City of Stewart Minutes Contradict Alleged City Attorney Lori Moldan Regarding Disconnecting Water

The Central Minnesota News Network has received a response from the City of Stewart, Minnesota, regarding disconnecting the water of property owner Mr. Delvin Bethke. It appears that the City's policies are at odd with the latest alleged city lawyer, Lori Moldan, who is representing Bethke's neighbor, Chuck Paul.


City Officials Deny that Lori Moldan is City's Lawyer

City officials deny that Lori Moldan is the city lawyer. However, Moldan works for the same firm that the other city lawyers work for. And city resident Chuck Paul has said he has been pressured by the city to shut off his, saying: "I'm between a rock and a hard place.... The city is on me to get that line changed."

Chuck Paul's statements about being pressured by the city link the city to the threat to shut off Bethke's water, and make Moldan an alleged city lawyer.  Chuck Paul and Lori Moldan appear to be little more than proxies for the city of Stewart.


Alleged City Attorney Says Water Will be Shut Off

The  below letter dated September 4, 2019, from the alleged city attorney Lori Moldan, says the city will go ahead and disconnect the water line at a property he owns he if he doesn't respond in the allotted time frame, which was very short given that Mr. Bethke received the letter a day before the stated deadline.





City Minutes Say Water Lines Will Not be Disconnected Until New Line Installed

However, the above letter by the alleged city attorney contradicts the City Council Minutes.  The Minutes were sent to the Central Minnesota News Network by City Clerk Ronda Huls. The Minutes state that at the 5-9-16 Council meeting it was determined:

 "No one will be out of water, the old service will not be disconnected until the new service is connected." 

That contradicts Moldan's letter which threatens to disconnect Mr. Bethke's water line.




City's Statement Contradicts City Resident Chuck Paul

In addition, Ms. Huls' response that the neighbor, Mr. Chuck Paul, requested that Mr. Bethke's water line be disconnected contradicts Mr. Paul's verbal statements to Mr. Bethke, that city officials have been pressuring him.  Mr. Paul said to Mr. Bethke: "The city is on me to get the line changed.... I'm in a rock and a hard place just like you."



The Central Minnesota News Network has contacted the City of Stewart and the alleged city attorney Lori Moldan for a response to these multiple contradictions, but has not received a response.