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Council appointees on hold

LAKE GENEVA — Four suspended Lake Geneva aldermen are trying to block the mayor from appointing replacements.

Mayor Bill Chesen on Thursday filed petitions for removal of Aldermen Mary Jo Fesenmaier, Arleen Krohn, Penny Roehrer and Tom Spellman. He also immediately suspended them, barring them from secure areas of City Hall.

Chesen on Monday night planned to appoint Robert Flemming, Larry Magee, Michael McBride and Sturges Taggart to temporary replace the suspended aldermen. If they are appointed, they would be able to vote on whether to remove the suspended aldermen from the city council.

But attorney David Williams on Monday morning filed papers asking for immediate reinstatement of the suspended aldermen. He also filed a motion for a restraining order and a temporary injunction to prevent the mayor from appointing temporary replacements for the suspended aldermen. The motion also asks the court to prohibit the temporary aldermen from voting on action pertaining to the matter.

Judge John Race declined to act without a formal hearing including both parties, according to his clerk.

Williams said Monday afternoon he would try to file a motion with the District 2 Court of Appeals in Waukesha.

"It would be unusual if the court signed this order without the other party present," he said. "But these are unusual circumstances."

Williams said at a special Lake Geneva City Council meeting Monday night, he expects a hearing to be scheduled within the week.