ANN ARBOR, MI – Ann Arbor’s longtime human resources and labor relations director has resigned after being accused of making a plethora of inappropriate remarks in text messages.

That includes messages joking about blowing up city hall and wanting to carry a gun to work.

The circumstances of Robyn Wilkerson’s departure from city hall are documented in more than 100 pages of records obtained by The Ann Arbor News/MLive via the Freedom of Information Act.

They include screenshots of many curse-filled texts Wilkerson allegedly sent to another city employee in 2017 and 2018, criticizing city leaders, complaining about her job and making remarks about “crazy liberals,” Black Lives Matter protesters and the city’s work to create a police oversight commission.

“I am sure there will be a bunch of BLM bulls—t protests….if they keep acting so dumb, Trump will get 4 more years without even trying….lol,” one of Wilkerson’s alleged texts from October 2017 states, adding: “I wish I could bring my 9mm, but I would get fired for violating city policy…. wait…hmmmmm?”

Wilkerson, who had a $142,357 base salary, resigned effective Wednesday, May 1 after more than a decade on the job.

The city placed her on paid leave in early April and hired an outside law firm to investigate her conduct after another employee came forward with screenshots of text messages the two allegedly exchanged, including regular gossip and complaints about the city.

Wilkerson couldn’t be reached for comment for this story and her attorney would only say she left to pursue other opportunities.

Warning: Some of the following text message images contain profanity.

22 Text messages Ann Arbor's now-resigned HR director is accused of sending

City Council members said they consider the texts alarming and outrageous, and indicative of larger workplace problems.

“This demonstrates behavior on the part of a senior official that is wildly unprofessional,” said Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward.

Eaton emphasized that public employees have a right to express political opinions, so it’s not Wilkerson’s “different political views” that were a problem. Rather, he said, it’s how she was communicating “rather negative” thoughts to a subordinate employee.

“You still have to maintain your professionalism and sense of decorum at work,” he said.

One of Wilkerson’s alleged texts from June 2018 discusses how someone wanted to talk to her about lieutenant promotions.

“Bragging about promoting a black guy… LOL,” the HR director allegedly wrote.

In March 2018, Wilkerson allegedly texted that she chatted with someone and got a strange “do not trust her 100%” vibe.

“Like she is from the ghetto or trying to be ghetto?” she allegedly wrote.

The text messages the city released under FOIA have names and other parts redacted. The name of the employee Wilkerson allegedly texted is not disclosed.

“I hate my job,” Wilkerson allegedly wrote on multiple occasions, complaining about “the daily bulls—t associated with our s—y managers.” In June 2017, she allegedly texted, “We need to create a special emoji for the s—y leaders we have.”

In September 2017, Wilkerson allegedly texted the other employee, “I don’t want you to quit, but I would understand. It is hard for me to watch you guys struggle in such a s—y place and not be able to fix it."

The employee Wilkerson allegedly texted originally provided the screenshots to Council Member Jane Lumm, a 2nd Ward independent.

The employee was a subordinate who had a close relationship with Wilkerson at one time, but that soured, Eaton said.

Lumm, concerned about the text messages, prepared a report and she and Eaton met with the city’s administration. City Administrator Howard Lazarus notified Wilkerson in early April she was being placed on paid leave.

“Typically, personnel matters are for the city administrator and his people to address,” Eaton said. “This was so significant that we convened a meeting with the city administrator and the city attorney to discuss what they were going to do about it.”

Lazarus declined to comment when contacted by a reporter last month, but explained the situation in an email to council this week.

“On April 5th, I became aware of inappropriate communications Ms. Wilkerson shared with a co-worker that violated city policy and did not reflect our expected standards of professionalism or our organizational values,” Lazarus wrote.

Wilkerson’s electronic communications and badge access to city facilities were disabled when she was placed on leave, Lazarus told council. After the investigation began, Wilkerson realized the seriousness of her policy violations and resigned, Lazarus wrote in an email to all city employees this week.

Wilkerson’s attorney, David Nacht, informed City Attorney Stephen Postema of his client’s intent to resign in an April 17 email.

Wilkerson was allowed to stay on the payroll until May 1 to work with staff to ensure a smooth transition.

