You’ve heard that no one is above the law, but here in Wisconsin, no one is safe from the law. For Ron Wolff, lawfare is real and unrelenting. The short backstory is that Wolff was developing some land (2019) when he received a bill for $280,000 for road work. He took steps to dispute the bill and then ran successfully for the town board. As part of a story that appeared online on the Channel 26 website, NBC26 reached out to the Grand Chute Public Works Department for an explanation. They say Wolff’s assessment plan falls into their city’s policy for how they go about business, based on the amount of land Wolff owns and the business he does in the area. Public Works say they will work with some people. I guess Mr. Wolff isn’t “some people”.
The powers that be in the Grand Chute Area quickly charged that Wolff didn’t reside in Grand Chute. According to a Sept. 8, 2021 story from WAPL’s website, “A Grand Chute supervisor accused of not actually living in the township will remain on the Town Board. Town Clerk Angie Cain says she does not have enough evidence to prove that Ron Wolff lives in Nichols–as was alleged by fellow Supervisor Brad Gehring.” Gehring is the politically connected former Sheriff by the way. But enter the Grand Chute police chief – In May of 2022, Police Chief Greg Peterson accused Wolff of a physical confrontation (that video evidence refuted) and released a statement that read in part “in nearly 42 years of policing, I have been threatened more times than I can remember. While Supervisor Wolff did not deliver a blatant threat, it was readily apparent to me he was delivering a message. The full meaning behind his message remains unclear to me, but what is clear is that such a message delivered by a town supervisor carries a dramatically different connotation than a similar message conveyed by a citizen upset with police services.”
Seeing a dead end in the “he doesn’t live here” accusation the cabal then switched to contesting a contract for the Champion Center that Wolff’s landscaping company had with the town. From a WAPL story on Jul 10, 2023, “APPLETON, Wis–Prosecutors file one felony count against Grand Chute Town Board member Ron Wolff. Wolff is facing one count of Private Interest–Contract Private Capacity, which involves a public elected official using that position to enter into a private contract for personal financial benefit. The alleged crime took place on May 4th of 2021, less than a month after Wolff was first elected to the Town Board.
He had been the subject of a state Division of Criminal Investigation probe since spring of last year when he was accused of living in the town of Nichols–while serving on the Grand Chute Town Board. Only a summons complaint has been filed so far–which requires Wolff to make his initial appearance in Outagamie County Court on August 1st. A formal criminal complaint with details on the allegations has not yet been filed.”
Anyone seeing this? The DOJ is investigating whether Ron Wolff lives in Grand Chute. The DOJ! After the clerk says there’s no proof that Wolff doesn’t reside in the town. Now let’s switch over the NEW charges, since the last one didn’t stick.
According to the WBAY news staff – July 11, 2023, “A Grand Chute town supervisor is being charged with a felony after a state investigation. Ron Wolff is accused of having a private interest as a town supervisor in a public contract as the owner of a landscaping service. Wolff’s company, Lakeshore Cleaners. submitted a bid for $26,865.09 — “well in excess of the $15,000 limit” set in state statutes, the complaint reads. Wolff had been on the town board for a month. The Town of Grand Chute ultimately paid Lakeshore Cleaners $26,328.09 for the work. The felony charge carries up to 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.” The story has many holes, as the eventual “not guilty” verdict might suggest. First of all, Wolff is accused of lying about being an owner of the company, but as the story notes, he abstained from voting on the contract. So, why would he say he’s not involved in the company but then “abstain” from voting? Yeah, the jury didn’t buy it either. Another complication was that an exemption to the law exists if another company can’t be found to do the work properly, and Wolff’s defense team made that case as well.
APPLETON (WLUK) – March 4, 2024 – A Grand Chute supervisor was acquitted on charges he improperly bid for a town contract. A jury returned the not guilty verdict against Ronald Wolff on Friday, according to court records updated Monday. Enough said there.
State Representative Dave Murphy who represents all of Grand Chute, attended the trial said that it was concerning that Wolff was charged with a felony and that Wolff was clearly overcharged. Murphy expressed relief that “the jury was able to see through the smokescreen the prosecution presented.”
But Wait there’s More! Now this – Nov 21, 2024 | 1:49 PM WAPL -GRAND CHUTE, Wis–Two current and one former member of the Grand Chute Town Board are accused of violating the state’s open meetings law. Former Town Administrator Jim March has filed a complaint in Outagamie County Court against Town Chairman Jason Van Eperen, current board member Ron Wolff, and former board member Jeff Ings.
Stay tuned – Russian collision is coming next week!
Bill Savage – Editor – The Wisconsin Conservative Digest
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