Screen Photo The Minot City Council meets in special session Tuesday to discuss an investigative report and the mayor’s resignation. From left are council members Rob Fuller and Scott Samuelson, acting city attorney Katie Schmidt of West Fargo, Assistant City Manager Tom Joyce, Council President and acting mayor Mark Jantzer, City Clerk Mikayla McWilliams, and council members Paul Pitner, Mike Blessum and Lisa Olson.

On the heels of a resignation letter from Mayor Tom Ross, the Minot City Council on Tuesday seated Council President Mark Jantzer as temporary acting mayor. The council indicated its intention to appoint a new mayor from within its ranks if the public doesn’t petition for a special election within the next 15 days.

The mayor’s term runs until June 2026.

Ross, who was elected mayor in 2022 after serving two years on the council, resigned just prior to the release of an investigative report from Christina Sambor with Sambor Law & Consulting, Bismarck. Sambor determined Ross’s action in sending a sexually explicit video to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim on Jan. 14 qualified as sexual harassment.

State law provides for the council president to fill the role of mayor in event of a vacancy. Minot voters have 15 days to submit a petition requesting a special election. A petition must be signed by 5% of the qualified electors as determined by the total number of votes cast in the last city general election. If no petition is filed, the city council can appoint from among its members to fill the position until the next election. The vacated council seat can be filled by appointment if no petition for an election is filed within 15 days.

A special election in conjunction with a vote on a park board measure on June 3 is not possible due to timing. A special election cannot be set earlier than 65 days after a petition calling for one is validated.

Council member Rob Fuller said Ross made the right choice in resigning. He noted the shaky ground the city has been on.

The city recently completed an investigation that ended with the departure of the police chief. It has experienced in recent years the self-inflicted deaths of three police officers, one of whom was under an investigation at the time. It dismissed its city manager in 2020 following an investigation into workplace harassment.

“We’ve been faced with challenges that most cities never have to endure,” Fuller read from a prepared statement. “Today, I sit before you with heart overcome by sadness and disappointment as we face yet another moment of poor leadership in our city’s history. Leadership of our city is not merely a title, but a profound responsibility to serve with integrity and to make decisions that reflect the values and the needs of our community, always striving to unite and elevate those people we lead.

“We’ve needed that leadership in Minot, and as a city, we’ve been unable to find it,” he said. “Over the past six months, Minot has faced enough challenges. Our city, our citizens, our friends, our employees, our neighbors can no longer take any more of this.”

Fuller said Ross owes the city attorney, council and community an apology. Moving forward, he added, the practice of withholding information and not informing the council under the assumption it doesn’t need to know will no longer be tolerated.

“If there is a policy that prevents the city from informing the council of such matters, bring it to us, and we will change it. This is our city, and we are the elected representatives of the people. There is a victim here who has waited far too long for any semblance of resolution to this. Matters of this importance should have been brought to the council’s full attention immediately,” Fuller said.

According to the investigation report, Stalheim, who had just been notified by Ross of the self-inflicted death of a police officer, received a video text from Ross 11 minutes later, which she did not immediately check. Three minutes later, Ross phoned Stalheim to ask her to not to open but to delete the video text, which had been meant for a romantic partner but was sent to her inadvertently. He also asked that the incident stay between the two of them. It was noted both Stalheim and Ross use their personal cell phones for city business.

Monica Porterfield, a Human Resources employee, was with Stalheim at the time of the second call from Ross. Stalheim, who was distraught from the initial news of the officer’s death, was unable to proceed with deleting the video after viewing a thumbnail of it that came up on her phone. In attempting to assist Stalheim, Porterfield inadvertently caused the video to play. The video eventually was deleted.

In his interview with the investigator, Ross said he was adamant the video was not intended for Stalheim, whom he respected as a valued colleague.

Stalheim and Porterfield spoke with the Human Resources director on Jan. 19 and spoke with Assistant City Manager Tom Joyce on Jan. 22. Stalheim submitted a formal complaint on Jan. 28, triggering the investigation.

City Manager Harold Stewart and Joyce instructed Ross to have no contact with Stalheim and to delete her contact information from his phone.

The investigation report was released to the city council shortly before a special meeting late Tuesday afternoon.

The investigative report also called for a discussion with state legislators about closing open records in harassment complaints because of the “uniquely invasive, dangerous and stressful environment they create for private citizens working on behalf of public entities who experience or witness harassment.” The report stated it should be reviewed whether identities of potential victims and content of investigations are legally entitled to protection.

“There is a significant risk of a chilling effect on valid complaints, insistence on workplace safety, and participation in investigations, as well as risk to harm of individuals accused of wrongdoing being deprived of due process, given the current state of the law,” the report concluded.

Mayor submits resignation letter

Minot Mayor Tom Ross submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday, saying the standard he set for himself was too high to sustain.

“Holding a full time job, while trying to be a full time Mayor, and putting my family behind my job and election position has taken a toll on me, mentally and physically,” he wrote. “While I’ve done my very best to be a good leader, it’s clear that time has come to an end.

“My focus now will be on my physical and mental health. I have tried to be too much to too many people. I failed. I have had a professional and respectful relationship with every City of Minot Staff member that I have come across. I am proud of that. Unfortunately, I have let them down as leader, as I have with many in our community. I thank the council for their teamwork, and wish them the best.

In a statement provided after Tuesday’s council meeting on the investigation, Ross said, “I do take responsibility for this mistake. I tried to immediately correct it and was unable. I will always have the utmost respect for Stefanie Stalhiem, she is a true professional. The decision I made falls in line with all my work on behalf of the City of Minot. I put my heart and soul into this community. My stepping down is one more decision that is best for all of Minot.”