Shakopee Councilor Luce citation, censure issues continue

Shakopee Valley News

Shakopee has a new city hall, but some old issues remain.

Shakopee City Councilor Mike Luce was cited June 23 for city code violations, including inoperable and unlicensed vehicles on his property, exterior storage in the form of chairs "piled in bushes," parking issues and a fence in need of repair, according to the code violation warning.

And he's continuing to go back-and-forth with city officials over it. In a recent voicemail to Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate, obtained by the Valley News, Luce said he has fixed these issues and asks why his citation has not been dismissed.

"If you're a man of integrity that I used to think you were, you'll give me a call back and tell me why this thing hasn't been cleared up," Luce said in the voicemail. "I've done everything on your list."

City staff emailed Luce May 10 to bring his attention to the code violations. Once citations are in the Scott County court system, the issue is no longer in the hands of city police. The department will only request a citation be voided if there's been some sort of mistake, such as the citation being issued to the wrong person or listing the wrong charge, Tate said.

The voicemail to Tate appears to violate the terms of Luce's May 3 censure by four colleagues on the City Council. He is banned from contacting any city staff other than City Administrator Bill Reynolds.

In the voicemail, Luce said Reynolds is "being vindictive" and Tate "is a part of it at this point."

In a Wednesday email to members of the city council, the mayor and the city attorney, Reynolds addressed the voicemail.

"This message is exceptionally out of line," Reynolds wrote. "No Councilor Luce we are not being vindictive. We initially didn't charge you as a repeat offender — which we had every right to. We gave you multiple extensions to try and coax you to comply."

Luce said his lawyer said if he updated the tabs on his vehicle by the time a court date was held, the situation would be resolved, according to a Shakopee Valley News story.

Luce has a mandatory court appearance Aug. 28 for the citation.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated Luce had been censured in a 3-0 vote. It was actually 4-0. We regret the error.