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Rothschild public commenter alleges wrongful fire-department termination; board asked for clarification
Summary
Alec Ramirez told the Village Board he was terminated from the Riverside Fire Department on June 5, 2024 and alleged officials provided conflicting explanations; he said Administrator Ryan VanDeWalle told him there were no crimes or complaints, and he asked the board to require truthful clarification from staff and fire department employees.
During the public-comment period at the Jan. 27, 2025 Rothschild Village Board meeting, Alec Ramirez of 20 Becker Street addressed trustees about his termination from the Riverside Fire Department on June 5, 2024. Ramirez said his captain told him the termination was unrelated to work performance and instead due to actions outside of work. Ramirez told the board he has email correspondence involving Marathon County social worker Alexa Zich and Administrator Ryan VanDeWalle that, in his view, show conflicting accounts given to him prior to his termination.
Ramirez said Mr. VanDeWalle told him after his termination that the administrator had no knowledge of any crimes or complaints against Ramirez. Ramirez asked trustees to require VanDeWalle and fire-department employees to provide the truth to the community.
The board did not take any formal personnel action at the meeting. No formal response or investigation timeline was recorded in the minutes; trustees did not vote on a directive at that session.
