MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The chief of a Wisconsin village is in scorching water, accused of messing with the meter on his house, and probably costing the group 1000’s of {dollars}.
Many take satisfaction in a pristine garden, particularly after a dry summer season. However the garden belonging to the Somerset Wisconsin Village President Shawn Weisen is now on the middle of a felony case.
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“I can’t consider anyone would try this,” stated Tama Schmidt of New Richmond.
The alleged crime? Stealing water whereas everybody else was making an attempt to preserve it.
“I imply, how dumb do you must be to suppose you’re not gonna get caught for one thing like that?” stated Cody Fitzpatrick of Osceola.
WCCO couldn’t come up with Weisen Tuesday. The criminal complaint towards him lays out issues like detrimental water utilization readings, which triggered the investigation earlier this summer season.
After a more in-depth look, town’s public works director concluded that he believed the meter was almost certainly eliminated and reinstalled backwards. Additional checks of Weisen’s meter confirmed it was working simply advantageous and had possible been tampered with.
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“The thought that involves thoughts is Danny DeVito’s character in ‘Matilda’ with the used vehicles, and he would run the drill backwards to get the odometer to, you realize, learn decrease mileage than it was,” stated Fitzpatrick.
In accordance with town’s public works director, the estimated water meter fraud was round $10,000.
“The place’s it going? What’s he doing with it?” stated Schmidt.
Weisen is charged with six counts of misdemeanor fraud for allegedly bypassing utility meters. They date again to final summer season, and have been as current as this August.
Every rely carries a advantageous of as much as $500 and/or 30 days in jail — although some say that’s not sufficient.
“No, he mustn’t preserve his place,” stated Schmidt. “You’re there to assist and serve the group, not steal from it.”
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The lawyer for the Village of Somerset tells us Weisen was elected within the spring and gained’t be faraway from his place except he voluntarily resigns or is eliminated by the village board. He’s due again in courtroom in December.
