City Appoints new Deputy Clerk/Treasurer and Chief of Staff

The City Council meeting got spicy Tuesday when self-appointed street preacher and public agitator Geof Knell made personal attacks on appointees to two key city positions.

The special meeting was called to appoint Michael O’Neill to the position of Deputy Clerk/Treasurer and Robert Erickson as the Chief of Staff. Both have impeccable credentials and extensive backgrounds, bringing a wealth of experience to their new positions. It should be noted that city appointments are made by the mayor and confirmed by the council and do not go through the regular employment process. Appointees serve “at-will” and can be terminated without cause at any time. 

With a degree in Business Administration/Accounting O’Neill has worked in finance and accounting for over twenty years, beginning his career at a leading accounting firm. He served as the comptroller for Oasis Academy for four years and then worked for Banner Churchill Community Hospital as a Business Analyst for four years before serving as the Finance Director for three years.

Mayor Ken Tedford explained that as part of his duties at the city, O’Neill will focus on the electrical system, backing up Lem Mackedon who carries most of the load for that city enterprise. “We want Mike to learn about the electrical system, which is a $28 million per year in revenue to the city along with the capital investments,” he said. Tedford explained that historically Steve King in the City Attorney’s office had taken the lead on the electrical system, serving on UAMPS (Utah Area Municipal Power Suppliers) before his retirement. That role was then filled by Robert Erquiaga who has moved on to pursue his legal career in Washoe County, and now Mackedon carries those duties. Additionally, O’Neill will serve as the point person for the city computers to work between the staff and the computer technicians when there are technology issues that must be handled.

Knell took exception to O’Neill’s appointment because he graduated from the University of Nevada, saying, “You came from a university that hates God…you need to reflect on your spirituality…you let the school system define who you are. I don’t want you in this position.”

Knell regularly attends local government meetings including county commission, board of health, and school board meetings where children are present and lectures during public comment, often quoting scripture to make his point. He begins his remarks at each meeting, which are made in a caustic, nasty, tone by saying, ‘I’m a thorn in the government’s side.”

During public comment at the opening of the meeting on Tuesday, Knell quoted from Psalms chapter two and vehemently exclaimed, “Our government is not following God’s standards, where is the city? All you worry about is sidewalks and streets.”

In a rare display of protective emotion, Tedford responded to Knell’s personal attack on O’Neill saying, “I’m the CEO of the city and when I make appointments, I interview people and I take great exception to what was just said. I served as a councilman since 1987 and Mayor since 1995 and every decision I make is based on morals, character, and values and our cabinet members get reminded of that monthly. Nobody has been appointed from 1987 to today who has lacked morals, characters, and values.” He explained that the city is not a political organization for all kinds of issues. “We are, right now, a really boring city. We do infrastructure. We spend a lot of time on sewer and water, the landfill, garbage, the airport, and yes sidewalks and streets. That’s what our citizens elected us to do.”

Erickson has a long history of serving the City of Fallon. He was elected Mayor for two terms from 1987-95, and as a City Councilman from 1983-87, and then again from 2005 to 2019. He also has had a contract with the city for several years serving as a lobbyist and also a consultant regarding the financial affairs when Gary Cordes, former Clerk/Treasurer retired. Erickson has also served on several committees including the Senior Center Board, Tourism Board, Economic Development Board, Insurance Committee, and the Audit Committee. As a small businessman, he and his wife Mary Beth owned the Fallon Theatre for decades. He too has a Business Administration degree from the University of Nevada.

Mayor Tedford said with so much going on in the city right now, bringing Erickson in for the next few years makes more sense than bringing in someone new who would need at least a year to learn the position and become effective.

Knell stood to protest Erickson’s appointment as well, questioning his effectiveness with the city. “It took me 23 years to get a stop sign in my neighborhood, that is not effective.” He also questioned whether Erickson has a conflict of interest, asking if Erickson would be double-dipping and getting money for his company.   

Tedford explained that Erickson does not have a company, that he had been working as an independent consultant to the city, and that contract is no longer in effect.

Erickson attempted to explain that there is a specific process for installing stop signs, however, Knell aggressively cut him off, yelling that he was unable to get stop signs installed over the years.

Mayor Tedford repeatedly used the gavel to restore order to the meeting, telling Knell, “You asked and it’s his turn to answer.”

Knell cut the mayor off as well, saying about Erickson, “He’s lecturing me.”

“You don’t get to interrupt,” said Tedford.

“I have a first amendment right,” yelled Knell.

The mayor replied, “You do not have a first amendment right to interrupt…”

Interrupting the mayor’s statement, Knell motioned toward Mike Mackedon, seated at the dais who serves as the City Attorney, saying, “City Attorney, explain it to him.”

“You want me to explain to him?” replied Mackedon incredulously.

Tedford told Knell, “You don’t get re-elected by the public three times if you don’t get things done.”

The council approved both appointments and the mayor performed the swearing-in ceremony.

During public comments, Knell said, “I’m not being heard. People on the street yell at me, calling me Satan, and someone behind my car on the street flipped me off. Mr. City Attorney, you need to read the Open Meeting Law of 2020,” and then quoted from a Supreme Court case, New York Times v. Sullivan, 1964, saying that the Supreme Court opined that we are a nation founded on a “national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.”

“I don’t have to be nice to you,” said Knell.

During staff reports, Mackedon said he was confident in both appointments of O’Neill and Erickson. “The appointment of Erickson will contribute to the effectiveness of the city, and he will earn his salary many times over. The city is on the threshold of several serious projects that will have serious public benefit for generations to come, today’s actions will enhance the effectiveness of the city and we will be well served.”

He then addressed Knell’s comments saying the Sullivan case would not apply to the city council meeting. “The mayor is in charge of the meeting as a matter of law and has the right to limit the discussion to matters that benefit the public.”

In researching the case, it applies to newspapers, specifically.

Tedford closed the meeting saying, “The way I operate council meetings we have a loose operation under Robert’s Rules of Order, but under great civility. Some meetings have been very tense, but it has served us well to maintain order and kindness. We allow people to slowly develop their questions and answers, and we don’t interrupt even when the sides differ greatly, and surely that is within the confines of how we operate our meetings, and we are going to continue to do that.”