YOU CAN'T INTENTIONALLY DO THINGS WRONG, AND THEN HOPE THAT
EVERYTHING WILL COME
OUT 'RIGHT' !!
My Webpages Expose The ' COVER UP' Of PUBLIC OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT & CORRUPTION
Taking Place In The CITY OF HAMBURG
That I've Uncovered In
MINNE$OTA'$
WEALTHIE$T COUNTY !!
'Scroll Down' To The 'LINKS' Provided Below To See
Just Some Of Those Very Popular WEBPAGES
Describing WHAT'S TAKING PLACE
And WHO IS INVOLVED Appear Below:
Read The ACTUAL (But UNANSWERED) LETTERS Sent To HAMBURG'S MAYOR
Seeking ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS To WHAT'S TAKING PLACE !!
Hamburg's 'ANSWER' To Hennepin County Attorney MARY MORIARITY.
Read The ACTUAL NEBULOUS, VAGUE And EVASIVE RESPONSES By
The CITY OF HAMBURG Trying To FURTHER 'COVER UP' What's
Taking Place In The City With It's PUBLIC OFFICIALS !!
'Companion Website' To My Book By The Same Name About
WHAT'S TAKING PLACE In The CITY OF HAMBURG By It's PUBLIC OFFICIALS !!
You WON'T HEAR About WHAT'S TAKING PLACE In The CITY OF HAMBURG On
TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION's CHANNEL 2 Or Any Other TWIN CITIES
TV or RADIO STATION And You WON'T READ ABOUT IT In ANY Newspaper
Because Of The IDENTITY Of The PUBLIC OFFICIALS INVOLVED
And The ELECTED POSITIONS THEY HOLD !!
Currently In The Process Of Being 'Resurrected'.
What's Taking Place BEGAN MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO When I Was Elected To The
HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL And Started 'DIGGING UP' The FACTS
And INFORMATION About What Was Taking Place !!
The CITY OF HAMBURG WASTED $50,000.00 TAXPAYER DOLLARS Trying To UNSUCCESSFULLY Force
Me Off The HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL !!
When I Sought To Be Elected Mayor of Hamburg
In 2022, Here Were My 'Visions':
See A MORE COMPLETE LIST Of LINKS To My Various Webpages At
"THE 'COVER UP', MORE THAN THE INITIAL WRONGDOING; IS WHAT IS MOST
LIKELY TO BRING YOU DOWN."
MADELYN ALBRIGHT, (Retired)
UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE
HAMBURG TAXPAYER DOLLARS
HAMBURG TAXPAYER DOLLARS
HAMBURG'S REVEALING 'PAPER TRAIL'
THE REQUESTS. THE RESPONSES. THE DELAYS. THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
This webpage contains actual correspondence, public-records requests, government documents,
and responses involving the City of Hamburg, Minnesota.
The purpose is to provide residents with access to the underlying documents so they can examine the information, follow the chronology of events,
and reach their own conclusions.a Correspondence and related records will be added as they become available. Where requests
remain pending, their status will be identified and updated.
READ THE DOCUMENTS. REVIEW THE FACTS.
DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.
COPYRIGHT 2026
RICHARD ODOMS
Retired Deputy Sheriff * Current Hamburg Resident * Hamburg City Council Member 2013 - 2017
Before anyone gets their underwear in a knot, be advised that this Website and/or any of its contents, may NOT be printed, photographed, reproduced, copied, recorded,
altered, modified or adapted, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the Webmaster. The entire content of this Website remains the exclusive and
sole property of the Website owner and publisher and is protected under the First Amendment Of The Constitution of the United States of America.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE !!
The CITY OF HAMBURG, for the THIRD TIME; is ONCE AGAIN USING 'LEGAL GYMNASTICS', by INVOLVING 'contract'
HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia Based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN; in their
UNETHICAL and IMMORAL ATTEMPTS to WITHHOLD 'PUBLIC INFORMATION' FROM THE PUBLIC.!! (That's WHY it's called 'PUBLIC INFORMATION' !!)
Anybody else 'SMELL ANOTHER RAT' ??
