KENDALL TOWNSHIP - Two Lafayette County residents are suing their town board for alleged violations of the state's open records law.
Colleen and Donald Schultz filed the petition for writ of mandamus against chair Micah Bahr and supervisors Jackie Steffes and Donald Christensen of Kendall Township on Nov. 29 in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
The couple is seeking three reliefs with the petition.
One, that the Town of Kendall board immediately release unapproved minutes, financial reports and documents for public inspection and copying at the beginning of each future meeting, prior to approval.
Two, that the three board members pay the Schultzs' costs in pursuing the legal action.
Three, that the board be censured "for its steadfast refusal to comply with Wisconsin Open Records laws."
A status conference on the lawsuit is scheduled Dec. 23 before Judge William Johnston.
The lawsuit alleges members of the town board have refused or ignored repeated requests from residents since May to inspect unapproved minutes, reports and other records, in violation of the state's open records laws under Wis. Stat. 19.35.
The lawsuit also alleges the town board's persistent refusal "appears to be contrary to the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees," another state law.
The Schultz petition comes several months after the board posted a sign on the town hall door regarding "protocol and proper conduct" at town board meetings.
Among measures the board can take if "disruptive or inappropriate behavior" arises at a meeting, the sign allows for a meeting to be moved "to a member's unit, (where) non-members would be subject to trespassing if they entered uninvited."
Colleen Schultz said the board has been holding the public at arm's length.
"We feel disenfranchised," she said.
Colleen and Donald Schultz filed the petition for writ of mandamus against chair Micah Bahr and supervisors Jackie Steffes and Donald Christensen of Kendall Township on Nov. 29 in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
The couple is seeking three reliefs with the petition.
One, that the Town of Kendall board immediately release unapproved minutes, financial reports and documents for public inspection and copying at the beginning of each future meeting, prior to approval.
Two, that the three board members pay the Schultzs' costs in pursuing the legal action.
Three, that the board be censured "for its steadfast refusal to comply with Wisconsin Open Records laws."
A status conference on the lawsuit is scheduled Dec. 23 before Judge William Johnston.
The lawsuit alleges members of the town board have refused or ignored repeated requests from residents since May to inspect unapproved minutes, reports and other records, in violation of the state's open records laws under Wis. Stat. 19.35.
The lawsuit also alleges the town board's persistent refusal "appears to be contrary to the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees," another state law.
The Schultz petition comes several months after the board posted a sign on the town hall door regarding "protocol and proper conduct" at town board meetings.
Among measures the board can take if "disruptive or inappropriate behavior" arises at a meeting, the sign allows for a meeting to be moved "to a member's unit, (where) non-members would be subject to trespassing if they entered uninvited."
Colleen Schultz said the board has been holding the public at arm's length.
"We feel disenfranchised," she said.