to city hall because she was locked out of her office.

Deputy Jerry Delaney said he received a complaint on Aug. 3 from Ambulance Director Holly Hammann, who reported someone rummaging through her unlocked van while it was parked at the Lewiston Fire Station.

According to Delaney’s report:

Hampel stopped by Hammann’s house that morning to see if she could borrow her keys. John Hammann told Hampel that his wife was on an ambulance call and she could find her there or at the fire station. He later drove by and saw Hampel inside Hammann’s vehicle.

Holly Hammann was upset after she found out and told Delaney she didn’t think it was right for Hampel to enter her vehicle without permission and wanted to press charges.

“It was non-criminal activity other than the violation itself,” Delaney said. “The owner of the vehicle had keys to the building but not to (Hampel’s) office.”

Delaney said Hampel admitted to opening the van door but closed it after realizing Hammann’s keys would not work. Nothing appeared to be missing from the vehicle, he said.

Hampel is scheduled for a court hearing Aug. 28 on the tampering charge.

Since Hampel was hired in February, residents have formed a group to discuss city government issues. Last week the group filed a petition requesting Hampel be removed because it appeared she was unqualified, rude to residents and made a hostile work environment. Approximately 500 Lewiston residents signed the petition.

On July 25, the council voted to move Hammann’s office from the city hall after Hampel requested more space to go through old city files.

Hammann claims they moved her office because Hampel accused her of spying on her to the media.

The city council didn’t discuss the petition during its regular meeting Wednesday.

“Moving onto this petition thing… At this time, I’ll say we have received this petition and take it under advisement,” said council member Richard Ahrens, sitting in for the absent Mayor Lee Rain.

After the meeting, Hampel said the council was advised by the city attorney that personnel issues could not be discussed at publicly and any meetings about the petition would be closed.

None of the council members returned phone messages left at their home Tuesday and Wednesday. Rain refused to speak to a Daily News reporter.

About 20 residents gathered outside city hall after the meeting to express their disappointment at how the council addressed the petition. The lack of communication is the hardest part, said Sharon Trester.

Thomas Canan, a lawyer for the citizens’ group, said he would expect the council needs time to investigate the concerns and set a future date for a hearing.

Ahrens said Thursday the council will get advice from the League of Minnesota Cities on the petition and Hampel’s citation.

“I have no idea at this time,” Ahrens said. “We just follow the rules.”

Reporter Amber Dulek can be reached at (507)453-3513 or amber.dulek@lee.net.