Village contracts with law firm to investigate treasurer’s accusations

KALKASKA – Village officials confirmed it. There will be an official investigation into the accusations made by treasurer Jennifer Standerfer in a five-page letter that was presented to the Kalkaska Village Council in January.

The investigation, which will be headed by the Traverse City law firm of Swogger, Bruce & Millar, is officially underway, according to discussions at the council’s regular meeting Monday, April 23. A motion to approve a fee agreement with the law firm was unanimously approved by the council at its March 26 meeting.

Trustee Penny Dupuie encouraged her fellow council members to review the language of the agreement, as well as cooperate in the investigation so it is completed “the right way.”

“I recommend we handle this the right way, not the wrong way, so we’re not dealing with this four years down the road,” Dupuie added.

But, Dupuie’s comments drew a strong rebuke from village president Jeff Sieting.

“In this orchestrated coup … Neither an attorney or this board has the authority to remove me from this post,” Sieting said.

Sieting and village manager Scott Yost were the primary targets of the accusations made by Standerfer in her letter to the council, as well as former Lt. Glenn Artress and other Kalkaska Department of Public Safety officials.

Read the full story in our regular edition of The Review. To subscribe to the paper for just $34 a year, which includes access to our full online e-edition, please go to the subscription page on this website at: http://www.antrimreview.net/subscribe/