The REASON that the CITY OF HAMBURG won't release/provide the PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTED. is because
THE CITY KNOWS that the INFORMATION BEING SOUGHT, GREATLY BENEFITS THE TREBESCH FAMILY involving
the FRIVILOUS, VINDICTIVE and RETALIATORY LEGAL ACTION initiated by the CITY OF HAMBURG, AGAINST THE TREBESCH FAMILY !!
What the CITY OF HAMBURG is doing amounts to OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE and
PUBLIC OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT !!
ALL SERIOUS CRIMINAL ACTS committed during the course of PREPARING FOR A CRIMINAL TRIAL !!
WHY AREN'T THESE PEOPLE IN JAIL and 'OUT OF A JOB' ??
As for 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM's involvement .....
MINNESOTA RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT - RULE #4
In the context of Minnesota's Rules of Professional Conduct, "Rule 4" generally refers to the rules addressing a lawyer's conduct towards third persons, including non-clients.
Specifically, these rules cover areas like truthfulness in statements, dealing with unrepresented persons, and
the respect for the rights of others. These rules aim to ensure lawyers act ethically and responsibly when
interacting with individuals outside of the lawyer-client relationship.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of Rule 4:
Rule 4.1: Truthfulness in Statements to Others:
This rule prohibits lawyers from making false statements of material fact or law to third persons. It also addresses misleading omissions that are the equivalent of false statements.
Rule 4.4: Respect for Rights of Third Persons:
.
This rule addresses a lawyer's conduct that could embarrass, delay, or burden a third party. It also prohibits a lawyer from obtaining evidence through means that violate the rights of a third person, including inadvertent disclosures
of information.
In essence, Minnesota's Rule 4 emphasizes the importance of honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all interactions with third parties during the course of legal representation.
WHY DOESN'T DOHM BELIEVE THAT SHE, TOO; IS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE ETHICAL and
PROFESSIONAL RULES OF HER OWN PROFESSION ??
IT'S NOW TIME to involve the OFFICE OF LAWYERS PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY because of DOHM'S UNETHICAL and UNPROFESSIONAL LAWYER MISCONDUCT !!
Fortunately, 'DEPUTY' CARVER COUNTY ATTORNEY PETER IVY is NO LONGER A MEMBER of the OFFICE OF LAWYER'S PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY's 'Governing Board' as he was in 2020.
Because of that fact, DOHM will NOT HAVE 'DEPUTY' CARVER COUNTY ATTORNEY PETER IVY AVAILABLE TO INTENTIONALLY 'DERAIL' and 'COVER-UP' another FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF UNETHICAL and
UNPROFESSIONAL LAWYER MISCONDUCT, made to the OFFICE OF LAWYER'S PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY; like took place INVOLVING DOHM IN 2020.
See
FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION .....
PUBLIC CORRUPTION
“THE TOP CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE PRIORITY BECAUSE IT POSES A FUNDAMENTAL THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY & WAY OF LIFE.”
HAMBURG
TAXPAYER DOLLARS
HAMBURG
TAXPAYER DOLLARS
HAMBURG
TAXPAYER DOLLARS
HAMBURG TAXPAYER DOLLARS
THE DOCUMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Here you can read the actual correspondence between Hamburg residents, City officials, and the City's legal representatives. Examine the requests,
review the responses, and see which questions remain unanswered. Residents DESERVE to know how your City government conducts its business.
September 18, 2026
C E R T I F I E D L E T TE R
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
181 Broadway Street - P.O. Box 248
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
RE: CONTINUING REQUEST FOR PUBLIC GOVERNMENT DATA — PAYMENTS TO
MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN
Mr. Gruenhagen:
I am writing concerning my original public-data request submitted directly to you, which was accompanied by a completed and signed City Request for Information form.
The City accepted that request and subsequently responded by providing a single total dollar amount representing what the City claimed had been paid to Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin during the dates specified.
Because that response did not disclose the underlying records from which the amount was derived, my September 11, 2026 correspondence requested the existing public government data supporting that figure, including the applicable invoices, payment records, claims-list entries, ledger entries, checks, registers, or other records reflecting those payments.
