An investigation into the conduct of Wausau Community Development Director Mike Morrissey and Assistant Director Kristen Fish has found that a close personal relationship existed between the two, but that it played no role in Fish's promotion to the position.

The 50-hour-long investigation, which was conducted by attorney Steve Immel and paid for by city taxpayer dollars at a rate of $100 per hour, also found no signs that Morrissey and Fish failed to reimburse the Community Development Authority for costs stemming from personal text messages sent using city phones.

Immel would not elaborate as to whether the relationship was romantic.

Immel's investigation focused on the allegations made in a sex discrimination complaint filed by former CDA employee, Wendy Jasurda. Immel did not investigate the sex discrimination complaint itself.

A news conference on the matter was held Tuesday evening at Wausau City Hall. However, according to a press release from Mayor Jim Tipple's office, no television cameras were to be allowed.

Click here to view the press release as it arrived to NewsChannel 7.

NewsChannel 7 then called Tipple's office, he said no tape recorders would be allowed either, but he was not certain about still cameras.

Because the news conference was not an open meeting, they city could legally deny access to video cameras, according to NewsChannel 7's attorney.

As the news conference began, NewsChannel 7's reporter and videographers, along with the rest of the Wausau media, objected to the condition.

After Immel discussed the situation with city attorney Ralph Nagle, the two decided that Immel's opening statements could be audiotaped, but not videotaped.

However, his question-and-answer session with the media following his statements could be videotaped.

Morrissey returned to work Tuesday morning, according to Tipple, following a suspension that began when the sex discrimination allegations surfaced.

Tipple had been serving as acting department head.

Fish resigned from her position earlier in April, but did not give a reason for her departure.

Jasurda is facing criminal charges for allegedly using the CDA credit card to make $1600 worth of personal purchases.

She has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor theft from a business and is free on a $1000 signature bond.

A jury trial is scheduled for May 28.

In the complaint filed with the State Department of Workforce Development, Jasurda claims she was not given a chance to explain the questionable use of the credit card before she was fired in August 2007.

Click here to view the entire complaint (Note: file is large and may take a long time to load).

In the complaint, Jasurda accuses Fish of sending personal text messages using city-issued cell phones to Morrissey. She says the back-and-forth messages cost the city hundreds of dollars, but Fish and Morrissey were never held accountable.

She also alleges that Morrissey was not punished for an improper credit card reimbursement involving lodging reservations.

Jasurda's attorney, Aaron Halstead, tells NewsChannel 7 that Immel "has apparently concluded his investigation and didn't attempt to get information from my client, which is a fundamental part of investigations."

Halstead also says Immel didn't ask for any documents about their claim.

He says the city's response to the allegation is due with the state on Monday, May 5.