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Let us ask the rhetorical question everyone in the town of Onalaska would like answered: What in the hell is going on?
Since longtime secretary Peg Hanson quit suddenly last week and the town hastily called a meeting now being investigated because it violated the spirit and possibly the letter of the state’s open meetings law, the town has been awash in controversy, accusations and hostility. Monday night during a regular town board meeting, a standing-room only crowd of citizens gathered to try to find out firsthand why the town hall has turned into the town dysfunction-hall.
At the center of the maelstrom is Town Administrator Paul Kitzmann. He is accused by Town Clerk Sue Schultz of sending harassing e-mails to both Hanson and her, making accusations and demanding responses in writing. Schultz also said Kitzmann has taken her office laptop computer, is changing town board minutes and has made copies of deleted e-mails from her machine sent to town board member Howard Kelly.
Kitzmann maintains he just wants to keep an official record of inter-office communication. In a letter to Schultz dated March 20, Kitzmann specifically asked Schultz for copies of e-mails that she has sent to both Howard Kelly and Teresa Schnitzler, the West Salem village administrator, since November.
Meanwhile, Kitzmann had a locksmith change the town hall locks Friday, which kept some town board members locked out — both literally and figuratively. They had no knowledge the locks were being replaced. Kitzmann said Monday he had the locksmith there to open up a safe and decided to have him change the external locks at the same time.
Hanson has not commented on her resignation. Kitzmann says he has evidence that some public records have been altered, some have been destroyed or deleted and some have been withheld from him, Town Chairman Stan Hauser and some other members of the board.
“This is just some of what has been discovered as going on these past few weeks,” Kitzmann said in a letter to the editor. He also said “the majority of the town board is also working together in investigating this matter, addressing it, and correcting it.”
While all of this is going on, the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a complaint that the town did not give proper notice for its emergency meeting March 17. And there is a town board election in less than two weeks where Hauser faces a challenge from former chairman Dave Paudler, who has already said he doesn’t think Kitzmann is qualified for the job.
Sadly, no one should be shocked that Kitzmann is involved in a town government controversy. His eight years spent as the town chairman in Burns has been filled with turmoil, including accusations against former town officials and a dispute with the town’s former assessor Howard “Bud” Raymer, who happens to be the town of Onalaska assessor. Raymer also was summoned to appear at the disputed March 17 town board meeting.
We bring forth this information as another example — along with the three-page e-mail Kitzmann sent to Hanson filled with demands and accusations - that this behavior is nothing new. Kitzmann apparently believes that extensive and exhaustive written communication is better than simply talking to someone several feet away. But the tone is concerning for someone in a supervisory capacity.
Kitzmann maintains that whatever is going on at the Onalaska Town Hall is “very disturbing” as he stated in a letter to the editor. He also says he will make every effort to work as hard as possible to regain the public trust and while unfortunate, the investigation into the public records must be dealt with. “To ignore these matters would be political,” Kitzmann says.
We agree that the investigation should be completed and the public should be informed. Until we find out what really happened, we cannot judge who is right and who is wrong. But the investigation is already political and should involve parties who do not stand to win or lose with the results of the election. Hauser has always been a strong Kitzmann supporter. If Hauser loses his job, Kitzmann’s job may be on the line.
Above all, keep all of this in the public view. There is too much as stake for all parties involved — especially for the town of Onalaska citizens.
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headoutofsand wrote on Apr 3, 2009 9:39 AM:
2. Mr. Paudler, thanks for development of the award winning Town of Onalaska Comprehensive Plan. Your emphasis on public input at ALL stages is appreciated.
3. Mr. Paudler, Heritage Hills residents thank you for your attention paid to our concerns.
4. Mr. Paudler, thanks for past appropriate and fair handling of personnel issues in the town. It is unfortunate that a dedicated town secretary of 12 years has left employment in the town, due to progressing workplace friction during your absence in the last 2 years.
5. Mr. Paudler, thanks you for foresight in developing an administrator position and applying an appropriate selection and hiring process. Unfortunately this process was not recently followed by 3/5 of the current board. "