By Brenna R. Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

BURLINGTON - A lawyer for Chuck Hildebrant asked a judge Monday to stay an order that made public financial statements Hildebrant gave to the city of Florence.

Hildebrant, a part-owner of the Florence Freedom, gave the city personal financial records to get the city to lease 30 acres of city-owned land for the baseball team's stadium.

Friday, Boone Circuit Judge Anthony Frohlich dissolved a restraining order that had prevented Florence from releasing the two-page financial statement and two letters from accountants.

Hildebrant sought the restraining order after The Kentucky Enquirer asked the city to release the records.

Monday, Hildebrant's lawyer, Stephen Wolnitzek, filed a motion asking Frohlich to stay his order because Hildebrant plans to appeal the decision.

A hearing is set for Sept. 22.

Enquirer lawyer Paul Alley said the paper will do what it can to get the records released as soon as possible.

Hildebrant's lawyer has argued that releasing the records would be an invasion of privacy. But in his order, Frohlich said records "are documents involving matters of legitimate public concern and which the public is entitled to scrutinize."

The city required the statements from Hildebrant because he signed a personal guarantee claiming he had enough assets to cover the cost of the stadium and to fulfill the lease.

The city has since sued Hildebrant, claiming that the statements overstated his assets.

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E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com