by Holly Allen
Valley Falls City Hall was dark Dec. 13 following the immediate resignation of city clerk Christine Weishaar. With current city administrator Audree Guzman on a preplanned vacation, a sign on the door advised the public that the city office would be closed through the end of the week.
Palpable tensions have been evident at city council meetings over the past few months as Mayor Jeanette Shipley sparred with the city administrator and members of the city council over myriad issues. Among others, Mayor Shipley’s micromanaging of city employees has been noted as an issue within City Hall.
According to Weishaar’s resignation letter, addressed to the governing body and dated Dec. 13, she has not been immune to the hostility within the environment.
“Over the past few months, I have witnessed and experienced behavior from the mayor that has made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome,” the letter states.
Elsewhere, she explains her immediate absence which leaves City Hall unattended.
“I was not planning on announcing my resignation until the end of the year. However due to the hostile work environment that has developed and the mayor’s correspondence after learning of Audree’s vacation, I do not feel comfortable being in the office.”
Weishaar has served as the city clerk since March of 2021.
Reached for comment, council president Gary McKnight, whose term expires in January, stated, “It’s a shame when we lose good people over personality conflicts and micromanagement. It is extremely difficult to replace good people and very expensive.”
Mayor Shipley declined to discuss the situation or to provide a quote regarding the resignation of the city clerk.
Multiple sources speaking off the record also confirmed the impending resignation of Guzman, who has accepted a position elsewhere in light of the current situation at City Hall.
