Statement Pending
We are waiting on statement verification from the city of Laurel and interim planner that will provide clarity on this decision.
Kurt Markegard, Laurel's Chief Administrative Officer, told city planner Forrest Sanderson he did not have permission to speak at the March 16 community town hall — despite the city already having granted that same permission to Public Works Director Matt Wheeler.
Laurel C.A.R.E.D. sent a formal invitation to Public Works Director Matt Wheeler to speak at the March 16 town hall. Wheeler confirmed his attendance. The city raised no objection.
Laurel C.A.R.E.D. sent a formal invitation to Forrest Sanderson, AICP, CFM — the city's contracted planner through Peaks Planning — to speak at the town hall on city growth, zoning, and related planning topics.
CAO Kurt Markegard told Forrest Sanderson that he did not have permission to speak at the town hall. No explanation or legal basis was provided. Laurel C.A.R.E.D. was informed of this on the same day.
Elizabeth Gilg sent a demand email to Kurt Markegard — CC'd to all City Council ward representatives, City Clerk, City Attorney, and the DOJ contact — demanding an immediate explanation and legal basis for the denial.
A follow-up phone call was placed to Kurt Markegard's direct City Hall line to confirm receipt of the email. The call was recorded.
From: Elizabeth Gilg <elizabeth@laurelcared.com>
To: Kurt Markegard, all City Council ward representatives, Civil City Attorney, City Clerk, DOJ contact
Sent: March 9, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Subject: Permission to Speak at Town Hall — Explanation Required
Kurt —
I would like an immediate explanation and legal basis for you denying permission to the interim city planner to speak at Town Hall.
Continuing to maintain professionalism when you continue to act like an incompetent toddler is becoming increasingly difficult.
We would have asked you to speak, but we decided to ask a professional with a record of integrity and loyalty to the community of Laurel.
Should you be interested in reading the invitation and request sent to Forrest Sanderson — find it here: laurelcared.com/advocacy-record/th-invites
Watching your every fkn move,
— Elizabeth Gilg
Placed by: Elizabeth Gilg, Laurel C.A.R.E.D.
To: Kurt Markegard, CAO — City Hall direct line
Date: March 9, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Purpose: Follow-up to confirm receipt of demand email
Why this matters
By March 9, 2026, the City of Laurel had already granted permission to two city officials to participate in this community town hall:
Against that backdrop, Kurt Markegard's decision to single out city planner Forrest Sanderson — a professional hired specifically to advise Laurel on zoning and land use — and deny him permission to educate the public on those exact topics raises serious questions. Whether the CAO even has the authority to make that call is itself an open question, and one we have formally demanded an answer to. Sanderson was not being asked to take a political position. He was being asked to explain what a growth policy is and what it means when a proposed development conflicts with one. That is precisely the kind of information this community needs most right now. This is a pattern: the same CAO who worked with the Mayor to bring the forensic mental health facility to Laurel without public input is now — at minimum — selectively blocking the flow of information to residents at a public meeting. We are waiting to hear back on whether he had any legal authority to do so at all.