On September 15, 2026, I received correspondence from ‘contract’ City Attorney Kelly C. Dohm stating:
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
September 18, 2026
Page 2
“Please return the completed form back directly to me on the City’s behalf. After I receive your completed Data Practices Act request form, the City will accordingly respond.”
That directive raises two separate issues that require clarification.
First, I already submitted the City’s completed and signed request form with my original request. The City accepted that request and acted upon it. My September 11 correspondence concerns the same subject matter and seeks the existing records underlying the City’s own response. I therefore see no legitimate reason why access to those records should now be conditioned upon my completing a second, duplicative form.
Second, Ms. Dohm has directed that any additional request be submitted directly to her personally, rather than to you as City Clerk/Treasurer.
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 provides that government data requests are handled by the government entity’s responsible authority or an authorized designee. For a City, the City Clerk serves as the responsible authority unless another individual has been properly designated by the governing body. The City is also required to identify its responsible authority and any designees responsible for responding to public-data requests.
Accordingly, please provide me with the following:
The City Council resolution, ordinance, written designation, Data Practices policy, or other official City record designating Kelly C. Dohm as the City of Hamburg’s Responsible Authority or authorized designee for purposes of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13;
The date upon which that designation was made;
The scope of Ms. Dohm’s authority to receive, control, process, approve, or deny public-data requests submitted to the City of
Hamburg; and
The City’s current written Data Practices policy identifying its Responsible Authority, designees, and Data Practices Compliance Official.
If no such designation exists, please explain the legal or administrative authority under which Ms. Dohm is directing me to
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
September 18, 2026
Page 3
submit City public-data requests directly to her and conditioning the City’s response upon her personal receipt of another form.
For clarity, I am not asking the City to create a new report or perform a new accounting. I am requesting the existing public records from which the City derived the amount previously provided to me.
Minnesota Statutes § 13.03 requires procedures ensuring that requests for government data are received and complied with in an appropriate and prompt manner, and requires copies of public data to be supplied as soon as reasonably possible when they cannot be immediately provided.
I therefore request that the City provide the previously requested underlying records without imposing another duplicative procedural requirement.
If the City refuses access to any requested data, please identify in writing the specific statutory authority upon which that refusal is based, as required by Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(f).
This correspondence should be treated as a continuation and clarification of my existing request and preserved as part of the record of that request.
Sincerely,
Richard Odoms, 2026 HAMBURG MAYORAL CANDIDATE
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
cc: Kelly C. Dohm, ‘contract’ Hamburg City Attorney
September 11, 2026
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer Jeremy Gruenhagen
181 Broadway Avenue * PO Box 248
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
RE: REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION AND SUPPORTING RECORDS —
CITY ATTORNEY/LEGAL EXPENDITURES
Thank you for providing the figure of $278,584.94 as the total amount paid by the City of Hamburg to Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin, P.A. from January 1, 2013 to the present.
After reviewing that amount, I have questions concerning whether it represents the complete legal expenditure incurred by the City during the period requested.
I am not presently asserting that the figure you provided is incorrect. However, based upon my familiarity with City operations, my review over the years of monthly claims lists, and the frequency with which the City has sought legal advice and representation, the amount provided appears substantially lower than I would have expected.
During the period in question, the City has been involved in numerous matters requiring legal services, including prolonged litigation, ordinance-enforcement proceedings, employment and personnel matters, correspondence with residents, preparation and review of City documents, attendance at City Council meetings, and other matters requiring specialized legal advice.
It has also been my observation that, depending upon the nature of the matter involved, multiple attorneys from the City’s contracted law firm have provided services to Hamburg, apparently at varying hourly billing rates.
For that reason, I respectfully request sufficient documentation to allow the $278,584.94 figure to be independently verified.
Specifically, please provide or identify the records showing:
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
September 11, 2026
Page 2
The methodology used to calculate the $278,584.94 total.
A year-by-year total of payments made to Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin, P.A. from January 1, 2013 through the present.
The invoices, claims-list entries, general-ledger entries, check-register entries or other accounting records upon which that total was based.
The hourly billing rates charged to the City during that period, including any changes in those rates and, where applicable, differing rates charged by individual attorneys, paralegals or other personnel.
