COLUMBUS - Acting Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Bill Kluetzman wants Mayor Nancy Osterhaus to reinstate him to his positions unless he is going to face disciplinary charges.

Osterhaus placed Kluetzman on administrative leave with pay June 15, following a weeklong effort to combat the flooding that affected the city after the rains of June 7-8. Osterhaus also placed Emergency Management Director Bob Zapotocny and firefighter Doug Landphier on administrative leave with pay.

Kluetzman wrote a letter to Osterhaus, which he supplied for publication in today's edition of the Columbus Journal, in which he stated the following:

"If any charges are going to be filed related to my conduct as a city employee, it would be appreciated if such charges could be made known to me now so that I can begin to take steps to respond to them. If no charges are going to be filed, it would be appreciated if you promptly would reinstate me in my employment at this time. In either event, it would be appreciated if you could send me a copy of any reports that have been prepared as a result of your investigation."

Shortly after placing the three men on leave, Osterhaus stated: "Allegations of wrongdoing in office were reported to me, and I had no choice but to place Bill Kluetzman, Bob Zapotocny and Doug Landphier on administrative leave pending an investigation."

Kluetzman had no comment beyond his letter Thursday.

When asked about the letter, Osterhaus responded: "Bill Kluetzman is under investigation. The investigation is not completed at this point."

Osterhaus said that the investigation is being done by interim Police Chief Dennis Weiner. She said that the police and fire commission would become involved only if there would be disciplinary charges filed against Kluetzman in his role as acting fire chief.

Osterhaus said that there are no public documents available that give details on the investigation of Kluetzman.