Judge: Auditor to handle records for Gladstone

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The Stark County Auditor will be in charge of all of the financial records for the Gladstone Park Board until it is determined what individuals make up the proper board, a district judge ruled Monday.

In Southwest District Court in Dickinson Monday, both the city-recognized park board and the park board not recognized by the city agreed with Judge Dan Greenwood’s order to grant a temporary injunction requested by the city-recognized park board to appoint a third party to handle the financial records of the non-city recognized park board while the court determines which of the boards is the proper one.

Attorney Sandra Kuntz, who is representing the city-recognized park board, said her clients, who include Monte Martin, president, Joe Miller, vice president, Maureen Roden, secretary/treasurer, Bob Oyloe and Francine Hecker, have requested to see a verification of board meeting minutes, financial documents and contracts from the park board that is not recognized by the city, which includes Leah Anderson, Lillian Bondell, Gwen Lantz and Erin McGahuey.

“Despite the request, we have not received a response,” Kuntz said. “(Attorney) Mr. (William) Delmore provided some minutes and he promised by Feb. 4,” she said. “It’s Feb. 25 and we still have not received anything. These are public records and they are violating the law by not giving the information to us.”

Delmore, who is representing the park board not recognized by the city, said his clients believe they have supplied all of the information that was request by the plaintiffs.

“We believe that all of the information has been provided, except for the checkbooks, but they could make copies of those,” he said. “They didn’t give up the checkbooks, but they are always willing to let them look at the information.”

There are also two additional, separate lawsuits involving the park board, including a lawsuit between the park board and the city, in which the park board that is not recognized by the city alleges the misplacement of candidate names and the measure to dissolve the park board that were on the June 12 ballot, and the city’s lawsuit against the both of the park boards, requiring which ever board is deemed to be the legitimate board to comply with city ordinances, including zoning ordinances that state that the park is not for long-term living.

Kuntz said in court Monday that is was also her understanding that the county state’s attorney has requested that the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation look into the use of public funds by the park board that is not recognized by the city.

Tags: news, local, dickinson, gladstone