|
|
Stacy council asks for investigation into mayorís use of city cell phoneBy Barbara Brown The Stacy City Council will ask the Chisago County Attorneyís Office to investigate whether criminal charges and violation of oath should be filed against Mayor Kathi Lawrence. Lawrence, who won the mayor post in 2001 after running uncontested, was questioned during the councilís Jan. 8 meeting about misusing a cellular phone owned by the city. The phone, which is supposed to remain in the city office, has been held by Lawrence since Oct. 10, 2001, when she checked it out. At a Sept. 11, 2001, meeting, the council voted unanimously that the phone ñ which was being held at that time by Lawrence ñ should remain in the office unless it is needed for an out-of-town meeting. If it were checked out for a meeting, it was to be returned upon the council members arrival back in Stacy. The mayor had been ordered at the Sept. 11 meeting to return the phone to the city office by Sept. 13. The mayor turned in the phone on Oct. 10, but immediately checked it out again that same day. It had not been returned as of Jan. 8. Lawrence was ordered to return the phone before the Stacy/Lent Township joint powers meeting Jan. 9. Davidson said at the meeting that the issue was not whether or not the mayorís use had exceeded the number of minutes the city paid for. ìThe issue is that the city is paying your long distance bill,î Davidson told Lawrence. ìHow is calling Madison, Wisconsin, part of city business?î Lawrence said she had used some of the minutes on the phone for city business. ìI have not misused the telephone,î Lawrence said during the meeting. The total minutes used on the city phone between Oct. 12 and Dec. 12 was 1709. Chisago County Attorney Ted Alliegro said his office had not received a request as of Friday. He said that the county attorneyís office does not investigate such claims. He said the office most probably would refer the matter to the Chisago County Sheriffís Office or whatever law enforcement agency would be appropriate if an investigation is warranted. ìSometimes someone may do something that might not be quite right, but thereís nothing criminal about the activity,î Alliegro said. ©ECM Post Review |