Happy New Year
Jan. 2010 Elmwood Citizen Notes
Well December ended with a bit of a BANG in Elmwood. The Village Clerk Resigned after being placed under a suspension earlier in the month.
Stepping back just a little, In the November Board Meeting Kris Talford asked why the citizens where being forced to change their garbage co. and Board President Bill Stewart claimed that no one was being forced to change, only the Village was changing the contract and the citizens could keep their selection. This was found to again be FALSE, when Waste Management came into the village and took every can with their name on it. This in fact forced the citizens to change their garbage collector to PIG, even though Stewart stated this was not going to happen. This now should show in our Budget to be a $4,800.00 savings, even after they raised taxes once again, and gave the employees another raise.
Now to the Meetings that took place in December. There was a closed session meeting on Dec. 14th, that ended with Jodi Pulk, Village Clerk being placed under a paid Suspension. The Board again met on Dec. 28th for another closed session meeting that ended with a written resignation by Jodi Pulk. This resignation was quite short and became public notice by Robert Rupakus, head of the personnel and finance committee.
The resignation read
“ Dear Village Board, I regret to inform you that due to the stress over the past six years with the Talford’s and the Meyers situation along with always being “on duty” that I will be leaving my position as village clerk. I have truly enjoyed my time getting to know the residents and learning the history of the village, but it is time for me to find a less stressful position and to get back to enjoying life again. Sincerely Jodi Pulk”
This is word for word from a copy received from Deputy Village Clerk Vicki .Lehmann.
In the minutes published for the Dec. 28th meeting, it noted that there were 3 people from the public present. Susan Dzubay, Marion Yauch and Jodi Pulk. The closed session meeting then re-opened with the Board taking action on the resignation by Jodi. Rupakus made the motion to accept the resignation and Hartung 2nd, all in favor. Neil Boltik and Robert Weix both were not at the meeting.
This is when all the fun began......
Jan. 5th, 2010 Eau Claire Leader Telegram did an article from which they took information from Bob Rupakus. He went on to telling the paper that Jodi had resigned due to job stress dealing with my family and the ex-chief Meyers, along with always being on duty. Rupakus then went on to state he would not provide any other information except that village staff would fill the spot until someone else was hired. ( This was hiding the fact that Jodi was placed under a Suspension as of Dec. 14th, and his Wife Katherine Rupakus was in Jodi’s seat the very next day) The paper article then went on to claiming that Talford made threatening hand gestures at Pulk as well as tried to audio record a closed meeting. This was all Lies put together by Rupakus and Pulk. The County Sheriff had 4 cop cars come to Elmwood for the claims, and when they left. There where no charges. The Village President Stewart and Rupakus then went to the Elmwood cop and him write citations out for the claims. These claims where used to obtain the Restraining Order, but when they came to Court for the Citations themselves, They where THROWN OUT by the Judge. This information was provided to the Leader, with them ignoring all of it. On Jan. 14th the Leader ran another Article that stated Pulk was under a suspension prior to her resignation.
On Jan. 13th the Pierce County Herald did a very similar article on the resignation, not including any information about the suspension, due to all information being given by Bob Rupakus. Jodi was also spoken to and claimed “It was time for me to step back and focus on my family.” They also went on to talking about the restraining order and the false charges they used against me. with Her claiming that I even harassed her a week later. The paper went on to add that I was not allowed to even go to the Village office while she was there, yet I was able to vote and go to village meetings even though she was there. “I just couldn’t do another year, Pulk said, It never went away” (The comment about me not being able to go to the village hall was not in the order, The commissioner clearly stated I had the right to do Village Business with the Village Office, as well as going to the Open Public Meetings.) Jodi then commented on how “IT got to be too much, it was not a 9-5 job. People came to my house and interrupting my dinners. They even found me when I was volunteering at the nursing home.. It is going to be fun going to a basketball game, and not being questioned about a building permit.” The Herald then did a follow up on Jan. 20th that gave the information that Jodi Pulk was in deed under a SUSPENSION before she filed her resignation. The reporter stated Pulk claimed that headaches and stress of the job began to wear her out. When the Herald tried to speak with Pulk, she declined to comment anymore.
Again , I made contact with the Herald to discuss the false information they where printing with Bill Kirk, the paper editor not caring, stating that I should write a letter to the editor.
Also on Jan. 13th the Elmwood Argus, the smallest of three paper that did a article on this story printed theirs. Prior to printing the article, they made contact with me, to get my side before going to print. (This I applaud Paul Seeling for doing) When Pulk spoke to the Argus, she claimed her job in Elmwood was “CONTENTIOUS” and she just wanted to step back and concentrate on her family. The Argus reporter Kaye Bird then spoke with me on Jan. 12th and I explained to her that I had no contact with Pulk for over two and a half years, and the Chief had also been gone for over two years. I also stated to them that I could not be held for her stress currently. I told the reporter that when she was in office, our problems stemmed from her refusal in providing me Public Records that I gave written requests for. This led to the State being contacted, and her claiming that was harassing her. The charges that the village filed against me where thrown out by Judge Wing in Aug. 2007, and that was the Lead story in that weeks Herald Edition. I also informed the reporter that during the Jan. 11th Village board meeting, Rupakus clearly stated that Pulk was placed on a suspension prior to Christmas, this was confirmed by the reporter to have happened Dec. 14th. Pulk then resigned during the suspension on Dec. 28th but continued to be paid through Jan. 11th. Rupakus refused to provide any information on the suspension.
