FLT Clerk Files for Bankruptcy

Fish Lake Township (FLT) Clerk Andrea Nekowitsch has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection on 7/1/09 (U.S. Bankruptcy Court case #09-34537). At a time when Clerk Nekowitsch is named as a defendant in a lawsuit against Fish Lake Township, perhaps she can avoid scrutiny and criminal prosecution by using a strategy similar to that previously used by FLT road maintenance worker Gary Guse, Jr. When Gary Guse’s wife Crystal was under criminal investigation and subsequently charged with check forgery (see 1/28/08 story titled, “Fish Lake Township the next mark?”), Gary filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection on 5/22/08 (U.S. Bankruptcy Court case #08-32478). Criminal actions were not pursued against Gary Guse, Jr. in connection with the $12,535 check forgery scheme.

Although Andrea Nekowitsch has served as the hired clerk of Fish Lake Township for many years, is her personal integrity and accountability above reproach? Apparently Supervisors Carter and Cupit think so. They both voted recently to approve and provide Nekowitsch with a township debit card, carte blanche for check-less purchases and cash withdrawal opportunities. Could this alarming situation be a recipe for disaster?