Salem Lakes Village Clerk Resigns Amidst Alleged Corruption Investigation

Copied!
Salem Lakes Village Clerk Shannon Hahn
(Photos By Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

The Salem Lakes Village Clerk, Shannon Hahn, has resigned from the Village of Salem Lakes Friday. Hahn, 44, of Bristol, turned in her written letter of resignation as Walworth County Detectives were questioning employees for the third day in a row, according to reports. This departure comes at a curious time. KCE has at least three unfulfilled public records requests into the village. We expect the records to be damning to the Village’s Administration. Hahn is responsible for fulfilling these requests. She told us last Monday, “I wanted to notify you that [the records requests] will take longer than usual. I am sorry for this inconvenience.” Hahn is also in charge of the upcoming elections. Her election supervisor, Michael Ullstrup, recently passed away, leaving the administering of the important upcoming election in limbo. There is a primary election on February 21, 2023 and the general election on April 4, 2023. Village officials are scrambling to delegate who will take over in the duo’s absence. We made contact with Hahn Sunday evening and she said “I have no desire to talk to you. Please do not contact me.”

Paid Advertisement
Salem Lakes Trustee Mike Culat
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Michael Culat, a trustee for the Village of Salem Lakes and a local Realtor out of Antioch, IL, previously worked as a police officer for the City of Antioch, IL, being hired in 1985 and allegedly leaving under suspicious circumstances in 1991. According to a police report written by his then-Lieutenant, he seemingly left the department so suddenly, that he had to be hounded by the police department to get their police equipment back from Culat.

Paid Advertisement
Skid Steer
(Stock Photo)

KCE received multiple complaints about Culat’s behavior. First, we were told that there was a Village of Salem Lakes skid steer in his backyard for several months. He was alleged to be using the village-owned machine for his own personal use. We emailed him several times to ask him why the skid steer was in his rural backyard. He never responded. What do we do when government officials aren’t transparent? We asked him in public after a meeting while recording. He admitted to having the skid steer at his house but said he didn’t know who dropped it off or who picked it up. He said he never touched the skid steer and his fingerprints aren’t on it. He started to say that he didn’t see it, but then corrected himself, saying he did see it. He told us he didn’t use it, but wouldn’t say why it was there.

Paid Advertisement

KCE has learned that the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation to Culat’s seemingly unscrupulous behavior. Culat said last week that his “lawyer” would be answering our questions on February 7, 2023. We have not yet heard from this “lawyer.”

Paid Advertisement

Captain Shannan Illingworth of the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office did confirm that she assigned detectives to investigate the complaint about Culat.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paid Advertisement

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS

Rep. Nedweski Slams Evers for Erasing Mothers in Budget Bill

Madison, Wis. – State Representative Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) is condemning Governor Tony Evers’s 2025-2027 budget proposal, accusing the governor of attempting to erase the concept of motherhood. Nedweski took issue with the use of gender-neutral language in the budget, replacing terms such as “mother” with phrases like “parent who gave birth” and “inseminated person” on numerous occasions. “As a proud mother of two, it is absolutely insulting that the Governor, in his 2025-2027 budget bill,

Read More »

Viral Video Culprit Arrested in Costco Parking Lot Vandalism

Pleasant Prairie, Wis. – A dramatic arrest was announced today following a week-long investigation into a viral video that captured a shocking act of vandalism at a local Costco parking lot. On Saturday, February 15th, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m., a Tesla video recorded a disturbing incident in which a man was seen repeatedly keying a vehicle. The footage, widely shared on social media, shows the individual circling the car and deliberately causing damage by scratching

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

Kenosha Man Charged With Multiple Sex Crimes, Faces 335 Years in Prison

Kenosha, Wis. — A 45-year-old Kenosha man has been charged with a series of sex crimes, including the repeated sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. Matthew H. Nielson was formally charged today and could face up to 335 years in prison if convicted. Nielson appeared in court today, where he was ordered to be held on a $200,000 cash bail. The charges against him include repeated sexual assault of a child, child enticement,

