Town chairman cleared of ethical violations

Talk about it

Kinnickinnic's Town attorny Bob Loberg found that accusations of ethical lapses by Town Board Chairman Roger VanBeek were unfounded. The issue was discussed at the Town Board's Feb. 1 meeting. Board members say the matter is now closed.

The accusations against VanBeek were made by town resident Gordon Awsumb, who is also running against VanBeek for the chair's position in the spring election.

Awsumb had questioned VanBeek's participation on the town's road committee while working for Asphalt Associates. The company did bid and obtain work for some of the town's road upkeep.

In his research, Loberg pointed out that at no time did VanBeek stand to gain anything from his employment with Asphalt Associates. VanBeek also had begun to recuse himself from road-bidding jobs.

A statement read later in the Feb. 1 meeting by Town Board Supervisor Mary Murphy says, in part: "The town has taken responsible action and response for the matter, and will take no further action."

For more on this story, please see the Feb. 9 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: kinnickinnic, government, politics