Whether the amount supplied includes all legal services and related expenses, including litigation, court appearances, telephone conferences, email correspondence, document preparation, research, travel, filing fees and other reimbursable expenses.
Whether any legal expenses incurred on behalf of the City were paid through insurance, another governmental entity, reimbursement, settlement proceeds or some source other than a direct City payment and therefore were not included in the $278,584.94 figure.
I have previously requested information concerning the hourly rate paid by the City for legal services. Because the billing rate is essential to understanding and evaluating the cost of those services, I again respectfully request that information for the annual periods specified.
My purpose in requesting these records is straightforward: the amount of public money expended for legal representation should be capable of verification through the City’s own financial records.
Given the number and duration of legal matters occurring during this period, an independent review of those records by a qualified “outside” accounting professional — could readily confirm the accuracy of the figure provided or identify any amounts inadvertently omitted from the calculation.
Such a review would benefit everyone involved by replacing speculation with independently verified financial information.
I therefore respectfully request that the City provide the records supporting the $278,584.94 figure and consider having the total independently verified.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.
Respectfully,
Richard Odoms
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
October 2, 2026
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
Responsible Authority and Compliance Official
City of Hamburg
181 Broadway
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
RE: REQUEST TO INSPECT PUBLIC RECORDS RELATING TO LEGAL FEES
PAID TO MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN, PLLP — JANUARY 1, 2013
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
Dear Mr. Gruenhagen:
Enclosed is an additional completed City of Hamburg General Data Access Request form concerning the public records identified in my September 18, 2026 letter regarding legal fees and payments made by the City of Hamburg to Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin, PLLP.
I continue to believe that a second request form should not have been necessary. My September 18 letter clearly asked for the detailed public records supporting the total amount of legal fees previously provided by the City.
Nevertheless, I am submitting the additional form to eliminate any possible argument that another form is required and to remove any claimed procedural reason for further delay.
THIS ADDITIONAL FORM DOES NOT WITHDRAW, REPLACE, OR RESTART MY SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 REQUEST. IT SIMPLY CONFIRMS AND CLARIFIES THAT REQUEST.
Attorney Kelly C. Dohm's September 28 letter states that the City's legal-fee information is
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
Responsible Authority and Compliance Official
October 2, 2026
Page 2
stored electronically in QuickBooks. Her letter asks whether I want the QuickBooks information itself, the records supporting those entries, copies of the records, or an opportunity to inspect them. This letter answers those questions clearly.
RECORDS I AM REQUESTING TO INSPECT
I am requesting the opportunity to inspect the existing public records showing and supporting payments made by the City of Hamburg to Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin, PLLP, from January 1, 2013 through September 10, 2026.
Those records include:
1. The City's QuickBooks entries showing payments to Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin, PLLP;
2. Invoices and billing statements submitted by the law firm;
3. Claims-list entries showing payments to the law firm;
4. Check-register entries, payment records, vouchers, general-ledger entries, or other City accounting records relating to those payments;
5. Records showing the date, amount, invoice number, payee, and description associated with those payments; and
6. Any existing reports, spreadsheets, summaries, or accounting records already maintained by the City concerning those legal expenses.
I am not asking the City to create a new report, perform new calculations, or prepare a new accounting. I am asking to inspect existing public records already maintained by the City.
Minnesota law provides that government data are public unless specifically classified otherwise by law. It also requires government entities to establish procedures so requests for public data are handled in an appropriate and prompt manner.
Minnesota Rule 1205.0300 further requires access to public data without regard to the reason a person wants the information and requires government entities to respond to access requests within a reasonable time.
I AM REQUESTING INSPECTION, NOT COPIES
To remove any issue concerning copying charges, mailing costs, search charges, or other ex-
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
Responsible Authority and Compliance Official
October 2, 2026
Page 3
penses, I am requesting inspection of the records rather than copies at this time.
Minnesota Statutes §13.03, subdivision 3(a), provides that a person must be allowed to inspect public government data at reasonable times and places. It also specifically provides that when a person requests inspection, the government entity may not charge a fee simply for allowing the person to inspect the data.
