The Diny ethics hearing has a date now

Three things to start your week, also including staffing cuts coming and news about the city's pools

Here are a few updates on stories we’re tracking along with some new stories to start your Monday.

The Diny ethics hearing has a date now

The Wausonian had planned on blocking out Friday, Sept. 5 because the hearing on the complaint against Mayor Doug Diny was supposed to have taken place that day. Instead, it was moved to a date no later than mid-October. That came because Diny’s attorney said he couldn’t consent to a hearing until he’d been unable to depose the city clerk and city attorney, despite the board’s order.

The Ethics Board on Friday afternoon set a hearing date: Oct. 10.

The board also denied a motion to reconsider and deferred a motion to dismiss, with Robyn DeVos arguing that they wanted Diny’s attorneys to reserve the right to bring back the motions in case the hearing doesn’t proceed as ordered.

That came after the city council earlier in the week authorized further spending on CVMIC for legal services for city staff through the conclusion of the Diny hearing. The hearing was delayed from Sept. 5 because the city attorney and city clerk didn’t respond to subpoenas to appear for a deposition.

When asked whether or not she would appear for the deposition and for the hearing itself, City Attorney Anne Jacobson told The Wausonian to contact CVMIC attorney Sam Hall who would “set the record straight.” Hall has not responded to The Wausonian’s email, which included the forwarded email from Jacobson.

Jacobson previously stated that she and the clerk were told not to discuss the case by the Department of Justice, which started a criminal investigation last year. A special counsel was recently appointed but otherwise no public movement has occurred in the case since the Mayor’s home and office were raided by state police late last year.

The board also set a hearing later this month to discuss procedures for the hearing, and elected to have new subpoenas issued.

County signals serious position cuts in next budget

Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard recently signaled that some serious staff positions could be coming as part of the 2026 budget.