Eldridge completes supply investigation

The unsigned, emailed press release from City Administrator Nevada Lemke said portions of the city’s investigation had been referred to unnamed law enforcement agencies “due to the nature of the crime(s) involved.”

“The city is currently working with these agencies to file criminal charges,” the statement said.

When asked to which law enforcement authorities the investigation had been forwarded, Lemke did not immediately respond.

“Over the past several months, the City of Eldridge has devoted significant time and resources to investigating allegations of misconduct, division and discord related to the city’s utilities,” the statement said. “The City conducted a thorough and fair investigation and has completed its portions of the investigation involving former members and employees of the utilities board.”

None of the current board members were involved in the alleged misconduct, the press release said.

“The results of the city’s investigation have revealed that several former members of the Utilities Board were guilty of misconduct related to the operation and oversight of the city’s electric and water utilities,” the statement said.

The statement also referenced a lawsuit filed by former chairman Brock Kroeger against the city, which Kroeger claimed was wrongful termination. The issue was whether the city had the authority to remove him from the board when administration learned he was not a resident of Eldridge.

Eldridge Mayor Frank King and the Eldridge City Council removed three other members from the board following Kroeger’s dismissal.

In May, the energy supplier’s board of directors, consisting of new members, unanimously decided to instruct the previously appointed lawyers to dismiss Kroeger’s lawsuit with immediate effect.

“The unnecessary expenditure of further taxpayer money on legal fees can finally be avoided,” the city said in a statement on Friday.

Several employees have also been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The city’s statement Friday afternoon said the investigation found “multiple employees were involved in the alleged misconduct and these findings resulted in disciplinary actions, some of which are still in the process of exhausting internal appeals processes.”

When asked how many employees were placed on leave or faced disciplinary action, Lemke did not immediately respond.