Wakefield resigns from Ward 3 council post

There’s yet another vacancy forthcoming for the Brandon City Council.

In the final minutes of Monday’s meeting, Mayor Paul Lundberg announced he received an email from Ward 3 alderman Tim Wakefield Jr. late that afternoon, indicating his intentions to resign immediately. But because the resignation was not an agenda item, the alderman’s resignation is expected to be accepted at the council’s June 3 meeting.

The root of Wakefield’s resignation looks to be Ordinance No. 589, Power of Council to Judge Members; Bribery. Monday night, the council approved the ordinance’s second reading, which establishes a $500 fine per violation as imposed by the council. 

Wakefield, who has a six-year military background, said he cannot “associate with an organization that takes any efforts towards limiting these freedoms,” which he feels the Ordinance does. He served as a field artillery surveyor before graduating from Minnesota State-Mankato with an automotive engineering technology degree. 

In his resignation letter, Wakefield expressed the current “leadership team continues to make attacks on first amendment rights by specifically moving forward with Ordinance #589.” 

He goes on to allege a lack of interest from the leadership team to take input from residents. 

“As I witnessed the council replace Roger Brooks based on their own interest and not the interest of the public, it was again affirmed to me the stance of the leadership of this community. As a council member I have brought forth factual information about water and other topics based on firsthand information from wonderful residents of our community. Time and time again, the leadership has shown that the facts are not as important as the power of a voting majority of the council. This new ordinance #589 just goes to show that no matter how truthful you are, the majority can penalize you should see they fit. It is for that reason that I am choosing to resign immediately.”

Wakefield said he stepped into his council role to ensure that his family “had the best possible chance at clean water.” He’s decided the only way that is possible is to move outside the city limits.

Wakefield also charges City Administrator Bryan Read has provided the council with false and limited information.

“This belief was also true for previous council members who mentioned their concerns to a resident. The current governmental structure of this town clearly empowers one individual more than any, and that person with the utmost power is the City Administrator,” he wrote. “The mistakes have led us to water that is only capable of winning participation trophies and struggling with horrible roads falls squarely on his shoulders.”

Similar to previous council resignations, city administrator Bryan Read said the opening will be advertised in the city’s legal newspaper, the Brandon Valley Journal. Interested ward 3 residents will need to complete a citizen interest form and submit it to City Hall for council review. If more than one ward 3 resident applies, a public Q&A with the current council will be conducted.

Wakefield’s replacement will be made by council appointment, and that individual will serve through the first meeting in May 2020. The remaining two years of Wakefield’s term will be decided at the next municipal election in April 2020.

 

ALDERMAN TIM WAKEFIELD’S TIMELINE

Sept. 2017 – At a city council meeting, Tim Wakefield Jr. requests  “an immediate hold on all water improvement and expansion projects until a defined plan can be presented to the public.” The city rejects bids on Well 8 construction. 

Oct. 2017 – Wakefield led the charge for the town hall meeting about Brandon’s water supply, sources and needs, which first came under scrutiny in July when the water tower level fell below 110,000 gallons, the amount needed to fight a major structure fire.

Nov. 2017 – The city creates a volunteer water development task force, of which Wakefield is one of 17 members. He asks that Stockwell not be included on the task force; his request is denied.

April 2018 – Wakefield runs unopposed for Jon McInerney’s Ward 3 council seat, and takes office the following month for the four-year term. 

Feb. 2019 – A resident calls for Wakefield’s resignation, stating he has violated the city council’s code of conduct.

April 2019 – Wakefield unsuccessfully challenges Paul Lundberg for mayor, losing 1,161 votes to 290. 

April 2019 – The council finds Wakefield to be in violation of city council code for statements he made on social media. He was formally reprimanded for accusing the city of committing fraud in allowing Chamber CEO Kim Cerwick to receive South Dakota retirement benefits and for statements he made about police chief Joe Weir’s character during the hiring process. 

May 2019 – The council approves an ordinance stipulating council members can be fined $500 for conduct violations. Wakefield claims he was unfairly censured by the council.

May 2019 – At the following council meeting, Wakefield resigns.