We are learning more about the corruption investigation into the Village of Pleasant Prairie. The Racine County Sheriff is conducting probe into the Village of Pleasant Prairie’s public works director, John Steinbrink , Jr. Junior’s dad is the Village President, John Steinbrink Sr. According to documents obtained by KCE, we now know that ousted Village Administrator Nathan Thiel was behind placing John Steinbrink, Jr on leave. In the letter placing Junior on leave dated April 1, 2022, the reasons cited are:
Mishandling of Village Assets
Falsifying State Reports
Mismanagement of Public Contracts
The letter also commanded Junior to report to Village hall at a later date to answer questions. The same day Junior was placed on leave, a Village-wide email was sent by Thiel, saying in part:
“You should be made aware that earlier today we placed John Steinbrink Jr on paid administrative leave in order to provide sufficient space for an investigation of several substantive allegations made earlier this week. To eliminate the appearance of any bias, investigations wil be conducted by an outside agency……. You may share with other staff as appropriate, but please emphasize that this is a sensitive issue and gossip and rumors will not be tolerated”
The fact that Thiel was ousted shortly after putting Junior on leave is adding to the public’s belief that he was punished by the Village Board headed by Junior’s father.
Reached by phone, Village Trustee and former Village Administrator Mike Pollocoff told KCE that when the board decided to not renew Thiel’s contract, it was before the beginning of Junior’s investigation. He told us that no one got in the way of the investigation and the investigation into Junior didn’t play a role in his choice not to keep Thiel.
This matter is still in the investigative process by the Racine County Sheriff and no charges have been filed yet.
14 Responses
He is being paid his full salary when he committed multiple felonies. If this was anyone else, they would be incarcerated. Instead he is on vacation with his gold digging girlfriend. Shame on our local government and their coniving, fool President!
Just another shameful way to stick it to the tax payers. The paid leave should stop immediately! What a slap in the face.
the board, the administrators, the directors and most of the staff at VOPP are small town corrupt minded people. They’ve all been allowed to do what they do for years and nobody questions. That’s the problem with small towns and big bullies. Nobody wants to vote against them and nobody really wants to know what they’re up to or speak up. Sad for such a prosperous village.
Oh! We vote against them.alright! They just know how to keep it so our votes are out numbered by false voters! It’s such a joke!
This ongoing story reminds me of one of my past public employers. Same kind of issues and misconduct, just different names and location. There’s much less accountability and a ‘circle the wagons’ defense mechanism when one of their darling administers are either accused or caught. Slap on the wrist discipline and never a serious consequence for an abusive use of authority. It makes me rather ill just reading this. Things don’t change and you just move on to another job with a private company employer where gross misconduct is not tolerated and those guilty get fired.
Wish there was away of checking voting records regarding Police and Fire referendum because everyone person I talked to said they voted against it but it passed opening up more money for village to control and steal! Looking back when Pollocoff had an opponent they found 100 votes for him and zero for his opponent that is unbelievable odds, but in the village thats how things add up.
Does Pollocoff expect people to believe that the Village Administer finding out about the stealing and corruption and putting Jr. on leave had nothing to do with him being fired?
It probably felt like being hit by a bus for Jr and Sr. How dare someone expect them to not pillage the taxpayers and not have objection to it. The theft and corruption have been going on for a very long time. Including the entire time Pollocoff was the administrator.
Is it odd that Pollocoff is the mouthpiece for the board and not SR.? SR. never voted to not renew Thiels’s contract, nor did he sign the em[loyess exit agreement for the village. Pollocoff had to sign them. Maybe Sr. is also under investigation also. Maybe Sr. should be relieved of his board seat until this is resolved. He is not voting or performing the duties of the board President.
One thing the residences should watch for and not allow would be for Pollocoff to be appointed as the Village Board President. That would be the fox moving into the hen house.
Now we are entering the 3rd month of Jr. getting his full pay. When he is found guilty, will he have to return the wages?
It’s absolutely absurd that we as tax payers have to sit here and pay for his salary while he’s under investigation for multiple charges. His repeated mistreatment of public employees over the years is more than enough to fire Jr., Pollocoff and Sr. are the only reason John Jr. was not let go immediately.
Hopefully we can get some outstanding people that will run for village board to replace these people who only think of them self and there cronies.
The whistle was blown on Steinbrink on or before March 23rd. I have two theories on why they fired Thiel the first is hoping the investigation into Jr. would go away or if it was pre-planned I think they were going to move Jr. to that position. Kevin can you find out why John hasn’t been fired? I heard from a close source that HR had already been told (weeks ago) that he is being charged with multiple felonies and they are still digging for more (those don’t even include falsifying DNR documents) Why are taxpayers paying his salary if HR knows there are definitive charges from the Sheriff’s office? Why is HR coddling this corrupt piece of shit at our expense?
I’d really love to know where this stands and where the investigation is going.. Both of the Steinbrinks have been abusing their power and stealing at the expense of all of us for far too long and everyone knows it! They belong in prison…
I think there is A LOT of “looking the other way” and cover up throughout the whole PP Administrative office! Everyone should be questioned.
How was Steinbrink Jr able to gain employment working at the Village, when Steinbrink Sr was working there? They didn’t think that was a conflict of interest? They both should be investigated!
They voted years ago in their policies to allow family members to be employed there. I believe there is another relative that works for PP too, but not sure which dept.