Village clerk the latest to resign from Kronenwetter
The Wausonian obtained the resignation letter, which includes a scalding take on the village board, and Ken Charneski
Village Clerk Bobbi Jo Birk-LaBarge resigned on Tuesday, The Wausonian learned recently.
LaBarge confirmed to The Wausonian that she gave the village her notice on Tuesday, and that her last day will be Nov. 23.
LaBarge was the latest of a string of resignations that continue to plague the village. She’s one of three clerks to hold that position since 2022, and one of dozens of department heads to depart the village since 2020.
LaBarge often found herself at odds with Village Board Member Ken Charneski, who filed multiple election complaints against her, and filed a lawsuit against her, the village’s contracted attorney and the former interim village administrator.
A judge declined to award Charneski any damages or costs in the case.
An investigation the village contracted in response to a harassment complaint by LaBarge against Charneski found that he created a hostile work environment.
Report: Ken Charneski is creating a hostile work environment
CORRECTION: The Wausonian has learned that the village has hired a new public works director. The story has been updated to reflect that.
That will leave Kronenwetter without an administrator, a clerk or a finance director. The Wausonian learned the finance director resigned last month, the latest of four to hold that role since 2020. The village has had two administrators - Leonard Ludi and Peter Kampfer - start and resign this year alone.
The board itself also has had a vacancy, after Cindy Lee Hoffman-Buchkowski resigned last month. The board filled that vacancy at its recent meeting.
UPDATE: The Wausonian updated the paragraph about the board vacancy, as it has been filled recently.
LaBarge’s resignation
LaBarge in her resignation email, obtained by The Wausonian, calls out Charneski for his continued harassment of her in her role. She also calls out what she says is the board’s unwillingness or inability to do anything about it, as the primary reason for her resignation. And she didn’t mince her words.
According to the resignation letter, LaBarge says that Charneski was sent a cease and desist letter in August advising him to not to engage in “prohibited certain actions that were in direct violation of the village’s policies and ethical standards amongst other violations. She told Village President Chris Voll “shame on you” for allowing Charneski’s behavior to continue.
LaBarge said the behavior toward her contributed to health problems including insomnia, elevated stress levels, frequent migraines and even thoughts of “ending everything.”
The Wausonian reached out to Charneski, Voll and village board member Kelly Coyle. Coyle would only speak off the record and wouldn’t comment for the record. Charneski and Voll did not respond to The Wausonian’s request for comment. The Wausonian held this story overnight to allow more time for a response.
See the story that originally uncovered the troubles in Kronenwetter:
Big trouble in little Kronenwetter, Part I
As is the case with many stories, this one began with a tip. Staff were leaving Kronenwetter at an alarming rate. There was major conflict between elected leaders there and staff members. I might want to look into it.
Charneski is the common denominator in all of this since he came on. He is the problem along with those who do not care to pay attention to what is going on, so they continue to vote him in. The Village is imploding. It is awful and there is no end in sight.
Brian,
The Board actually filled the vacant Trustee position at the November 11th Board Meeting. The Board appointed Craig Mortensen to fill the vacant Trustee position.
David Baker