Comms department probe took longer than expected, caused frustrations, former Fargo mayor says

FARGO — A federal lawsuit in which Fargo communications heads alleged the city created a "hostile workplace" suggested a rift between elected officials, city administration and human resources, but a former mayor says the investigation at the heart of a civil suit was a one-off incident. Former Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney told The Forum that a 2025 monthslong investigation into Communications and Government Affairs Department leadership could have moved faster. The pace of the probe frustrated four ex-communications leaders — Chief Communications Officer Gregg Schildberger, Deputy Chief Communications Manager Katie Ettish, former Creative Services Manager Ryan Green and former Project Manager Emily Groth — at the center of their employees' complaints, Mahoney said. I just think the nature of the complaint took longer to get through the investigation than we would have liked, he said, noting City Administrator Mike Redlinger and Human Resources Director Jill Minette weren't at f