Citing irreconcilable differences with the city clerk, the mayor of Watson has resigned his office one year into his term.
Former Mayor Jason Avelsgard dated his official letter of resignation Jan. 29 and effective immediately. It will likely be formally announced at the next city council meeting on Feb. 9.
Avelsgard was absent from the last two council meetings and acting Mayor Mark Radtke said at the last meeting on Jan. 28 that he believed Avelsgard had resigned.
Avelsgard said in a phone interview Jan. 29, “The main reason I resigned was our city clerk (Loisjean Fossen). All the things I wanted to accomplish have been undermined by Loisjean. As mayor there was nothing I could do about it.
“I was getting very tired of doing her job. I’ve spent a lot of time and my own money doing the job. I left her phone messages she wouldn’t return. I’ve been working to push through getting easements signed by residents after she tried once and then wouldn’t do any more. I’ve worked to get a date set for the special election and she’s blocked that time after time.”
Avelsgard said he had received a letter from the city attorney warning that the special election could be jeopardized if the city clerk did not take care of her responsibilities regarding the election.
The special election comes after Watson residents signed a petition seeking to have the city’s form of government changed from its current Plan B which has the clerk elected and sitting on the council, to a Plan A which would call for the clerk to be hired and not be a council member.
The city council had failed to set a date for that election since the petition was presented to the council in October 2009. Finally, at the Jan. 28 meeting, the council voted and approved Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, for the special election.
Fossen must advertise time and place for voting, send out absentee ballots and appoint three election judges. Chippewa County Auditor/Treasurer Jon Clauson said ballots and equipment will be ready by then.
Relations between Avelsgard and Fossen have been strained for months as evidenced by several outbursts from Fossen during council meetings when she refused to set office hours after Avelsgard and council member Kevin Norman asked her to. She said she was an elected official, their equal, and did not have to take orders from them.
At one point she resigned, then rescinded the resignation and remained on the council. Two weeks ago she said she would not attend any meetings until Avelsgard ran meetings according to the agenda and she was not “abused.”
She attended the Jan. 28 council meeting and said later that she thought her “problem was taken care of,” with Avelsgard’s absence.
During the last council meeting, Fossen made a motion that Radtke go to Avelsgard’s home and collect all documents that belong to the city. The motion was carried but Radtke cautioned that nothing should be done until Avelsgard’s official resignation was received.
Avelsgard said that he believed residents were not informed about city business.
“There’s definitely a look of people not knowing what is going on,” he said. “If Loisjean had resigned I would not have, because then I would have had a fighting chance.”
He said he had no city documents at his home.
City council can now appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
