Letter to Waseca County Attorney and Waseca Assistant County Attorney:

As a long term concerned resident of Albert Lea I am compelled to write this letter because many of our citizens disagree with the heavy handed treatment that our former city manager, Jim Norman, has received. We appreciate your willingness to accept the obligation to prosecute the case scheduled soon in Freeborn County Court.

You probably already know the specifics of the case which have been detailed in the Albert Lea Tribune. The dispute revolves around misunderstanding and disagreement regarding charges to a credit card issued by the city to be used by Norman for moving expenses. Apparently someone on the city staff felt that some of the charges were questionable, i.e. a refrigerator and personal items for his family. A refrigerator in southern Minnesota in midsummer in a rental home that doesn’t have one certainly is necessary. As anyone who has ever moved knows, personal items when moving also are essential. A dollar limit for moving expenses was not exceeded and when Norman learned of the concern about the charges he paid for them even before the credit card payment was due.

Without formal action by the city council and apparently without full knowledge of Norman’s employment agreement and without giving Norman a chance to explain, city staff decided to prosecute and launched an investigation. Norman cooperated with the investigation.

Since then both parties agreed that honest errors were made. In order to clear the air, Norman agreed to resign, receive minimal severance pay and not sue the city for damages. According to the newspaper, Norman relied on and agreed that in exchange for his resignation the city requested and expected your office to drop the charges. I do not understand why your office did not honor the agreement between Norman and the City of Albert Lea.

From my layman’s perspective this case does not have the typical appearance of a felony nor does Jim Norman appear to be a felon. Even though a trial would be a good chance for Norman to vindicate himself and bring closure to the case we are wondering if there is some other method to provide justice. A full blown trial certainly seems excessive. We would like to see the extensive expense and inconvenience of a trial avoided. What would result? Would Norman go to jail? Would he penalized even further? Fined? He already has been overly persecuted. Sometimes persecution is worse than prosecution. He has had huge financial expenses, lost a good job, suffered damage to his reputation and worst of all the chance to live and work in our fine community. The city lost a good manager and the finance director left. What more can be gained by a trial?

I hope you do not object that I am sending a copy of this letter to the editor of the Albert Lea Tribune so our residents will know that you are aware of how we feel. Thank you for considering our position.

Bill Buege

Albert Lea