The City's own Data Practices form also recognizes inspection as an available option and states
that inspection is free while charges may apply to copies.
Accordingly, copying or production costs should not delay scheduling my inspection of these public records.
INSPECTION AT HAMBURG CITY HALL
I request that the records be made available for inspection at:
Hamburg City Hall
181 Broadway
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
The City's own written Data Practices policy identifies the City Clerk/Treasurer at Hamburg City Hall as the City's Responsible Authority and Compliance Official for public-data requests.
Minnesota law requires that public data be available for inspection at reasonable times and places. Given that Hamburg's own policy identifies the City Clerk/Treasurer at City Hall as the City's Responsible Authority, I believe City Hall is the reasonable and appropriate location for inspection of these City records.
I therefore do not agree that I should be required to inspect City records at the private office of the City's contract attorney.
If the City believes that these records cannot reasonably be inspected at Hamburg City Hall, please state that position in writing and explain the factual and legal basis for requiring inspection at another location.
CONDITIONS OF INSPECTION
I expect the inspection to take place in an ordinary, professional, and non-interfering manner
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
Responsible Authority and Compliance Official
October 2, 2026
Page 4
I expect to be allowed to review the requested public records without unnecessary interference, intimidation, harassment, retaliation, or other conditions that would interfere with or discourage the lawful inspection of public records.
The City may, of course, take reasonable steps to protect original records, preserve City files, maintain normal security, and prevent access to information that is legally classified as nonpublic.
However, I do not believe that inspection of public City records requires the presence of outside
legal counsel or multiple law-office personnel. If the City believes such supervision is legally
required, please identify the legal authority supporting that position.
ANY RECORDS WITHHELD OR REDACTED
I understand that certain limited portions of attorney-related records could contain information protected by attorney-client privilege, attorney work product, or another law.
Minnesota Statutes §13.393 addresses data maintained by attorneys acting professionally for government entities, but it also states that the section does not relieve the government's responsible authority from the duties imposed by Chapter 13.
Therefore, if the City withholds or redacts any responsive information, please identify:
- What information is being withheld or redacted; and
- The specific statute, federal law, or other legal authority relied upon for doing so.
The existence of protected information in part of a record should not be used as a reason to withhold other portions that are public.
NO FURTHER PROCEDURAL DELAY SHOULD BE NECESSARY
Attorney Dohm's September 28 letter states that the City wanted another Data Practices request form before continuing to process my request. That additional form is now being provided.
The City now has:
1. My original request for the legal-fee information;
2. My September 18, 2026 letter requesting the detailed records supporting the total amount previously provided;.
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen
Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer
Responsible Authority and Compliance Official
October 2, 2026
Page 5
3. Attorney Dohm's September 28 acknowledgment that the City's legal-fee information is stored electronically in QuickBooks;
4. My clarification that I want to inspect both the QuickBooks accounting entries and the existing documents supporting those entries, including invoices, billing statements, payment records, claims-list entries, and other related City records; and
5. My clear request to inspect those records rather than obtain copies at this time.
There should therefore be no remaining uncertainty about the records I am requesting or how I wish to review them.
I request that the City now provide me, promptly and without further unnecessary delay, with reasonable dates and times when these records will be available for inspection at Hamburg City Hall.
The enclosed additional request form should not be treated as creating a new request date or restarting the time for responding to my September 18 request. I am providing it solely to remove the additional procedural issue raised by the City and its attorney.
Nothing in this letter or the enclosed form waives any position I have previously taken regarding the City's handling or timing of these requests.
Please respond in writing.
