OTTUMWA, Iowa ( IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH ) - The City of Ottumwa’s fired director of community development is now suing the municipality for allegedly retaliating against him as a whistleblower.

Zachary Simonson is suing the City of Ottumwa in U.S. District Court, alleging violations of his rights as a veteran and a whistleblower.

Court records indicate Simonson was hired by the city in 2017 as a seasonal housing inspector and eventually worked as a building inspector and planner before being named director of community development in May 2021.

The lawsuit claims that beginning in January 2024, City Administrator Phil Rath and Human Resources Director Barb Codjoe began making disparaging remarks about a particular council member during weekly department head meetings.

Rath, the lawsuit

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