Read More »

Sheriff Zoerner Stands Firm Against Early Release Requests from Disgraced Former Official

Kenosha County, Wis.– Former Village of Pleasant Prairie Public Works Director John Steinbrink, Jr., who has been serving time in the Kenosha County Detention Center, will not be receiving an early release, despite repeated attempts to secure electronic monitoring from Sheriff David W. Zoerner. He will remain behind bars until May of this year. Steinbrink, who was initially charged with seven felony counts related to misconduct in public office, saw his charges significantly reduced after the

Read More »

Gateway Technical College President Ritu Raju’s DEI Policy Shift: A Masked Attempt at Compliance or Genuine Change?

Kenosha, Wis. — In a move that has already sparked significant controversy, Ritu Raju, President of Gateway Technical College (GTC), announced the dissolution of the institution’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program today. The decision, conveyed through a mass email to faculty and staff, comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping new policies on DEI. According to Raju, the college is adjusting its approach to comply with new federal guidelines, which threaten institutions with

Read More »

Kenosha Voters Reject $115 Million KUSD Referendum in Strong Rebuke

Kenosha, Wis. – A controversial $115 million referendum for the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) was handily defeated Tuesday night, with voters across the City of Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, and Somers sending a clear message against what many see as years of financial mismanagement and administrative bloat. The referendum, which sought to address budget shortfalls and facility upgrades, was widely criticized as a band-aid solution for a district plagued by declining enrollment yet expanding high-paid administrative

Read More »

KUSD’s Election Rigging, Censorship, and Corruption: Why Voters Must Reject the $115 Million Tax Hike

Nathan Hale – A Special to Kenosha County Eye – Opinion The Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) is once again under fire—this time for actively silencing dissenting voices on its official Facebook page and attempting to rig the upcoming referendum with taxpayer-funded propaganda and outside dark money. Numerous residents who voiced opposition to the district’s massive $115 million referendum reported that their comments were mysteriously deleted. Instead of fostering an open dialogue, KUSD appears to be

Read More »

Twin Lakes Man Charged With Seven Counts Of Possession Of Child Pornography

Twin Lakes, Wis. – A Twin Lakes man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he was found in possession of illicit material involving minors. Thomas J. Pattock, 46, was charged today with seven counts of Possession of Child Pornography following an investigation by local and state law enforcement agencies. Under Wisconsin law, each count carries a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of 25 years in prison. However, a legal provision allows

Read More »

Kenosha County Caught in Open Meetings Violation: A Troubling Lack of Transparency

Kenosha, Wis. –In a disturbing example of government secrecy, Kenosha County officials attempted to hold an illegal, unannounced meeting of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee last Thursday, February 13, 2025—only to be caught in the act and forced to shut it down. The clandestine gathering, which took place in a nondescript room inside the Kenosha County Job Center, was exposed by KCE (Kenosha County Eye) after receiving a tip about the committee’s planned meeting. When KCE

Read More »

Somers Resident Captures Garbage and Recycling Being Mixed in Disposal Truck: Video

Somers, Wis. – A Village of Somers resident noticed last week that his garbage and recycling were being collected together by John’s Disposal. This week, anticipating a repeat occurrence, he recorded a video capturing the incident. The footage shows a John’s Disposal driver picking up the garbage bin and emptying its contents into the truck. Moments later, the driver does the same with the recycling bin, disposing of both waste streams into the same compartment. The

Read More »

Three Injured in Kenosha Crash Involving Police Officer: Video

Kenosha, Wis. – Three people, including a Kenosha Police Officer, were injured in a crash Saturday evening. Both civilians involved in the collision were hospitalized, while the officer sustained injuries but is expected to recover promptly. The incident occurred just after 8:45 p.m. when a 20-year-old Kenosha woman was driving southbound on Sheridan Road. She was preparing to turn left onto 66th Street. Surveillance footage captured the moment a Kenosha Police Officer, responding to a traffic

