Merkel voted not entitled to city funds
SPOKANE VALLEY – A public hearing is tentatively set for Oct. 24, 2024, following an appeal filed by Spokane Valley Councilmember Al Merkel. The appeal comes after a third-party investigation found him in violation of the Spokane Valley Governance Manual and likely in violation of the Washington State Public Records Act.
At the Sept. 24 City Council meeting, councilmembers unanimously decided that Merkel is not entitled to city-funded legal representation for the case. The hearing is scheduled at Spokane Valley City Hall.
The investigation, which was launched in response to a complaint filed by Councilmember Jessica Yaeger on June 11, 2024, determined that Merkel violated the city’s Social Media Policy by posting content about city government on his personal Nextdoor account rather than an official City Council account. This breach potentially violates public records laws, as some of the posts could be classified as public records and are no longer retained for compliance.
Councilmember Merkel filed his appeal on Sept. 10, challenging the findings of the investigation. The case, numbered APP-2024-0001, will be reviewed by the city’s hearing examiner next month.
According to Spokane Valley Municipal Code, councilmembers are generally not eligible for city-funded legal representation if the claim involves violations of city policy. Merkel was not allowed to participate in the Sept. 24 discussion or vote due to a conflict of interest. The remaining six councilmembers voted against providing him legal representation in this matter.
The hearing will take place at 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley City Hall.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
Reader Comments(0)