PedersenMatt2Valley City (CSi)  Following the resignation of Valley City Mayor Bob Werhoven last week, Deputy Mayor Matt Pedersen has become the interim Mayor of Valley City.

Valley City officials have these options to fill the mayor’s position uner the North Dakota Century Code (NDCC 40-09-10.)

The City Commission may call a special election to fill the unexpired term, or may, after 15 days appoint a person to fill the unexpired term.

Another option is upon a petition of 5 percent of the qualified electors (based on the total number of ballots cast in the last city general election) the city commission must call a special election if there is more than 6 months left on the term and the petition has been submitted within 15 days of the vacancy.

The 15 days doesn’t start until the city commission has formally accepted the resignation at a regular or special city commission meeting. (NDCC 40-09-04.)

The current mayoral term in Valley City ends June of 2018.

Update..

The city commission will address accepting the mayor’s resignation during the next regular city commission meeting on Tuesday, May 17th,.  The meeting starts at 5-p.m., at City Hall …to be shown live on CSi Cable 68 followed by replays.

Previously…

werkhovenBobVALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP-CSi) – Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven has resigned.

The 85-year-old Werkhoven said  in a radio  interview Thursday morning (Mat 12, 20160 that recent health issues prompted him to step down from the office he’s held since 2010.

Four city employees earlier this year filed a grievance against Werkhoven for allegedly creating a hostile work environment. He denied the allegations by City Administrator David Schelkoph, Police Chief Fred Thompson, Police Lt. David Swenson and City Attorney Russ Myhre.

Those individuals are represented by Jamestown Attorney, Joe Larson who said his clients wish Werkhoven well in the future.

Larson says he and his clients will decide what direction the grievances may take, if any, in the future.

Werkhoven says the dispute had nothing to do with his decision to resign Thursday.

Werkhoven has served Valley City for 14 years, and was elected in 2010.

He won a recall election in January 2012, picking up 1,124  votes or 56 percent of votes cast