The organization overseeing the construction of the $1 billion Vikings stadium is looking for a new treasurer following the controversial resignation of the previous one.
The Star Tribune reports that the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority is taking applications through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office until July 17, following the departure of gubernatorial appointee Duane Benson earlier this month.
His successor, who will be appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton and paid $55 per diem plus expenses, will be part of an authority that “controls, operates, and has the responsibility over the professional football stadium,” the newspaper notes.
According to WCCO, Benson resigned after a falling out with authority chair Michele Kelm-Helgen, claiming that during a cellphone conversation about pay equity she called him a liar – something Kelm-Helgen said she did not recall doing.
The TV station notes that Benson had questioned Kelm-Helgen’s position overseeing construction of the $1 billion stadium – half of which is taxpayer funded – arguing that many of her responsibilities as chair mimic those of Ted Mondale, the authority’s CEO.
The Business Journal notes that this pay debate was sparked after an outside consultant said that Kelm-Helgen should get a pay-raise to match the $162,000 that Mondale makes – a proposal that Kelm-Helgen herself rejected.
The website says that Benson’s resignation was announced at a meeting last Friday and that it will be effective Aug. 1.
