1 day ago · Feb. 5, 2025 Updated Wed., Feb. 5, 2025 at 2:59 p.m. Spokane Valley City Councilman Al Merkel speaks at a news conference in May. Merkel's fellow members of the Spokane Valley City Council voted ...

1 day ago · (The Center Square) – After months of contention, debate and investigations, the Spokane Valley City Council agreed to sue Councilmember Al Merkel on Tuesday to force him to comply with state law. The decision follows more than 60 public records requests related to Merkel, which the Valley claims they can’t fully respond to due to his ...

2 days ago · According to the City of Spokane Valley, it has received 60-plus public records requests associated with Merkel but was not able to fully respond to them related to social media because Merkel did ...

1 day ago · Spokane Valley City Council says that legal experts, including the city attorney and a third-party investigator, have determined that much of Merkel’s social media content is public record.

Jan 2, 2025 · Spokane Valley Councilman Al Merkel will no longer be representing the city on regional boards and committees following a failed appeal of an investigation that found he likely violated...

Sep 4, 2024 · SPOKANE VALLEY, WA — An investigation into Spokane Valley Councilmember Al Merkel’s conduct found Merkel in violation of the City of Spokane Valley Governance Manual and likely in violation of the Washington State Public Records Act.

Dec 27, 2024 · SPOKANE VALLEY – An investigation into City Councilman Al Merkel's conduct has led the City Council to unanimously censure him at a special meeting on Dec. 19. The investigation, confirmed by a third-party hearing examiner, found he violated the city's Social Media Policy and likely the Washington State Public Records Act.

May 9, 2024 · Spokane Valley City Councilman Al Merkel will continue to be sequestered from most city staffers after an independent investigation found a pattern of disrespectful behavior toward city staff.

May 9, 2024 · Spokane Valley, WA – The City of Spokane Valley concluded its investigation into the behavior of Councilmember Al Merkel. After interviewing 22 individuals, the independent investigator’s report states that Councilmember Merkel engaged in a pattern of disrespectful and intimidating behavior toward city staff.

Nov 12, 2024 · At the Nov. 5 Spokane Valley City Council meeting, an expense report on the agenda stated that two independent investigations found Merkel has displayed a pattern of intimidation and hostile...