🔥 “2005: The Year Superior Forgot How Money Works”
🧾 Library Looters, Firehouse Fraudsters, and the Audit Heard ‘Round the Lunchroom
SUPERIOR, WI — OCTOBER 2005
In a plot twist that no one in Superior asked for—but everyone should’ve seen coming—the city is knee-deep in another civic crapstorm. Three (yes, three) city employees are being investigated for theft this year alone, prompting a sudden “surprise” audit that’s about as shocking as a rerun of Matlock.
Because nothing screams functional government like waiting until after the cash is gone to start asking where it went.
🚨 Scandalpalooza: Who’s Stealing What Now?
This isn’t one rogue employee with sticky fingers. This is a full-blown buffet of municipal embezzlement, and everyone seems to be bringing their own plate.
Let’s take a look at this 2005 Dishonor Roll:
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Susan Johnstone, a parking citation clerk, got caught with her hand in the ticket till—$2,635 vanished before someone noticed. And for added emotional trauma? An innocent coworker got blamed before investigators found Johnstone was the one making Houdini cash moves.
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David J. Munger, firefighter and union treasurer, helped himself to nearly $10,000 in union dues. That’s right—he robbed his own coworkers. He did pay it back, but only after getting caught, and now he’s pulling legal tricks to delay his disciplinary hearing. Spoiler: His lawyer is arguing the Fire Commission doesn’t have the right to punish him. Because why fire a guy who fires fires?
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Oh, and former Fire Chief Stephen Gotelaere? Don’t worry, that slow-moving trainwreck is still rolling. Investigators are watching him like he’s a retirement fund with legs.
All this comes after Mayor Dave Ross and Finance Director Jean Vito tried to push the whole thing off as just a “precautionary audit.”
Sure, Jan.
đź’Ľ City Hall: Where Oversight Goes to Die
You’d think, after one or two scandals, maybe—just maybe—someone would update a few procedures. Add a second signature. Ask for a receipt. Hire someone who knows what a ledger is.
But nope. In Superior, we just cross our fingers and pray the next employee isn’t on a spending spree with the city checkbook.
City Attorney Frog Prell was the only one saying what we’re all thinking:
“I think it’s unreasonable for taxpayers to subsidize Mr. Munger’s downtime.”
Translation: Why the hell is this guy still getting paid while playing legal ping pong with public money?
đź“š Trust in the Library? Not Anymore.
City officials hoped no one would notice when they quietly slid a library employee onto administrative leave. But rumors are flying faster than Johnstone’s parking cash, and word is: another $10,000 might’ve gone missing.
At this point, the city budget might as well be written in disappearing ink. The only department we know isn’t stealing is Public Works, and that’s probably just because they forgot how email works.
đź’¬ Mayor Ross: Not Mad, Just Disappointed (But Mostly Just Mad)
Ross insists this isn’t a crisis, just an opportunity for “learning.” Great. Maybe we can all learn how not to leave public funds in unlocked drawers.
He also tried to offer some dime-store sociology:
“There’s stress in these jobs. People feel pressure. Long-term schemes develop.”
Ah, so the problem isn’t a complete lack of internal controls—it’s that your staff is emotionally burdened into grand larceny. Got it.
🎤 Mic Drop: Superior, WI — Now Accepting Applications for Next Embezzler of the Month
Here’s the truth: the problem isn’t the employees—it’s the system that treats fraud like a clerical error.
This isn’t a string of bad apples. It’s a damn orchard, and no one’s tending the field.
Until Superior stops treating theft like a pothole—something to patch after the fact—this cycle of scandal will roll on like a flaming shopping cart full of taxpayer money.
Source : https://www.firehouse.com/home/news/10506326/superior-wisconsin-firefighters-leave-extended
Source : https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/audit-finds-possible-theft-of-superior-city-money
Justice : Pleaded no Contest to Shoplifting, resigned position.
