RossRickvcValley City (CSi)  In a letter dated January 4, 2017,  to the Valley City Commission, Commissioner Rick Ross tendered his resignation.

Ross was elected to the City Commission in June of 2016.

That follows what he alledges were threats of violence against him and his family that occurred over several weeks by some Barnes County residents.

In September of 2016, Police Chief Fred Thompson said a Valley City man allegedly threatened to harm City Commissioner Rick Ross during a telephone conversation with Ross and through comments made to City Administrator David Schelkoph.

The letter issued by Rick Ross to his fellow city commissioners and the citizens of Valley City, reads:

“Six months ago, I was elected to serve as a city commissioner. I had a strong desire to work within the system to bring change to city hall and potentially implement new and positive initiatives to make our community a better place to live, work, play and raise our families.

Unfortunately, I have twice found myself falsely accused of abhorrent behavior, have been threatened with physical violence, have found myself in court twice and have had my personal vehicle vandalized.

These incidents have caused my family a great deal of angst, have affected my personal health and well-being and frankly, given the failure of our legal system to effectively deal with the people involved and now threaten my financial well-being.

I am a firm believer in the value of healthy debate and I’ve had many conversations with Valley City residents pro and con, relative to the positions I’ve taken on a variety of issues. I am unwilling, however, to participate in a process dominated by threats and intimidation and therefore, to live in fear of harm to myself and my family. As a result, it is with deep regret that I announce that I am tendering my resignation from the Valley City Commission effective immediately.

I want to thank the citizens of Valley City for the trust they put in me and ask for their empathy and understanding as I make my family, my faith, my health and my existing career the focus of my future.”

Signed

Richard (Rick) Ross

At the January 17, 2017 Valley City Commission meeting, commissioners will officially approve Ross’s  resignation.