A former city electrical inspector has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the City of Minot, alleging he was involuntarily forced to leave his position for reporting violations of the electrical code.
In a complaint filed in North Central District Court, Todd Mickelson is seeking back pay and employee benefits in excess of $75,000, interest on monetary damages and his court costs.
Mickelson was employed as an electrical inspector with the city from Sept. 22, 2014, until his termination on June 19, 2022. His complaint states that during his time as electrical inspector, his superiors constantly blocked his efforts to comply with codes, laws, regulations and standards governing the installation and repair of electrical service.
Among incidents cited in the complaint, Mickelson alleges:
– An ordinance was amended to eliminate his ability to order a disconnect in an emergency after he used the authority against a homeowner who refused to take corrective action following a windstorm that left unfused wires without protection to an open circuit in event of a fault.
– He was criticized by the building inspector for requesting an evaluation and engineering design to meet the National Fire Protection Act following an electrical short at the “Big M” building. In inspecting the newly installed electrode system installed for the building owner, Mickelson discovered a water line had frozen and burst, leaving the sprinkler system inoperable. The building inspector dismissed his...
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