Attorney brought in to protect community from sex offender placement
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
While an appeals decision could come soon, protecting the Wheatland community from a potential placement of a convicted sex offender has come at a cost for the Town, Chairman William Glembocki told board members at its regular meeting Monday, reporting attorney fees are estimated at $10,000.
The announcement comes in the midst of several court battles seeking to stop a state Department of Health Services placement of convicted sex offender Michael McGee, who is still residing at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Facility in Mauston, into a home at 32200 Geneva Road.
The property, which sits next door to where a 1-year-old lives, has left the family and Town of Wheatland in its grips since May 11 when the proposed placement of a sex offender was first discussed.
“We don’t have a choice to defend ourselves and defend our people and make sure they are safe,” Glembocki said after the regular board meeting.
McGee, 53, had been convicted in 1987 of second-degree sexual assault and burglary in Racine, and later was civilly committed to Sand Ridge.
The convicted sex offender, who was set for release into the residence May 31, had to stay at Sand Ridge following a Wisconsin Court Appeals ruling that placed a temporary hold pending an appeals hearing.
On the same day, Town Building Inspector Tim Popanda red-tagged the property, citing lack of permits and a need for thorough examination of the home.
Glembocki announced at the Monday board meeting that it has since been removed following an inspection early last week, with legal representatives from Kenosha County corporate counsel and the landlord, Ladoga Property Management Group, LLC of Fond du Lac.
“The inspector was satisfied that the building was safe for occupancy at this time, so therefore, the red tag was removed,” Glembocki stated.
However, the Court of Appeals reviewed statements conveyed by Kenosha County Corporate Counsel on June 8, and received a statement from DHS on Wednesday.
Glembocki told board members the decision could come as soon as June 17.
While the Town received its first bill for Attorney fees, they have not determined the course of action to take in amending its budget, noting costs could eclipse $10,000 depending on the outcome of the Court of Appeals decision.
“We are going to have to pull it from someplace, and that is what we are trying to figure out,” Glembocki said.