The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Oak Creek — The Oak Creek Town Board agreed Thursday to appoint an undetermined special investigator to examine the circumstances surrounding former mayor Kathy “Cargo” Rodeman’s July 19 arrest and the Oak Creek Police Department’s subsequent internal investigation of the incident.

Town officials will contact other law enforcement agencies in the area to determine who is willing to look into whether proper procedures were followed during the incident and whether police Chief Russ Caterinicchio’s examination was sufficiently thorough.

“The merit or demerit of this investigation will unfold,” Caterinicchio said. “I don’t oppose an investigation.”

The Town Board discussed waiting for an amended complaint from Rodeman, but ultimately opted to get the legwork for an independent investigation started. Rodeman and her attorney were given a deadline of Aug. 24 to amend their prior complaint and make her grievances more specific.

Rodeman, 54, was arrested July 19 on suspicion of charges including driving under the influence and resisting arrest, after Sgt. Erik Foster used a Taser on her in her Oak Creek home.

Foster tried to stop Rodeman’s vehicle after she failed to signal a right turn from Lincoln Avenue onto Meyers Street, while driving home from the Colorado Bar shortly before 2 a.m. Police said Rodeman sped to her residence and ran inside with passengers Tashena and Shoshanna Montoya, who allegedly sandwiched Foster between the door and its frame to prevent him from entering.

New trustee Gerry Green­wood hopped straight from the audience to a seat at the discussion Thursday, after being appointed to fill the seat formerly occupied by Angie Krall. Wendy Gustafson was appointed the town’s new Mayor Pro-Tem.

Water ordinance

The board also approved an ordinance restricting the filling of truck-mounted water tanks at private residences — a potentially dangerous practice, as the town does not have sufficient backflow mechanisms to prevent contaminating the town’s entire water system, Town Clerk Karen Halterman said.

Under the new ordinance, it is unlawful to fill water tanks with more than 25 gallons per day at private residences, for offsite use or resale.

The wastewater collection line project, with work currently focusing on Carbon Avenue and Virginia Street, is due to be completed in about three weeks.