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A couple people posted comments on Saturday under the blog post entitled "Bottineau County" (click here for the article) suggesting Bob Indvik had resigned "again." Since then I've gotten independent confirmation that a letter of resignation was received by Bottineau County from Bob Indvik. An open records request has been made for the letter, but they haven't sent it yet so I don't know what the resignation letter says. (If/when I get a copy, I'll put a link to it right here [Update #1: Click here].) I just know he resigned from something. We can guess that he's resigned from his job with Bottineau County, but that's just a guess.

As was noted by two commenters, this does raise a number of interesting questions. Has any mainstream media entity reported on this? Was there a County Commission meeting about it? Was his departure related, in any way, to the report received from the State Auditor's Office? Was Indvik "forced out" or did he find a different/better job? ... perhaps with someone who's gotten breaks from WSI? Was his resignation a part of a behind-the-scenes plea deal? Maybe the deal was that if he resigned, he would not be prosecuted?

Can any of you Botno County readers tell us anything more about Indvik's resignation? Did he resign from his job as county roads manager? Do we know whether there was a Commission meeting on his resignation? Was he pressured? Is he going to work for the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce or some other tobacco industry and insurance industry funded entity? I checked NDCourts.com, and there doesn't appear to be a new case pending against Indvik. What's going on?

again!!! said:

	Bye Bob!!! Don't forget to write!!!! (Since you don't have a county cell phone to use for personal use anymore!)
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 10, 2008, 09:26 AM
Votes: +1

Mr. Ford said:

Domino Affect?
Is there a chance that this could cause a domino affect with others at WSI? I mean Bob Indvik didn't call WSI about Botno County business that much I am sure? Why were the phone calls so important that he needed to use a county phone, on county time to call? There still seems to be more questions then answers out of this state, and yet there is nothing out of WSI yet. Is this the calm before the storm? Or is Furness just there to add extra locks on the doors?

April 10, 2008, 10:37 AM
Votes: +1

Big Jake said:

...
Aren't the results of an investigation into Indvig's alleged misuse of county property pubic information? Is there any issue that merits prompt action and reporting thereof?

The phone deal is in fact a really small issue---one that the county should deal with. The bigger issue is the attitude of this whole crowd. The are so arrogant that they have placed themselves in a special class---above the law or making up their own code. A republic cannot survive those actions. Accountability will almost always result in public officials doing a better job.

I little sympathy for Indik----he is harvesting the results of his own choices. He could have spoken out at any time---presuming that he really does know right from wrong. I have to believe that all involved withthe WSI mess do know the difference and have made decisions that they apparently believe trumps integrity.

If Indik has been forced to resign and lands on his feet with any of those who have been involved with this mess, it will be proof positive as to the character of whomever.
Just when is Stenejhem going to act responsibly? When will Hoeven order him to do so? That answer should be a large factor in who serves as the next governor.

April 10, 2008, 12:12 PM
Votes: +6

Big Jake said:

	... Oh yeah, I forgot. Just where in the hell is our press? Have the bad guys just worn them down? Public integrity is not a partisan issue. The character of North Dakota is being tested. Is the press giving in to pressure from GNDA and some of their members? Will advertising dollars take the place of unbiased and accurate reporting?
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 10, 2008, 12:17 PM
Votes: +5

nimrod said:

cell phones? we don't need 'em.
Mr. Ford, you forget that, in an effort to keep its operations clandestine, WSI didn't let employees have "official" e-mail addresses. Sooooo, I'm thinking they made employees use their personal cell phones for WSI business. And then it follows that board members would not have WSI cell phones, because then the phone records would be public records. (of course, since then, AG Wayne overruled WSI counsel and said WSI communications using private e-mail addresses (doing public business using private electronic devices(?)) are public records.) Indvik forgot to tell Blunt he was using a publicly-funded cell phone and not a private cell phone. Lo and behold, Indvik's cell phone records are public records, to the embarrassment of the Bluntonians.

April 10, 2008, 12:36 PM
Votes: +4

Chet said:

Follow-up
Here's some follow-up on this from the Fargo Forum.

The resignation came shortly after Indvik reimbursed the county for $225 in mileage a state audit determined he had improperly charged to the county for travel involving WSI business.

Similarly, WSI reimbursed Bottineau County for $1,123.85 for calls Indvik made on his county cell phone to workers? comp staff or board members dating back to July 1.

Fargo Forum
Interesting that WSI is paying Indvik's cell phone bills. Seems like that's an admission that WSI Board members use of private cell phones for public use should be subject to inspection by an open records requester. Or an auditor.

Hmmmm....

April 11, 2008, 07:54 AM
Votes: +2

INDVIK - A KNOWN THIEF????? said:

	... BOB INDVIK - A KNOWN THIEF ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA USED BY STEVE CATES AND ROB PORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 11, 2008, 09:27 AM
Votes: +3

Mr. Ford said:

	Lets open up all WSI employees personal email, and cell phone records!! It is time to get down to the true stories of WSI's use of personal computers, and cell phones. THERE HAD BETTER BE A TRUE ACCOUNTING FOR ANY WSI PERSONAL USING HOME COMPUTERS, AND CELL PHONES! Come on AG you opened the can of worms, now dig into the can, and get the truth, or you should be removed from office!!!!!
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 11, 2008, 09:34 AM | url
Votes: +4

Just me said:

Why is WSI paying the bill?
Is it just me wondering why WSI is paying the cell phone bill? For them to pay the bill, don't they have to justify it as legitimate business expense? Those thousands of dollars of phone calls to WSI should be recorded somewhere on the WSI side. WSI should have to show records of what their calls were about with Indvik. Was he really running the place from Botno County? There are more questions to be asked. Why is this getting buried from the public? Chet's got the accounting of the calls showing who Indvik was calling. They should provide records on those calls or is it the normal course of business to take direction from the Chairman of the Board and not record it anywhere? Gotta have some big brains to work at WSI to keep all that straight and not take any notes. smilies/wink.gif

April 11, 2008, 11:36 AM
Votes: +1

Mr. Ford said:

Looking back at Indivik's cell phone call times!
This might be another issue with the calls Bob Indivik did to WSI, and the times of the calls. Looking through the times alot of these calls are made on the county phone, it seems most of the calls were made during working hours for the county. So shouldn't WSI reimburse Bottineau County for the time loss that they paid for Indivik doing WSI work on their time? Why should they only be paid for the cell phone use, when it is obvious this man was getting paid by them to micro manage WSI!

Just seem another part of the puzzle that needs to be answered, maybe Furness could answer this one, after he consults with the Governor!

April 11, 2008, 11:55 AM
Votes: +3

Oh Boy said:

Further Admission of Guilt
WSI, in paying Indvik's cell phone bill is inherently acknowledging Indvik was conducting WSI business. Let's remember, here on this blog, Chet posted who Indvik called. Indvik spent LOTS of time talking to Bjornson, Keiser, Blunt, and Halvorson - seasoned with some Wahlin, Forward, and Ternes.

According to the Carver model, the Board speaks with "one voice." Meddling and micromanagement by then-chair Indvik is a violation of the Board's governance model. In paying for Indvik?s illicit activities, WSI is condoning his actions ? even now.

THAT speaks volumes about who is still in charge. Furness SHOULD be taking swift action to cut the ties with remnants of the corrupt old-guard, NOT giving it a wink and a nod and shelling out $1100 to make the story go away.

April 11, 2008, 07:24 PM
Votes: +5

bottineau co. taxpayer said:

	phone time not this is only about six months. it should be more like six years
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 11, 2008, 08:39 PM
Votes: +0