NCN Follow Up: ‘Town Hero’ Fired During Spending Investigation

PILGER, NE — On the heels of an exclusive News Channel Nebraska investigation the Pilger Village Clerk, once hailed as a hero in the aftermath of twin tornadoes that leveled the town in 2014, has been fired.

According to a news release the Village Board has voted to “dismiss” Kimberly Neiman effective February 28. She is suspended without pay until that date.

In late December, Neiman was suspended with pay as state and county officials launched an investigation into village spending. That  investigation is ongoing.

NCN’s exclusive  investigation (see video below) has detailed tens of thousands of dollars in questionable spending, concerns about a scam and an unknown number of missing village emails.

NCN has unearthed check after check, 17 checks in all, ranging from four thousand dollars to 25 thousand dollars.  All but a few co-signed with Kimberly Neiman’s initials.

The checks are part of a public records request by NCN which found an insurance document claiming an estimated loss of over 194 thousand dollars.

According to the news release, the Village Board went into closed session Monday night “to prevent needless injury to the reputation of an (unnamed) individual.” The board then reconvened in open session and voted to fire Neiman, who has served as Village clerk for 20 years.  In that time, she has received numerous awards including Nebraska Outstanding Public Administrator of the Year in 2015 and Outstanding Village Clerk in 2007.

Neiman has not been available for comment.

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