During Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Larry Rich read a statement from the now-former City Councilor Kylee Rummel, which implied misconduct among fellow council members as the reason for her resignation, leading to an “independent investigation.”

Rummel said in her statement that after serving more than two years on the council, the reason for her resignation was because “lines were crossed by certain members of council, trying to use me to push their own agendas and even going as far as trying to intimidate and influence my vote by threatening my job,” among other reasons.

Rummel said she will not continue to work with those who oppose progress.

After reading Rummel’s statement, Rich outlined the next steps. He called the allegations “concerning” and emphasized the need for an investigation.

“Statements have been made that could lead to possible state law violations of council conduct and rules,” Rich said Monday night. “So, I have called for an independent investigation.”

Rich proposed four key questions for the investigation:

1. Was city business conducted privately outside a public forum or publicly held meeting?

2. Were councilors intimidated into voting a certain way?

3. Were councilors’ day jobs threatened to “keep councilors in check”?

4. Was the city manager denied a proper job evaluation because some councilors wanted to fire and replace the city manager with one of their own?

These four questions are at the core of the investigation, according to Rich, but more will be asked.

“Now, if there are violations, there are going to be consequences,” Rich said.

Rummel was absent from Monday’s meeting. After Rich finished reading the statement and announcing the investigation, the council adjourned. Details about who will lead the independent investigation or when it will begin remain unclear.

“I have debated sharing this information, but because there are voices that will speak loudly in the days to follow, I want to be the one writing my own narrative,” Rummel wrote in her statement. “This position has never been about status, power, or the ability to influence others or push a hidden agenda.”