WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau Mayor Doug Diny says he believes “all the punches have been thrown” in the debate around the dropbox located outside City Hall.
“We’re going to find a path forward, and I think we are on that path,” said Diny. “We just have [a few things to clean up.]”
His comments came after the Wausau City Council failed to suspend its rules to allow for a vote on a $3,000 security package for the box including a new front-door camera and a spotlight. Many Alders noted he could write that check himself because it’s under $5,000. He says he doesn’t plan to order those upgrades, saying he feels he’s in a bit of a pickle. “They’re saying ‘you can go do this, this is a win, go out there and announce you’ll implement this security.’ To me, it’s a bit of a non sequitur that security measures or anything to do with the ballot box be put on my shoulders.”
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The dropbox was put outside City Hall on a Friday in late September. While it was locked shut and unable to receive anything including a ballot, it wasn’t bolted down to the sidewalk. Diny wheeled it into his office, noting that anyone could have walked off with it. That led to a back-and-forth with City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde, who said she had authorized its use under the authority granted by a State Supreme Court decision in July.
About ten days later Diny returned the box to Bernarde’s charge. It has since been bolted down and is open.
Diny’s actions have been the subject of two investigations, one conducted by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and another by the State Department of Justice. The results of those investigations are still pending. The Marathon County District Attorney’s office has said they are referring all further comment on the matter to the DOJ and the Division of Criminal Investigation.
RELATED: UPDATED: Wausau Mayor, Marathon County DA Release Statements Regarding Ballot Dropbox Situation
The Mayor adds that he has faith in Clerk Bernarde and she has control over the box’s use. “Those are instructions that the Clerk will issue, and they will follow proper procedures. I’ve mentioned all along I belive [Bernarde] has the best interest of the city and the voting integrity in mind. She does an excellent job.
“This is an area where we had a disagreement on whether they are needed or not coupled with some security concerns that I had,” added Diny.
Other topics Diny discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Dropbox
8:45- Budget update
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