Sincerely,
RICHARD ODOMS
Enclosures
HAMBURG TAXPAYER DOLLARS
HAMBURG
TAXPAYER DOLLARS
In addition to the Rules and Minnesota Statutes lawyers, whether public or private,
are subjected to
Prepared & Paid for by Richard Odoms, Candidate for Mayor of Hamburg, Minnesota. 150 Jacob Street, Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
October 15, 2026
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
181 Broadway Avenue - PO Box 248
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
FORMAL REQUEST FOR PUBLIC GOVERNMENT DATA
ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDED COMPENSATION PAID TO YOU,
OVER AND ABOVE YOUR REGULAR SALARY,
JANUARY 1, 2013, THROUGH OCTOBER 15, 2026
PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTES §§ 13.03 AND 13.43:
As not only a resident of the City of Hamburg but also as an ANNOUNCED HAMBURG MAYORAL CANDIDATE in this fall’s November 3rd, 2026 election, and pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, specifically Minnesota Statutes §§ 13.03 and 13.43; I hereby formally request the opportunity to personally inspect all existing public government records documenting ALL ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDED COMPENSATION PAID TO YOU, OVER AND ABOVE YOUR REGULAR SALARY, during the period January 1, 2013, through October 15, 2026.
This includes any additional taxpayer funded compensation you received for performing City-related duties outside normal business hours, on weekends, holidays, or at other times, including duties commonly identified as "ROUNDS," "CALL-OUTS," or other supplemental work assignments.
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND — SEPTEMBER 2015 CLOSED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
During September 2015, a special closed Hamburg City Council meeting was held in the Norwood-Young America Room at Hamburg City Hall, rather than in the regular City Council chambers.
Present at that meeting were Mayor Richard Malz; City Councilmembers Christopher M. Lund, Robert Gregonis,
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
October 15, 2026
Page 2
Steve Trebesch, and myself, Richard Odoms; you, in your capacity as Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer; and ‘contract’ Hamburg City Attorney Kelly C. Dohm of the Waconia based law firm of Melchert, Hubert & Sjodin.
During that meeting, the subject of your receiving additional taxpayer funded compensation for performing certain City-related duties, including manually recording daily water and wastewater system meter readings during the absence of the City's Public Works employee, was briefly discussed.
Those duties included recording meter readings at the City's main lift station in Bi-Centennial Park, the Jacob Street ‘grinder station’ and the City’s Water Treatment Plant, adjacent to the City Hall/Fire/Department facility.
During that discussion, City Attorney Kelly C. Dohm expressly advised you, the HAMBURG MAYOR and ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, IN YOUR PRESENCE; that YOU were NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDED COMPENSATION, over and above your regular salary, for performing those, or any; City-related duties.
As a City Councilmember personally present at that meeting, I distinctly recall Attorney Dohm's statement, as will other Hamburg City Officials wh were in attendance.
I further recall that there was NO DISAGREEMENT, NO OBJECTION, and NO FURTHER DISCUSSION concerning ’contract’ HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM’S ADVICE TO ALL HAMBURG CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT, that taxpayer funded compensation paid to you for performing ‘after hours’ City related duties and tasks using taxpayer dollars, was improper.
I am unaware of any recording or minutes documenting what took place during that Special ‘closed’ meeting, exist. If either DO exist, please advise me accordingly.
The foregoing is my personal recollection of the meeting, as a bona fide participant; and provides historical context for this public-records request.
II. SPECIFIC GOVERNMENT RECORDS REQUESTED
1. ALL ADDITIONAL TAX PAYER FUNDED COMPENSATION PAID TO YOU
I request access to all existing public payroll, accounting, and financial records identifying every taxpayer funded payment you received over and above your regular salary during the specified period; January 1, 2013 to October 15, 2026 inclusive.
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
October 15, 2026
Page 3
For each such taxpayer funded payment, I request records documenting, to the extent maintained:
The date you performed the work.
The date you received taxpayer funded payment.
The actual taxpayer funded amount you were paid.
The specific duty or task for which you received taxpayer funded compensation.
The number of hours, days, rounds, or other units for which you were paid.
The applicable rate of taxpayer funded compensation.
The stated basis for the additional taxpayer funded compensation.
The equivalent number of ‘compensatory time’ hours you may have received.
The City account or payroll classification under which the raxpayer fumded payment was recorded.
2. WEEKEND, HOLIDAY, AND AFTER-HOURS "ROUNDS"
I specifically request all existing public records documenting taxpayer funded payments you received for performing daily "ROUNDS" at the City's water treatment plant, main lift station, Jacob Street grinder station, and other City facilities.
This request includes taxpayer funded compensation paid to you for performing such duties on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and at any other time outside your normal working hours.
