SIOUX CITY — During Monday's Sioux City Council meeting, a handful of citizens spoke in support of the city's cultural inclusion liaison, who has been serving an indefinite suspension since February.
Some of them held artwork featuring Semehar Ghebrekidan's likeness, which was created by local artist Jessica Hammond. Hammond was among Ghebrekidan's supporters who addressed the council.
"This artwork I created is a representation of Semehar and all the beautiful work she does in our community. She's educated, highly qualified and recognized as a leader, not only locally, but nationally," Hammond said. "She listens to people. She connects people with the resources they need and gives everybody a chance for their voices to be heard."
Local artist Jessica Hammond speaks to the Sioux City Council Monday at City Hall in support of Semehar Ghebrekidan. Ghebrekidan, the city's c…
According to an internal memo obtained by The Journal, Ghebrekidan was suspended with pay effective Feb. 21, pending the completion of an investigation concerning "violations of city work rules." Ghebrekidan, who has been employed with the city since 2021 and oversees the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee, reports to the City Manager's Office and is not a department head.
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City staff and council members have said little publicly about Ghebrekidan's suspension. City Attorney Nicole DuBois said personnel matters are confidential and "the city is prohibited from comments." DuBois also denied multiple open records requests concerning Ghebrekidan's suspension, which were made by The Journal under the Freedom of Information Act. Mayor Bob Scott previously said Ghebrekidan has hired an attorney, so the City Council doesn't "have the privilege or the opportunity to say anything in the public about that."
On Monday, Scott read a prepared statement that said the city and the council is "committed to creating more opportunities for inclusivity" and supports the efforts of the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee, which provides guidance to the council on matters relating to diversity, inclusion and equity. Scott said the "personnel matter" involving Ghebrekidan "will not be discussed publicly."
"With that, that doesn't mean citizens can't speak to the council that is unable to respond," he said.
Ghebrekidan
Greg Guelcher, a history professor at Morningside University and founder of the Yamanashi City Sister City Committee, told the council he's gotten to know Ghebrekidan through on-campus activities. He said Ghebrekidan has met with "multiple and diverse campus groups" and shared a message that is meant to "encourage young people to get more involved in the community."
"I want to emphasize, simply, that Semehar has always been a pleasure to work with. I found Semehar to be professional, organized, thoughtful, welcoming and very enthusiastic about the sister city project," he said. "I hope to be able to work with Semehar again."
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore thanked those who spoke for their remarks.
On March 28, LaShawna Moyle, the Inclusive Sioux City Committee's chair, and two other members, Sara Berntson and Erica Carter, met with City Manager Bob Padmore and Councilman Alex Watters, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
A recording of that closed-door meeting, which is just over an hour in length, was obtained by The Journal. Since Iowa requires one-party consent, one person can legally record a conversation without telling the other person.
"She's not being punished for anything, right now. It's — she's being investigated for some things that have happened," Padmore said on the recording of Ghebrekidan. "I'm frustrated that it's five weeks in and I can't tell you when it's going to end. I'm hoping sooner than later."
Padmore stressed the Inclusive Sioux City movement is very important to the city.
"People are watching what we're doing. I think the best thing that we can do is show that Inclusive Sioux City as a committee and as a movement in our community is alive and well and moving forward," he said.
Citizens hold up artwork featuring suspended Sioux City cultural inclusion liaison Semehar Ghebrekidan's likeness, during Monday's City Counci…
On Wednesday, the 11-member committee held its first monthly meeting at City Hall without Ghebrekidan. Trisha Rivers, a Sioux City resident and member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, called on city leaders to be transparent.
"I really don't like the fact that our leadership is going to different people in this community like it's not going to come back to us. We deserve transparency, too. We're a governmental body, too. So please, continuing forward, I urge you to have all stakeholders at future meetings. Let's be transparent. Let's air it all out," Rivers said.
The idea for the committee came out of meetings between city staff and Sioux City NAACP leadership in the wake of protests that erupted in May 2020, following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by an ex-Minneapolis police officer. The talks were designed to explore how the city could begin moving forward.
Ghebrekidan worked in a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion positions throughout her time in college. Before coming to work for the City of Sioux City, she was employed as an HIV case manager at Siouxland Community Health Center.
In March 2023, Ghebrekidan was honored during the 38th annual Women of Excellence Awards ceremony with the award for "Women Striving to Improve the Quality of Life." Then, in November, Ghebrekidan launched a campaign for a vacated Sioux City school board seat. She ultimately lost the election to Dan Greenwell, who is currently serving the two-year term on the board.
On the recording, Watters said he doesn't think the city does a "good enough job" of reflecting the community within City Hall's walls and expressed disappointment about being unable to defend himself against negative comments made at a March 18 council meeting.