SHAWANO, WI- A Shawano County supervisor is calling for the termination of a county employee amid allegations of long-standing workplace bullying and misconduct.
Lowell Hammett, who chairs the county’s Ethics Committee, says he has received multiple complaints and affidavits describing a pattern of intimidation by a current county employee.
A tense and at times chaotic exchange unfolded during the Shawano County Board’s monthly meeting Wednesday, as Supervisor Lowell Hammett demanded an emergency closed session to address what he claimed was repeated misconduct by a county employee. His request was ultimately denied after legal counsel and County Board Chairman Tom Kautza cited state open meetings law.
The dispute erupted near the end of the board’s agenda, with Hammett urging immediate discussion on a personnel issue he said has been ongoing for years and brushed aside by county leadership.
“I want to talk to the whole county board,” Hammett said firmly. “I’ve already tried it through the executive committee, and I hit a brick wall.”
Kautza, raising his voice in response, said, “I informed you and the other individual at the meeting to produce some evidence of the accusations that were made, and you produced nothing.”
Hammett pushed back, referencing past affidavits and incidents involving the employee in question, including one case involving a pregnant former planning and zoning supervisor. “One of these affidavits happened back in ’21 or ’22,” he said. “You were here, and it got brushed underneath the rug. Now there’s three or four more behind it.”
County Corporation Counsel Larenda Maulson stepped in to clarify the legal limitations. “With regards to calling any emergency meeting, there must be a 24-hour notice,” she said. “Or if there’s good cause, at least a two-hour amended notice indicating a closed session was not originally contemplated. That would have to have been provided prior to this meeting.”
Hammett questioned whether, as a supervisor, he could request an “order of the day” to add the topic. “So as a county board supervisor, I can’t ask for an order of the day?” he asked.
“No,” Kautza replied. “You can’t go into a closed session unless it’s properly noticed.”
Maulson added, “The body can go into closed session on items specified in the public notice, but cannot indicate public discourse that wasn’t listed. We can’t just pop out a closed session at any time.”
Kautza offered a compromise. “What you might want to do after the meeting concludes is get with the corporation counsel and Lowell to determine what the emergency is. But we can’t just change the rules. We’ve got to follow the state rules.”
Frustrated, Hammett emphasized his intent. “I want to show it to the entire county board.
Kautza denied any wrongdoing. “I’m not going to call an emergency meeting because you’re upset. I’m not upset that you and another individual didn’t provide any information, and I’m not going to call an emergency meeting over some hearsay.”
Hammett declined to publicly name the employee at this time.
“The person has been bullying people for years and pushing them around,” Hammett told TCH Daily News. “I’ve got written statements, emails, and even audio recordings supporting what these employees have gone through.”
Hammett pointed to a 2022 letter of complaint and a more recent account. According to Hammitt, the employee berated her verbally.
He also says another former employee, who chose to resign, submitted a letter detailing a toxic work environment.
“This isn’t just unethical, it would be a fireable offense in the private sector,” he said.
Hammett, a first-year supervisor, said he’s frustrated by a lack of progress. He has brought his concerns to the Executive Committee but claims there’s been resistance to formally addressing the issue.
“They gave me this job to chair ethics. I intend to do it,” Hammett said. “People are asking me to fix this. I don’t owe anyone in this building anything, and I’m not here to protect anybody.”
Hammett also raised broader concerns about workplace culture within the county, citing high employee turnover and morale issues across several departments, including the treasurer’s office, dispatch center, and health and human services.
“People don’t want to work here. Some spouses don’t want their wives working here,” Hammett said. “We have to start somewhere, and this is a place to start.”
Despite roadblocks, Hammett says he will continue pushing for accountability and may request a special meeting to address the matter.
“This has been going on for over seven months,” he said. “If we don’t deal with this now, we’re just kicking the can down the road.”
Click Below to hear the exchange from County Board Chairman Tom Kautza and Supervisor Hammett.
After the meeting, Hammett addressed TCHDailyNews
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