City officials, AG’s office tight-lipped about investigation

SANDPOINT — Investigators from the Idaho Attorney General’s office are probing practices at Dover City Hall.

Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson said he received a complaint over how city business was being conducted and referred it to the attorney general for investigation and prosecution should any be warranted.

Robinson said the complaint involves how budget expenditures were carried out and decisions involving personnel. He declined to be more specific.

“I’ve not seen the investigation,” Robinson said on Monday.

Robinson said he asked the AG’s office to investigate the complaint to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest and to sidestep the possibility that a neighboring municipality would be asked to investigate.

The office of attorney general, meanwhile, neither admits nor denies an investigation is under way.

“Our policy is that we don’t comment on investigations,” said Bob Cooper, communications director for the Idaho attorney general’s office.

Elected and appointed city officials also decline to discuss the matter.

“We’ve been asked not to speak of it,” said Councilwoman Maggie Becker, who added the advice came from the AG’s office.

Mayor Randy Curless did not respond Monday to a request for comment.

“I can’t talk about it,” said city Clerk Laurie Katana.

Art Bistline, the city’s legal counsel, said Monday he would not discuss the investigation unless city officials authorized him to do so.