Park Rapids can't catch a break. Twice now in a month, candidates hired for the lakes region city's administrator position have resigned, one because he was arrested for a DWI just 24 hours after he was offered the position, the second most recently last Friday without explanation.
The Park Rapids City Council met in an emergency meeting Friday to accept the resignation of Chuck Dillerud, who was scheduled to start Monday as city administrator.
Earlier Friday, city officials received a faxed letter from Dillerud in which he stated that he was resigning effective the same day and apologized "for any inconvenience" the decision may cause.
A story published by the Stillwater Gazette on Wednesday stated that Dillerud resigned from his position as Lake Elmo, Minn., city planner in December 2007. He was accused by a former city colleague of harassment in a case that city ended up settling out of court.
Criminal records also show Dillerud was convicted in Wright County District Court of second degree criminal sexual conduct April 30, 1993.
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Dillerud was the second candidate offered a position as Park Rapids city administrator who resigned three days before he was scheduled to start.
In early February, Scott Larson from Cambridge, Minn., resigned after receiving a DWI 24 hours after he was offered the city administrator job. Court documents also showed Larson had a prior DWI arrest.
He too voluntarily resigned and apologized to the Park Rapids City Council for any inconvenience.
Jim Brimeyer, the consultant hired to assist in the search and screening of candidates for the administrator position, has apologized to city officials for the oversight in the background check-which was completed by a subcontractor.