3. OTHER ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
I further request all existing public records documenting additional taxpayer funded compensation you received for any other City-related duties beyond those ordinarily encompassed by your regular salary.
This includes call-outs, emergency responses, special assignments, additional work responsibilities, or any other supplemental taxpayer funded payments, regardless of the terminology used to describe those taxpayer funded payments.
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
October 15, 2026
Page 4
4. PAYROLL, QUICKBOOKS, AND FINANCIAL RECORDS
I request access to all existing public records containing or supporting the taxpayer funded payments described above, including:
Payroll registers and payroll journals.
QuickBooks transaction records and general ledger entries.
City Council claims lists and payment approvals.
Payment vouchers and supporting documentation.
Existing time records and records of rounds or call-outs.
Records distinguishing your regular salary from additional taxpayer funded compensation.
Where responsive records contain both public and nonpublic information, I request access to the public portions with any legally nonpublic information appropriately redacted.
5. CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION AND COMPENSATION RATE CHANGES
I request all existing public records documenting when, how, and by whose authority additional taxpayer funded compensation was authorized for you.
These records include City Council motions, resolutions, meeting minutes, employee handbook provisions, compensation schedules, written authorizations, and any subsequent amendments.
I specifically seek records relating to the City Council's consideration and authorization of additional taxpayer funded compensation during or around October 2015, including the motion introduced by then-Councilmember Christopher M. Lund, in DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE ADVICE GIVEN THE HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL by ‘contract’ HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM approximately ONE MONTH EARLIER in September 2015.
I also request records documenting EVERY CHANGE OR INCREASE IN THE RATE OF TAXPAYER FUNDED COMPENSATION payable to you for rounds, call-outs, or other additional duties, including the effective date and
authorization for each change.
6. SEPTEMBER 2015 SPECIAL CLOSED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
I additionally request any existing public records identifying:
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
October 15, 2026
Page 5
The exact date of the September 2015 special closed meeting.
The stated purpose of that meeting.
The statutory authority cited for closing the meeting.
Any meeting notice or agenda.
Any minutes or attendance records.
Any recording of the meeting, if one was created and remains maintained by the City. If no audio recording of the meeting was made, please explain the reason for the Special ‘Closed’ City Council meeting NOT BEING RECORDED.
I recognize that legally privileged attorney-client communications and other properly classified nonpublic data may not be available for inspection. This request is limited to records or portions of records classified as public.
III. TIME PERIOD COVERED
This request covers JANUARY 1, 2013, THROUGH OCTOBER 15, 2026, INCLUSIVE.
Because October 15, 2026, is the date as of this letter, I request access to records presently maintained, together with responsive records created or received through October 15, 2026.
If a separate supplemental request is required for records not yet in existence, please advise me.
IV. INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS AT HAMBURG CITY HALL
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3, I request the opportunity to personally inspect the responsive public government data at reasonable times and places.
MY REQUESTED LOCATION FOR INSPECTION IS HAMBURG CITY HALL, the City's regular government office, where you serve as the Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer.
If you believe that inspection must occur elsewhere, I request that you identify the proposed location and explain the circumstances requiring that arrangement.
I am requesting access to existing government records and data, not requiring you or the City to create a new report, perform a new accounting analysis, or prepare a document that does not already exist.
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
October 15, 2026
Page 6
I understand that inspection of public government data is available without an inspection fee under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3.
Following inspection, I may request copies of selected records, subject to any copying charges authorized by law.
V. EXISTING RECORDS AND DATA AVAILABILITY
If records responsive to this request are maintained by the City's payroll service, outside accounting firm, auditor, or another contractor on behalf of the City, I request access to responsive public government data maintained by those entities on the City's behalf.
If particular records cannot be located, no longer exist, or were never created, please identify the affected categories to the extent you can determine from the City's existing records.
If you deny access to any requested data because of its legal classification, please identify the specific statutory authority for that denial, as required by Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3(f).
VI. FORMAL REQUEST FOR RESPONSE
I request written acknowledgment of this formal request, together with information identifying when and where the responsive public government records will be made available for my inspection.
