Trustees Will Address Vacant Clerk's Position

Mount Pleasant trustees Monday will meet in closed session to discuss the vacant clerk's position, but what type of action they might take is up in the air.

Former Clerk/Treasurer Veronica Rudychev resigned in April, citing on-going harassment, fearing retaliation and a toxic work environment as her primary reasons for leaving. Since then, Deputy Clerk Sue Stearns has been fulfilling most of the duties of the office.

On June 6, Village Administrator Kurt Wahlen released a list of seven finalist candidates, including former City of Racine Deputy Clerk Donna Deuster and former village clerk assistant Stephanie Kohlhagen. A total of 14 applications were received, Wahlen said in an email to Patch.

Not all trustees were happy with the process Wahlen used to whittle down the field of candidates because the Personnel Committee wasn't involved. Instead, Wahlen used a panel of individuals, including Sturtevant Village Administrator/Clerk Mary Cole and Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen to interview the final seven Wahlen chose after reviewing applications.

This is the first time the clerk's position has appeared on a meeting agenda since the seven applicants were interviewed last month.