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City of Tower removes Ambulance Director Dena Suihkonen after medical leave
Summary
On Dec. 29, 2025, the City of Tower council voted to terminate Ambulance Director Dena Suihkonen’s employment; the motion passed with three ayes and one abstention from Councilor John Van DeVoort, who cited a family relationship.
The City of Tower council voted Dec. 29, 2025, to terminate the employment of Ambulance Director Dena Suihkonen.
Mayor David Setterberg moved that, "effective immediately, the City of Tower terminate the employment of Dena Suihkonen and release her from the position of Ambulance Director." The motion was seconded by Councilor Bob Anderson and carried with Mayor Setterberg, Councilor Kevin Norby and Councilor Anderson voting yes; Councilor John Van DeVoort abstained, citing a family relationship. Councilor Joe Morin was absent.
Why it matters: The director oversees the city ambulance service, and the council’s action creates an immediate personnel vacancy and places interim administrative tasks with the mayor and, as noted in the motion, with Councilor Morin when action is required.
Context given at the meeting and in local reporting: Mayor Setterberg told the council that Suihkonen was injured while volunteering at an event in a neighboring township and that the city required a doctor’s release before she could resume duties. The Timberjay newspaper’s Dec. 26 interview with Suihkonen cited her doctor, Erin Grimsby, MD at Essentia, saying Suihkonen "should be able to undertake sedentary or seated tasks once she completes her rehabilitation in 12-24 months." The meeting minutes also record that, in that interview, Suihkonen said the doctor had stated she "will never be able to ride the ambulance or attend to emergency calls in the future." The council noted it had since received an updated note from Suihkonen’s doctor; the meeting minutes do not reproduce the updated note.
Council direction and next steps: The motion instructs the clerk/treasurer to prepare termination documentation and authorizes Mayor Setterberg and Councilor Morin to act on any tasks related to the matter. The minutes do not specify severance, appeal options, or a timeline for appointing an interim director.
What the minutes do not say: The record does not state whether the council held an executive-session discussion on the personnel matter, whether a formal personnel policy or union rules apply, or whether any medical-accommodation steps were considered prior to the motion. The Timberjay interview and the council record contain slightly different characterizations of the doctor’s statements; the minutes note only that the city received an "updated note" but do not attach or summarize its contents.
The clerk/treasurer is to prepare documentation as directed by the council; the minutes list no further administrative timelines.
