Board of Supervisors Meeting — Minutes

Town of Milladore Board of Supervisors Meeting March 2, 2025 Minutes Board Members Present: Ned Ruesch, Hank Nigh, Leslianne Ruesch, Ken Manlick Supervisor Joel Kuehnhold appeared by phone. Citizens present: Ron Koziczkowski, Bob Ashbeck, Pat Altman, Karen Wallner, Mae Linzmeier, Sally Furo, Don Furo, Julius Linzmeier, Joe Haupt, Al Greunke, Terri Grassel The meeting was called to order with The Pledge of Allegiance by Ned. The secretary report was read. A motion was made by Ned to approve. Seconded by Hank. Motion approved. The treasurer report was accepted. Old Business: The February Primary Election went well. The clerk continues to train new poll workers. The next election will be held on April 1, 2025. Early Voting will be held on March 25. The Public Test will be held on March 27. Please see the website or postings for details. The well should be done soon. Ron continues to work with Haupt, and will update as needed. Alliant Energy has started to bury lines on County Road P. New Business: Ned, Leslianne, and Ron will be attending the BOR training and WTA district meeting. Discussion of soliciting bids. We will publish these in April in the Marshfield Herald. Road Repair Concerns: Trestik and Mayflower need to be addressed. Ned moved to pay bills. Seconded by Joel. Public Comment: Citizen question- Did the town seek help from a lawyer over the embezzlement? Board answer: The town spoke to the WTA lawyers multiple times throughout the process for detailed instructions and application of Wisconsin State Statutes. Citizen question- Why were the police/sheriff not called immediately? Board answer: On advice from the lawyer, the town prosecuting would be cost prohibitive. Instead, we asked the treasurer to sign a promissory note that reflects the initial findings of the CPA representing a 6 year period. We have turned over evidence to the Wood County Sheriff Investigator, and continue to work with him as the case progresses. The State of Wisconsin has filed charges felony charges against the treasurer. Citizen question- Why is the treasurer allowed to be here and why was he not fired? Board answer: To remove an elected official there are very specific guidelines that must be adhered to. This would include filing an injunction, and going through the courts, etc. On advice of the lawyer, since there are only a few weeks left in his position and he was not seeking re-election we chose not to pursue this. Instead, we removed him from the bank accounts, and revoked the substitution of bond we had for him. The chair and clerk stepped in to physically witness his final tax collections. As far as him attending tonight’s meeting, according to state laws, all monthly supervisor meetings are subject to open meeting laws, and thus anyone can attend them. Citizen question- How much did the town have to spend to do this audit? Board answer: At the January 24, 2025 special meeting, the treasurer agreed to pay the CPA for all costs involved in the audit. The clerk gave the CPA the treasurer’s information to send him the bill directly. Citizen question- Is $63,000 the actual total of monies missing? Board answer: That figure was based on the CPA’s findings between 2015-2021 only. He arrived at this figure comparing what was collected in tax monies vs. what was deposited. The treasurer was elected in the 90’s. The clerk explained that we have some incomplete records prior to 2014 due to our bank changing hands, and also the record keeping laws. That is something the DA can suponea, but was difficult for us personally to secure. Citizen question- When was the most recent money missing? Board answer: The CPA found no money missing after 2021. Citizen question- How did this happen? Board answer: When clerk Richard Altman died, the treasurer assumed the clerk position. This left the treasurer and chair as the only people on the town’s bank accounts until 2017. There was no oversight to ensure the town’s finances were appropriately handled. Citizen question- Was it legal for our treasurer to even assume the clerk position? Board answer: It was legal for our treasurer to assume the position of acting clerk after the death of the previous clerk. However, there are state statutes that must be followed in that situation. The board should have searched for a new clerk after that elected term was up. Also, there are specific statutes about form filling and auditing of finances if there is a combined treasurer and clerk. It is illegal for an acting clerk to file some of the annual forms. Likewise, by state statute the town needed to have an official audit of finances every year there was a combined clerk and treasurer. Citizen question- Why did the old board not adhere to any of these rules and/or allow this to happen? Board answer: The only current board member who served on the board during this timeframe said he was not aware of any of this. The clerk pointed out that we found multiple blank invoices that were signed by the previous board, and other lax practices. Citizen question- Would the current board be willing to have the finances audited in the future? Board answer: Absolutely! We have already hired the CPA to file the CT form due this spring- this form encompasses the town’s finances for the year. We also reminded citizens they can ask to see the town’s finances, bank records, invoices etc at any time, as this is their money. The next meeting will be held on April 6, 2025. A motion was moved by Hank to adjourn. Seconded by Ned. Meeting adjourned.