If all responsive records cannot reasonably be made available at the same time, I request that existing, readily accessible public records and/or a cumulative total of additional taxpayer funded compensation be made available as they are identified, rather than withholding the entire collection until every record has been located.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO DETERMINE, FROM EXISTING GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL RECORDS, THE DATES, AMOUNTS, PURPOSES, AND AUTHORIZATIONS FOR ALL ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDED COMPENSATION YOU RECEIVED FROM HAMBURG TAXPAYER FUNDS OVER AND ABOVE YOUR REGULAR SALARY.
This is a new, independent formal request for public government data and is separate from my previous requests concerning taxpayer funded payments made to the City's contracted law firm.
I look forward to your response and to arranging a mutually reasonable time for inspection of the requested public records.
Mr. Jeremy Gruenhagen, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Hamburg
October 15, 2026
Page 7
Respectfully,
Richard Odoms
Hamburg Resident, Current Mayoral Candidate & Former Hamburg City Council Member
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
Enclosure: City of Hamburg Request For Public Information Form
 | ||||
SOME of the many NEBULOUS EXCUSES that I have received from the CITY OF HAMBURG in their efforts to PREVENT ME FROM RECEIVING PUBLIC INFORMATION:
"The City does not have a responsibility to simply answer all questions as you have posed them in your correspondence dated May 29, 2024, unless the answer to the questions can be found in municipal data.'
"Government data” does not include unrecorded mental impression of government employees or city council members. Keezer v. Spickard, 493 N.W.2d 614 (Minn. Ct. App. 1993)."
"As stated by the Court of Appeals, “we cannot believe the legislature intended the term ‘government data,’ to be literally interpreted to include unrecorded data that exists only in a human brain. Interpreting ‘government data’ to include mental impressions formed by public employees during the course of employment would lead to absurd results.” 493 N.W.2d at 617."
"The City’s responses to your non-duplicative requests from May 29, 2024 are as follows:"
• 6) Please explain why as the Mayor of Hamburg (Lund) would you even think that deceiving the residents of Hamburg wasn’t unacceptable by attempting to cover up the criminal actions of your child against the City of Hamburg and its residents??
"Response: The City is not interpreting your question to be a data practices act request and therefore is not providing a response to the above question. Your question is also vague and ambiguously drafted."
• 8) There can be no excuse for your actions, particularly because of the elected
position that you hold. What type of parent, let alone the mayor of the City of
Hamburg, would act so irresponsibly by covering up the criminal actions of his own
son?"
"Response: The City is not interpreting your question to be a data practices act request and therefore is not providing a response to the above question.
Your question is also vague and ambiguously drafted."
• 11) Was your son or anyone that you know or are familiar with in any way involved with the actions described above?"
"Response: The City is not interpreting your question to be a data practices act request and therefore is not providing a response to the above question."
"Your question is also vague and ambiguously drafted."
"19) Please provide details of this unreported criminal act of vandalism against the City of Hamburg that occurred at the Hamburg Service Memorial in Bicentennial Park, which was paid for with public donations and pays honor and is a tribute to military, law enforcement and fire and emergency services personnel worldwide."
"Response: The City is not in possession of responsive data to this request and therefore is not providing a response to the above question.
Your question is also vague and ambiguously drafted."
"• 28) If Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer Jeremy Gruenhagen was directed by any Hamburg city officials to advise the Carver County Sheriff’s Office to (paraphrasing) cancel their burglary/theft report and that the City would handle it internally, what is the identity of the Hamburg public officials who so advised Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer Jeremy Gruenhagen to do so?"
"Response: The City is not interpreting your question to be a data practices act request and therefore is not providing a response to the above question.
Your question is also vague and ambiguously drafted."
ONE OF THE MORE 'INTERESTING SECRETS' that I uncovered is that the
CITY OF HAMBURG
has been
VIOLATING
IT'S OWN ORDINANCE
FOR OVER
30 YEARS !!
It's
NO WONDER
that the
CITY OF HAMBURG
REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE INFORMATION
THAT I
eventually
UNCOVERED !!
Please check back to
SEE THE EVIDENCE
and the
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
that I
SENT TO
THE CITY !!
Of course,
THE CITY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST !!
