Carpenter & Landuyt Didn’t Get The Dirt On The Dirt, But Elderly Abuse Instead
- George Tanguy
- Jun 7
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 9
Link to Accountability & Corruption hotline call below
A recently signed statement submitted by Tracy resident Michael Ritzko raises questions about the conduct of certain Tracy city officials during efforts to identify who removed contaminated dirt from the Tracy community center project site.
According to the statement, City Administrator Jeff Carpenter initially approached resident Bill Hern on May 29, 2026, and asked whether he had taken dirt from a pile near the community center project. Mr. Hern reportedly denied taking the dirt but stated that he knew who did. When asked to identify that person, Mr. Hern declined to do so.
Mr. Ritzko's statement further alleges that on June 1, 2026, he observed City Administrator Jeff Carpenter, city council member George Landuyt, and Police Chief Jason Lichty near the Tracy community center. According to the statement, Chief Lichty was seated in his police vehicle while Carpenter and Landuyt were nearby engaged in discussion beside the police cruiser.
The statement alleges that shortly afterward, Council Member Landuyt approached Bill Hern and asked whether he knew who had taken the dirt. According to the statement, Landuyt informed Hern that the dirt was contaminated and needed to be returned. Mr. Hern again reportedly stated that he knew who had taken the dirt but would not identify that person.
Mr. Ritzko states that is when he became involved in the conversation because he was concerned that Mr. Hern was being pressured and harassed regarding the matter. According to the complaint, an argument followed between Ritzko and Landuyt. The statement alleges that Landuyt suggested court action could result from the situation against Mr Hern.
The statement also alleges that council member George Landuyt returned the following day and informed Hern that the City had dropped the matter.
Link to May 26th 2026 City council meeting below
These allegations have prompted several questions that deserve public clarification:
Why was City Administrator Jeff Carpenter involved in attempting to identify the individual who allegedly removed the dirt if the matter was expected to be handled by law enforcement when that’s what he stated at the May 26th council meeting?
What role, if any, was City Council Member George Landuyt acting under when speaking with a resident about a matter that could potentially involve legal consequences?
Were any city policies, ethical guidelines, or procedures followed during these interactions?
Were records, reports, communications, or recordings generated regarding the investigation?
What role, if any, did Tracy Police Chief Jason Lichty have in directing or overseeing these contacts with residents and then drive away from the scene?
Why does the Tracy Police Chief continue to look the other way instead of providing the level of public service and accountability that Tracy taxpayers deserve?
It is important to note that city council members are policymakers and generally do not possess law-enforcement authority. Citizens typically have the right to decline to answer questions from elected officials and may choose not to participate in informal inquiries. Whether any statements made during these interactions were appropriate, inappropriate, or potentially intimidating is a matter that would require review of all available evidence, witness accounts, and applicable law.
Imagine a situation where a city administrator and a city council member approach an elderly resident seeking information about contaminated soil. Neither individual is a licensed peace officer. Neither possesses law enforcement authority. Yet the conversation quickly shifts from asking questions to discussing potential court action and demanding answers from an elderly citizen.
The question many citizens would ask is simple: Why are a council member and administrator conducting what appears to be an investigation in the first place when it was clearly discussed a police officer would facilitate that investigation at a council meeting?
When public officials begin acting like investigators, prosecutors, or law enforcement officers, the lines between government administration and intimidation can become blurred. Citizens may feel pressured to cooperate not because they have done anything wrong, but because the people questioning them hold positions of authority within the community.
Even if the officials believe they are pursuing a legitimate concern, the manner in which they do so matters. Respectful communication is one thing. Repeated questioning, demands for information, and references to court proceedings can create an entirely different perception—particularly when directed toward an elderly resident.
The larger issue is accountability. If city officials are acting outside the scope of their duties, citizens have every right to question whether those actions are appropriate. If officials are using their titles to influence, pressure, or intimidate residents, the public should expect a thorough review of that conduct.
We will see how the Tracy council reacts to this complaint. Hopefully they will make the correct decisions and make those accountable for breaking that oath as a city official. Maybe they will sweep it under the rug like past issues left unresolved. From a central park bully incident, or a vandalism break in complaint on a quiet Hmong family. There are too many complaints and concerns not addressed. Many people have approached city council officials and fell on deaf ears. Take your bets citizens, you have a 50/50 chance of winning.
The formal complaint will be delivered to the city office and emailed to all council members. We hope the severity of this situation will be on the next agenda to be discussed as it should be. Ultimately, government works best when officials remember that they serve the citizens—not the other way around. If we look back we had a similar situation in 2019 involving an EDA Board member who was removed for far less.
Link to Marshall Independent article below
Tracy Minnesota only has two paths in front of them. Every city official eventually faces a choice between two paths. One path is accountability, being honest with citizens, addressing problems openly, correcting mistakes, and serving the community with integrity and transparency. The other path is concealment—sweeping concerns under the rug, protecting insiders, avoiding responsibility, and allowing distrust to grow. Communities thrive when leaders choose truth over convenience and accountability over self-preservation. The future of Tracy depends on which path its council decides to follow.
City admin. has dirt on the dirt, but he wants the dirt, too
BY PER PETERSON editor05/28/2026 06:00 AM
The City encountered another community center roadblock recently — this one underground — and says it has dealt with the issue.
Tracy City Administrator Je Carpenter told the city council Tuesday that contaminated soil was discovered during while crews were digging in front of the building for sewer and water line installation.
“I would assume it was gas, oil — something to that eect," Carpenter said. "D&G Excavating discovered it, called Minnesota Pollution Control, and put the contaminated dirt onto the tar." Carpenter said somewhere during or after that process, someone called OSHA, which, Carpenter said, deemed that the City was not in violation because of the depth of the hole. However, another red flag was raised when it came to Carpenter's attention that a resident had collected a sample of the dirt.
"An employee from D&G Excavating witnessed an unauthorized individual enter the site, get on the pile and remove two buckets of fill o of the pile," Carpenter said. "This is contaminated dirt; there were a couple of buckets taken." Carpenter stressed the need to get the contaminated dirt back. He said there will be no questions asked, no charges filed. He just wants to know where the dirt is.
"We can't for sure bring it back to where the hole was at because we've already cleaned it up," he said. "I gotta know where the dirt is at. It can’t be dumped anywhere; this was a contaminated site. I want this person to give me a call. I will bring it out to the landfill myself. I need this dirt. I don’t care who it is … someone has to tell me where it’s at.”
Please Sign up and Subscribe to our Blogs for continued content. The area to access that is on the home page at the top and the bottom. Share our content on social media and show support by sharing wit friends & family in the Tracy Community.
Snippet of Vue family's initial complaint and retaliation received due to contacting other Government officials.