Cedar Hills golf course the focus of effort to oust mayor, city manager

CEDAR HILLS — Mayor Eric Richardson and City Manager Konrad Hildebrandt say they "fully expect to be thoroughly vindicated" following accusations brought by two residents hoping to see them removed from office.

Paul Sorensen and Ken Severn filed 46 pages of allegations and supporting documents in 4th District Court on Jan. 23, asking the court to investigate whether the city officials' actions constitute misdemeanor neglect and misconduct.

They claim Richardson and Hildebrandt improperly shuffled $371,726 from city recreation funds to the city's golf course to make it appear profitable, unlawfully gave Hildebrandt a pay increase and obscured or withheld information given to the public.

"We trust that an investigation allowing city employees to offer confidential testimony, affidavit and documents without jeopardizing their employment, may reveal other possible infractions," their request to the court reads.

The city distributed a statement Friday on behalf of both the mayor and city manger.

"Initially, I want to emphasize that the filing of this petition is tremendously saddening to me," says the statement by the mayor. "Further, I have tried to ensure that all of the laws, ordinances and resolutions are faithfully executed and observed. I also believe that the City Manager Konrad Hildebrandt has strived towards this goal in his position."

The statement adds that both men "seek to express, to all of the residents of Cedar Hills, their belief that each of the accusations asserted against them is not true."

The filing was assigned to Judge James R. Taylor, but the court record does not yet indicate how the request for an investigation will be handled.

E-mail: sfidel@desnews.com, Twitter: SteveFidel