Leadership

Iowa Firefighter's Potential Defamation Lawsuit Lingers

Dec. 8, 2013

A West Burlington firefighter has threatened to sue the city for defamation involving an allegation that he lied on a federal grant application.

Source The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa

Dec. 05--WEST BURLINGTON -- There was a mysterious item on West Burlington's agenda Wednesday, "to discuss matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent," slated for closed session.

"It's potential litigation related to a firefighter -- an ongoing case that has reared its ugly head again," City Administrator Dan Gifford said.

West Burlington firefighter Skylar Limkemann threatened to sue the city for defamation if $150,000 in damages was not paid, $5,000 in higher education grant money from a FEMA grant he wrote (about $500,000 was awarded to the city) wasn't disbursed to him and a public apology letter wasn't given, all by Jan. 25.

Two city councilmen claimed Limkemann lied in the grant application -- West Burlington does not have several retirement or nursing home facilities, they said at an August 2012 meeting. Limkemann refuted their claim by giving three examples at the meeting.

The grant went in as written, with the purpose of retaining firemen. Part of the money was to go to higher education. Limkemann applied but wasn't awarded the $5,000 because the city required a two-year commitment letter, which Mayor Hans Trousil said is standard procedure.

"He refused to sign, and that money has gone to others who did sign," he said.

Trousil said Limkemann wasn't paid the $150,000, either.

"That's part of this litigation," he said. "We hadn't heard anything for a while, and then we got a letter from his lawyer last week."

Limkemann still is a captain on the force, Trousil said.

On the agenda was another item concerning Limkemann. In open session, with no discussion, the council voted to remove Limkemann as the recruitment and retention coordinator for the grant for lack of communication, with the finance officer in particular.

The two councilmen who claimed Limkemann lied, Rick Raleigh and Rod Crowner, abstained from voting. Both said they could give no comment.

Limkemann did not attend the meeting, and a working phone number could not be found.