Read More »

School Funding, the Budget Surplus, and Tax Cuts – Q&A With Rep. Nedweski

As we near the February 18th election, I reached out to State Representative Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) to address some frequently asked questions about the KUSD operating referendum as it relates to state funding. Kenosha Unified is asking voters if they approve of a property tax that is higher than the state’s statutory levy limit by about $23 million per year through 2030 – or a cumulative amount of $115 million over that time period. The

Read More »
Categories
Archives
Authors

20 Responses

  1. As a resident, I’m very sadden by this development. Shannon was a excellent representative of the village,
    and will be very hard to replace. Many will miss her.

    13
    13
  2. “I have no desire to talk to you. Please do not contact me.”

    That’s how you know Kevin is the best journalist in Kenosha.

    10
    10
  3. This is quite the can of worms. And they’d all still be in the can doing what they do if we did not have a tenacious, professional journalist in Kenosha county.

    4
    7
    1. She was mike Murdocks puppy. She was a tattle tale and knows of a lot of the corrupt things going on. Maybe they should start questioning the waste water plant employees as well. Like the ones that never punch a time clock but have time cards. Or the ones shopping and cooking during working hours. Yes people. This happens on a weekly basis and it’s our tax dollars paying their wages and they even had to hire more office people to cover their work that isn’t being accomplished.

      3
      1
    1. Not only the Board, by the day to day functions of the Town Administrator. Why has he never been able to be found? What does he do? What a waste of tax dollars.

      1. Funny. The village employees have mentioned he is never around anymore. Maybe check the Limerick in Antioch. Or on his couch. “Working from home”.

      2. Also fire inspector and the fire chief neither are competent. The fire inspector has only 3 years of fire service who has never been in a fire and he was made captain.

      3. Also fire inspector and the fire chief neither are competent. The fire inspector has only 3 years of fire service who has never been in on an initial fire attackm and he was made captain.

        1. Chief Slover had a Fire and Rescue Department, that Fiefighters and Rescue personnel were proud to be a part of. He put that Department on the map. Departments around the State knew of Salem Fire and Rescue. For the 20 years he gave to making it a Department that not only the ones who worked for him, were proud of, but so was the community it served, it took Chief Lejcar 1 year to destroy to where a majority of the employees have left, can barely get a second squad out for a call and he has made the Department an embarrassment to our town. What a disservice it was to put him in a position he is not qualified to do. Bring Chief Slover back.

  4. It seems the current Cheif has decided to bring prosperity through overreached, this never works. Most of the current board operates with their head in the sand. The current board has decided they care more about the feelings of the employees vs taxpayers. It’s clear this Village has ignored the rights of taxpayers and business owners, for what reason? Plain and simple they are too weak and lazy to do the job they have been entrusted to do. Voters need to educated themself. As a resident I see a great opportunity to make change, don’t waste this opportunity, it doesn’t surface very often. Change can be good for all taxpayers.

  5. Salem Lakes previously had a very qualified and professional clerk in Cindi Dulaney. The board, headed by Tesar, fired her for no reason. I wrote for the paddock Lake/Westosha Report for years and never heard any complaint with her. Cindi did, however, make many complaints about former town then village administrator Pat Casey. And the Salem town board, which became the advisory board during the integration with Silver Lake, ignored its own agreement. That agreement stated that the Silver Lake village board could make no agreements or decision that could raise taxes without informing and getting agreement from the Salem advisory board. Pat Casey went to the Silver Lake board and got them to sign a contract with a nice, fat raise. I found out about it from the Silver Lake board. Casey didn’t give it to Cindi Dulaney as he should have. It was a big, illegal secret. And when Tesar , along with Culat, Campion, Faber and Kmiec, learned about it, they did NOTHING.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS
Categories
Archives
Authors

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.