ROSE CREEK — The Rose Creek City Council on Monday voted to fire its clerk who has been accused of swindling money from a rural fire association.
Janet Marie Nelsen, 58, of Rose Creek, has been charged with three counts of felony swindling after more than $3,000 was found missing from the fire association's books. She pleaded not guilty Feb. 20 in Mower County District Court and is scheduled to return to court June 27 — but local residents apparently weren't satisfied with that legal timetable.
More than 50 residents attended Monday's city council meeting to present a petition asking for the removal of Nelsen, along with an audit of the city's finances to determine if any money is missing.
Rose Creek officials accepted the petition before Mayor Pete Kuhlmann made the motion to terminate Nelsen, which the council unanimously supported.
Nelsen had kept the books for the fire association — which includes Windom, Nevada and Marshall townships — for about 30 years.
