Saturday, March 23, 2013

Grand Forks, North Dakota: City leader quits posts after clash with Cirrus Aircraft

GRAND FORKS - While Grand Forks city leaders say City Council member Doug Christensen’s resignation from several key leadership roles is an opportunity to move past a recent controversy, they applaud the longtime leader’s record.

Christensen resigned as president of the Jobs Development Authority, chairman of its Growth Fund Committee and chairman of the council’s Finance and Urban Development Committee at a meeting Tuesday.

Council member Dana Sande, who serves on all three bodies, was appointed to Christensen’s leadership positions.

Christensen, who was first elected in 2000 and re-elected to a four-year term in June, will remain on the council and continue to serve as its vice president. He did not return a call seeking comments Wednesday.

His controversial handling of a Growth Fund meeting involving Cirrus Aircraft appeared to be the reason behind his resignation, according to several city leaders.

“I think Grand Forks had gotten some backlash from the Cirrus loans discussion,” Sande said Wednesday. “Whether Doug was right or wrong, I think he wanted to put the city first. I think it was quite selfless on his part.”


The committee met March 5 to consider a $950,000 loan requested by Duluth-based Cirrus Aircraft, which has a factory in Grand Forks. Christensen questioned the company’s ability to meet its financial obligations to the city, which includes rent and prior debt. Cirrus executive William King said the tone amounted to an attack on the company’s integrity. He also accused the committee of divulging confidential financial information. 

Read more here:  http://www.inforum.com

No comments:

Post a Comment