BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Keystone Heights city manager said she was quitting, and two council members told Mayor Karen Lake she should resign over late-night texts sent from the mayor to City Manager Lynn Rutkowski over the last several months.
Council Member Tony Brown brought up the issue of Lake’s messages during the council’s Feb. 7 meeting.
After the meeting he explained why he told Lake she should resign.
“Over the past couple of years, the mayor has continuously harassed our city managers going back to Scott (former City Manager Scott Kornegay) with texts in all hours of the night,” Brown said in a telephone interview.
By all accounts, the messages sent from Lake to Rutkowski all related to city business.
Brown added that he and his colleagues have told Lake to stop texting city employees after hours unless it involved an emergency, but she continues to send the messages.
“I’m tired of it,” Brown added. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years off and on and I’ve never sat on a council when a member has continued to break the rules.”
Vice Mayor Steve Hart who also told Lake to resign said after the meeting that the mayor habitually exceeds her authority.
“All council members are equal,” he said. “The mayor’s office is primarily a ceremonial position, but from Day 1, Karen has not understood that. She has operated as if she is in charge. Karen pushes the envelope of her powers.”
“I like Karen,” Hart added. “She was my neighbor for 15 years, and in a lot of ways, she is doing a good job.”
During the meeting, Lake did not resign and both Hart and Brown said they hoped Rutkowski does not quit.
Hart added that with one year remaining on Lake’s current term, he hopes things will settle down.
“I am satisfied we had a good airing of the issues during the meeting,” he said. “I think we will find a way to get along. We don’t have a choice, and I will do what I can not to upset the apple cart for the good of the city.”
Mayor Karen Lake did not immediately return a phone call seeking a comment for this story.
