Babbitt’s clerk-treasurer, Nancy Sanford, resigned Monday, June 22, marking the fourth time in less than four years a clerk-treasurer has vacated their position.
Sanford was hired in September of 2025. She had no previous experience working in city government.
Sanford’s resignation comes in the wake of a litany of Facebook posts accusing a previous company co-founded by Sanford and her husband – Finish Line Express – of fraud.
Sanford distributed documents to council members at her performance review session on June 2 proving that she and her husband had gained full legal clearance from the charges.
The council held an emergency meeting Tuesday to approve Sanford’s resignation and appoint deputy clerk-treasurer Sara Powell as acting clerk until further notice.
Council member Joe White, remotely in attendance, made a motion to grant Powell an additional $5 an hour in lead pay. This boosts Powell’s wage back to the salary she earned while taking on clerk-treasurer responsibilities throughout the position’s last vacancy in 2025.
In accordance with the motion, administrative assistant Kirsten Traut will also receive an additional $3 in lead pay per hour to compensate for added tasks she will take on in the clerk-treasurer’s absence.
Both Powell and Traut will be allowed unlimited overtime.
“There’s no way we’re able to fulfill what we’ve got going on, plus what she’s got going on, including payroll,” Powell said. “I’m anticipating some overtime coming up in the next few weeks.”
“Just do what you guys need to do,” White said after adding the overtime allowance to his motion.
The motion passed with a second from council member John Fitzpatrick and a stamp of approval from council member Jim Lassi, who served as acting mayor in the absence of mayor Andrea Zupancich and council member Duane Lossing.
City attorney Joel Lewicki recommended the council should take the week to “stabilize before making permanent decisions.”