Eaton considers the fact that Wilkerson resigned when confronted with the text messages validation that they are real. Otherwise, if she was being terminated without cause, she would have been entitled to nine months of severance pay, he said.

The texts Wilkerson allegedly wrote include gripes about various people, such as “[Redacted] is a moron,” “[Redacted] annoys the s—t out of me,” “I still want to punch her in the face!” and “What a f—ing douche bag a—hole piece of s—t that guy is.”

In September 2018, Wilkerson allegedly texted about needing to “lay the smack down on these crazy liberals.”

“I hope they try to fire me…. I will sue their a—s off and retire early…. LOL,” she allegedly wrote.

In March 2018, Wilkerson allegedly texted that a job candidate decided to stay in Detroit because Ann Arbor wasn’t strategic enough.

“She is so f——g smart,” the text reads. “She picked up on all the bulls—t.”

Other texts Wilkerson allegedly sent:

“Yes tonight is the work session on the police commission s—t…. now that is a f——g sitcom! They want to run PD.”

“The finance team Received some Bulls—t state award for our budget and [redacted] presented [redacted] with challenge coins…. Too Damn funny.”

“Seriously, let’s lay off all the inspectors…..we can do that anytime we want. I f——g hate them! If we don’t hit them hard, they will continue this bulls—t.”

“Is [redacted] menstruating this week? H needs to stop being such a little b—h … LOL”

“I somehow feel relieved that I am done with him….I no longer feel an obligation to him as my boss.”

“I hate my job. Yes….I am running out of coping strategies”

“Am I evil that I am just messing with [redacted] now?”

“A new job would help my stomach feel better.”

“Totally…can you imagine how miserable we would all be if any a—hole employee could walk into our offices? I would have been fired a long time ago.”

“In fire negotiations. [Redacted] has a full beard… makes him look less a—hole-ish.”

“Don’t move too fast….that is letting a s—y organization dictate your fate. This is the exact advice I was given last week when I wanted to quit. I come in, keep my head down (as much as I can) and do as little as I see some of my peers [redacted] doing. It makes the day longer, but they won’t get one additional ounce of effort out of me.”

“Talking to recruiter…just found out [redacted] is Columbian and doesn’t get along well with Puerto Ricans.”

“I think it is just the whole public sector….performance doesn’t matter when you are using other people’s money.”

“Just watched Netflix new Ali Wong special…. B—h is hysterical! Check it out. WFH..... lol.”

“[Redacted] has to go as soon as he is retirement eligible…. [Redacted] is the departmental joke to the point where I almost feel bad for him.”

“I am such a b—h… sorry. I have actually found a new place of complete non caring… must have been all the beer I drank this weekend! I drank Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday and Monday…. I never do that!”

“[Redacted] told me this am that [redacted] told him that he wants to change a bunch of titles…his would be some inflated BS title…we laughed….talk about putting lipstick on a pig! I am sure that fancy titles, chocolate bars and special coins will turn everything around….excellent management theory.”

“I push him hard every chance I get…even though I don’t really care…it’s all for my entertainment and for some element of revenge….and there are good employees who deserve better than they are getting.”

“Not sure what I can do other than blow up city hall…an idea that has some chance of success given our lack of an emergency plan…LOL! What a circus!”

“You know who will get screwed….non union… got to have that fairy tale train station.”

Wilkerson had been on the job since 2008 and previously worked in HR for various private companies, including Pepsi, Frank’s Nursery and Crafts, Pentastar Aviation, Johnson Electric, American Communications Network, eePulse Inc. and AlliedSignal.

Assistant City Administrator John Fournier is now serving as the city’s acting HR and labor relations director.

Lazarus has directed Fournier to work with a consultant to launch a cultural assessment of the city’s personnel operations.

The findings will help form an action plan and provide the basis for recruitment of a new HR director, Lazarus said.

The city expects to hire an outside recruiter to launch an external search next month, and have the position filled by October.

Council Member Anne Bannister, D-1st Ward, said she’s glad the city is taking a deeper look at the apparent workplace culture problems highlighted in the texts.

“There was certainly a lot of mud-slinging,” she said. “There is something going on up there.”

Eaton said the city’s administration committee plans to meet again next week to further discuss the matter.

“There are some of us who are seeking a continued investigation to make sure the full impact of this is understood,” he said, suggesting problems may extend beyond the HR department.