County attorney says Zeglin's comments not illegal or grounds for dismissal

WHITEHALL - A letter approved by the Trempealeau County Board and sent to three citizens in the county concerned about alleged comments made by County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim Zeglin stated that his comments were not illegal nor grounds for removal from the county board.

The letter was written by county attorney Francis Doherty of La Crosse. It came about after deliberation by the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors during closed session of a special meeting of the board took place last week Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the county courthouse.

Zeglin relinquished the Chair to the board's Vice-Chairman John Aasen who conducted the meeting. Zeglin then recused himself from the meeting after the board voted unanimously to go into closed session to confer with legal counsel with respect to litigation related to complaints filed by county employees against the County Board Chairman Zeglin. In this case, complaints filed to the county's Human Resources Dept. by Highway Commissioner Al Rinka. Citizens also filed complaints about Zeglin's reported comments.

Rinka has accused Zeglin of defaming him when Zeglin reportedly accused Rinka and County Economic Development Coordinator Rob Grover of being "lobbyists" for groups looking to expanded ATV/UTV routes on county highways.

The board reconvened into open session and unanimously passed a motion to to instruct county attorneys to write letters to County Board Chairman, county employee and to the complainant citizens on the results of the investigation. They will meet again for the regular county board meeting on Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Rinka's complaint is still going through the legal process.
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