The Northwoods River News is reporting an Oneida County Sheriff's Department detective who is also a Rhinelander city council member has been placed on paid administrative leave by the Sheriff's Department.
An open records request by the Northwoods River News discovered Ryan Rossling is on leave pending an investigation into an alleged "walking quorum" of council members and Mayor Chris Frederickson.
In February, the newspaper asked District Attorney Michael Schiek to check on the possibility of an illegal walking quorum, and it eventually led to a state Department of Justice investigation. Further action is pending at the Oneida County District Attorney's office.
The alleged 'walking quorum' centered around a letter allegedly drafted to City Council President George Kirby. Some council members Rossling, Steve Sauer, Andrew Larson and David Holt and Mayor Chris Frederickson are alleged to have signed a letter asking Kirby to step aside as council President. The matter was not on common council agendas.
The paper reported the matter is still under investigation by the DOJ.
Wisconsin's Open Meetings law forbids public officials to gather or take action outside of formally recognized meetings without proper public notification. There are exceptions. Fines usually result from violations.