Rupakus then went on to tell how his wife was in Pulk’s position now until they hire someone. His wife is also a candidate for the job, so he stepped down from the committee that will do the hiring.
The January Village Board meeting was held with a few more people present than normally happens, with exception the Pierce County Herald reporter. She was still able to do an article in the Jan. 20th edition of the Herald by getting the minutes from the Elmwood Village Clerks Office. During the meeting there was Public Input by Matt Marose that was considerably shortened. The Clerk and the paper listed that he asked about the clerk position, the hiring requirements, and the possible conflicts of interest.
He actually stated the following...
Matt asked Bill Stewart, Village President if the job position was going to be open to the public, or was it going to be appointed with Rupakus Wife already being there? Stewart replied “ It will be by hiring someone, using job applications. She’s here on a volunteer basis. We will put an ad in the paper, and hire the BEST QUALIFIED PERSON. (this he stated twice), this will not be a walk on position” Matt then asked if she was a candidate, and Bill responded “Yes, she is a fine candidate” Matt then spoke , stating that this had become a community concern of a possible CONFLICT OF INTEREST with Rupakus and his Wife controlling the finances of the Village of Elmwood. “This is a reason for an alarm, don’t you agree” and Stewart responded by saying “ I agree, I agree” Matt added that he hoped that Bill would be taking the information seriously and he replied, yes.
Kris Talford then asked “Why after only missing the Dec. Board Meeting, did our family get put in the paper” Stewart questioned a couple times, “What meeting in Dec.” (There was only one open meeting, the other two where closed) Rupakus then added, “Pulk’s resignation mentioned you”
The meeting went on to the Spring Election in which there are three seats open and three candidates. Bruce Hartung (Incumbent), Patricia Knops, and Rick Talford. This means that Pam Marson and Bob Rupakus both are not re-running for the Village Trustee positions. They did not complete any nomination paperwork for the April Election.
Next they spoke over the Clerks Position and Vicki Lehmann was offered the Clerk-Treasurer position and she declined stating “ I am comfortable where I am” Rupakus spoke of how he thought the Village should only hire someone at 80% time. 32 hrs a week. He stated that this would save the Village $4,000.00 a year. Vicki and other board members noted their feelings about the cut back, when their are many things to be kept in order and a lot more work involved then they believe. After a discussion though, Rupakus got his way.
They went on to the Committee change that Rupakus requested. He wanted to step down from the Personnel and Finance Committee to stop any Conflict of Interest with his wife applying for the Clerk position. He stated that the day after Jodi was suspended, he called his wife and Bill Stewart in regards to her taking over in the Village Office. She is volunteering now, but she plans to apply. Stewart then removed Rupakus from the Committee and placed Bruce Hartung as the Chairman of the Committee.
The Board then heard from Angela Popenhagen over the progress of the LRIP funds to be used before June 2013. Winter Ave. from Clark to Spruce St. as well as Partridge Ave. water Lines that needed replacement. The pipes are only 2 and 4 inches and that is too small. She also told them of some grants available for the Parks and Trails area.
Finishing up the meeting, they discussed the Committee meetings.
Pam Marson told the board about the Christmas party they had at the Nursing Home.
Bob Rupakus then told the board of the suspension of Jodi Pulk with pay on Dec. 14th through the Jan. 11th board meeting. He also told of the Dec. 28th meeting in which there was no action. ( This was false because that was the meeting that Jodi gave her resignation. and they voted on accepting it)
Bob Weix then told of the Library meeting in which no new information came out of.
Rupakus then motioned to pay the bills, with Brian Buck 2nd. Then Weix motioned to adjourn with Rupakus 2nd.
While looking at the Pierce Co. Herald on-line edition of these articles, you will find comments being left by different individuals. These comments are given by people from Elmwood and People that know about Elmwood. Some say that Bill Stewart should be getting questioned on all of the going on. All these actions are happening under his watch. Some ad that the village office was always closed by 3pm, not giving anyone a chance to deal with the office. Some even state that our village board is nothing but a gang of thugs. There are those who believe that the state should start an investigation into the boards action. There are many, many comments to be read on-line so go to the PierceCountyHerald.com or Rivertown.net to search for these articles simply type in Elmwood, WI.
keep a watch for more information coming out..........
PS...............VOTE BOLES for Pierce County Judge
