WILLMAR -- In an order handed down Friday, Judge Michael J. Thompson ruled that Spicer's mayor, Perry Wohnoutka, did not violate the harassment restraining order against him by Dan Haats, the city's public works director, by criticizing Haats' work performance during a Dec. 26 meeting of the Spicer City Council.
Thompson's order concluded that both Wohnoutka and Haats are public officials, that Wohnoutka's actions at the meeting didn't constitute harassment and that a harassment restraining order cannot apply to a public official performing public business.
The judge also denied a motion to extend the restraining order, which was granted on Nov. 15 and ended Friday. Thompson noted in the memorandum of the order "and of course, if the respondent were to revert to threatening behavior that is not associated with conducting the public's business, a harassment restraining order may be issued. But based on the current status of this matter, the Court cannot extend the (harassment restraining order) past its expiration date."
-- Gretchen Schlosser
