OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Former Neenah public works supt. Gregory Radtke was fined $50 and paid $3,098 in restitution for stealing the proceeds from municipal metal recycling.
Radtke, 54, pleaded no contest Tuesday to one count of theft of movable property, court records show.
According to the criminal complaint: “ Neenah employees realized that Radtke had been directing his department to take scrap metal to Gibson Iron and Metal, to get cash for it, and it did not appear that cash ever got to any legitimate fund at the City of Neenah.”
After Radtke was fired, workers asked about the proceeds from the recycling and a “petty cash” fund.
“Human Resources Director Heather Barber told Det. Schroeder that Radtke had a duffel bag in his office that had cash in it, along with envelopes from the city yard. Barber reported that Radtke had explained this by saying that he had planned to take it to City Hall, but had not gotten around to it yet. Barber suggested this did not really make sense, because Radtke was at City Hall regularly. Additionally, Barber indicated that the City did not have any record of cash deposits by Radtke during the time period in question,” the complaint states.
One accounting determined the amount in question was $3,098.
Radtke initially said the money was used for city purposes.
“Radtke then said he bought tools and “other stuff” with the money. Specifically, Radtke referenced buying grease guns. Radtke estimated that they had gotten $1200-1300 for scrap. Det. Schroeder informed him it was $3098 for February and March, and asked where the money was. Radtke stated that he bought various things from multiple retailers and said he was willing to pay back the difference,” the complaint states. “Radtke then said that most of the money went to tool purchases, that there should be receipts for the tools in his desk, but that he had used some of it on alcohol.”
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