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By MaryHelen Swanson
In unexpected action, 2008-elected Lent Township supervisor Dave Milles removed himself from the town board last night after he asked for a show of hands of how many wanted him to resign. There were dozens of township residents on hand for the special meeting.
Milles was informed that, and knew, the vote would be unofficial, but went ahead and asked anyway.
He also asked how many wanted him to stay and there were hands raised also.
Accepting the majority’s response, for the yea’s had outnumbered the nay’s, Milles resigned immediately and was handed a paper to sign. “There you go - are you happy,” he said as he signed it.
What brought about this action?
No one knew what to expect when they came to the Lent Town Hall last night, but the line was long as people waited to get in the door.
There were still several in line when Township Chairman Gene Olson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
The pledge was said.
Following remarks from township attorney Peter Tiede, Olson appointed Monica (Abress) Frischkorn as moderator for the special meeting. The meeting was called to discuss issues of “town board governance.”
Originally, the town board discussed a closed meeting with the intent of discussing personnel issues. Attorney Tiede had informed them that that wasn’t possible. He said Thursday night that any personnel issue would have to be handled at a regular meeting. It may be closed.
He told the large group that there is no secret there are some issues among board members. He said, as township attorney, he could not participate in determining who was right and who was wrong.
And then he turned the meeting over to the moderator.
The supervisors speak
Chairman Olson said he wanted the meeting to clear up a few items, explaining his thoughts on what brought about the meeting. He told the crowd that a while ago he brought to the board’s attention some internal problems, and he admitted he did not handle the situation well.
But he said he was here tonight to deal with it.
He said since April 18, he has not been serving the township people as well as he should have.
He recalled how he had been summoned to a local coffee shop by another supervisor and then handed a letter that confused him.
That supervisor was David Milles.
The letter, which Olson read last night, asked Olson to support any motions that Milles would present at the township meeting that night (April 15) or, Milles wrote, “I will have no choice but to take a very public action on something that will certainly destroy personal reputations, political credibility and likely tear this community apart.”
Olson said the letter “shattered me to say the least.”
He noted that Milles also attached a four-page document titled “The Nuclear Option” and said since then he (Olson) has been scared to vote on anything.
Olson felt it bordered on blackmail.
Milles speaks
Milles admitted giving that note to Olson. He also talked about e-mails that he had sent to the other supervisors. He talked about handouts he had at the back of the room, which included e-mail correspondence. He said he took it upon himself to send out the letter about this meeting to the residents of the township, at his expense.
The letter he sent included a list of questions Milles said he had been asked by township residents, many concerning employees of the township, a road plan and financial issues.
Milles said he made every attempt to obey his oath of office in taking this upon himself.
The third supervisor speaks
Lyle Johnson, previously on the board for nine years, and re-elected this year said during those nine years there had been many spirited discussions, some people had taken heat, but they put their heads together and made proper, rational decisions.
Johnson said now there is more turmoil than in all the nine years because of one person and he said that person was Milles, not Olson.
Johnson said his point was that he believed Milles had an agenda to remove Olson so he (Milles) could gain control of the board and “do what he wants to do.”
Milles asked to rebut Johnson’s remarks.
The audience called out “no.”
And there was applause.
Citizens’ turn
In his letter to them, Milles had asked the residents, to write down questions, and the folks were also encouraged to do so at the meeting.
A microphone was set up for speakers.
Rarely did anyone have just one question.
There were questions about the letter Milles sent out: how he got the names and addresses of the residents, why the Township logo was used on a personal letter, (Milles said, “because I am an elected township official, this was an official notice” adding he sent it out at his own initiative and paid for the mailing himself).
He admitted he used bulk mailing, which it was pointed out, it only for township government business. And later in the meeting, he admitted he had labels prepared by the township clerk and promised, in an e-mail to her, he’d replenish them. In that e-mail Milles also asked the clerk not to speak to anyone about it unless specifically asked.
Frischkorn, as moderator, being a former Lent Township supervisor, began to respond to the people’s questions. Eventually, Milles called for a point of order asking why she was doing this as she is not on the board.
One lady asked when the last audit was performed and wanted one done for the past 10 years.
Supervisor Johnson noted that one was done in 2006 for the years 2005 and 2006.
Chairman Olson informed the audience that because of the size of the township, no audit is required.
Many of the comments in the “box” dealt with roads.
And the lady, standing with microphone in hand, asked why there is no road plan.
Olson explained that a 5-year plan was set in 1999 but due to inflation, the township couldn’t keep up with it and is about 2.5 years behind.
Frischkorn explained the process of the annual road tour and how the supervisors return from that tour and decided a plan for road repair for the coming year. She noted that it is an open meeting although the supervisors ride in one car. Anyone can go along, she said, but have to ride in their own car.
Finally the woman asked if all meetings are open meetings.
The township attorney assured her they must comply with the open meeting law.
Many had issues with the mailing, but one man said it was a good idea. He didn’t have to to drive by the posted notices.
Some had questions about Olson’s involvement in the hiring of a family member for maintenance.
Resident Tony Matkaiti’s letter was read because he said he was too upset to talk. He wrote that he took offense at the materials distributed by Milles.
Milles defended his letter saying the questions he posed were not from him, but from residents.
“I did not dream them up,” he said.
Resident Jayne Leight talked about attending the annual meeting. Milles had said in his letter few people had time or inclination to attend.
Leight said it’s only one time a year and she attends them all. Ninety percent of the questions asked at them are answered, she said. She also commended Olson for dealing with her problems promptly.
Later in the meeting, she said she appreciated all of the players at the head table, including Milles and the clerk, and to Milles she said, “You’re a rookie, you’ll grow into the job.”
There were many speakers and many issues.
And the clerk, about whom apparently this whole things started, finally asked for the microphone.
She said she wished someone would tell her what she has done wrong and is being accused of. “This started with me.”
Milles said the township had not followed its adopted employees manual and this meeting was a “mutated spin off.”
Milles noted that it’s been said he is a controlling person and trying to take over the board. The big question, he said, is who’s running the township? He insisted the list of question on the letter he sent out was given to him by residents.
Much discussion centered on the use of the official mailing list. It was noted that it is a public document, the manner in which it was obtained was questioned.
Milles said he asked the clerk for it in the capacity of township supervisor.
One gentleman, newer to the township, suggested that if there are improprieties among the town board members, they should be brought forward. And he said if there is so much work, perhaps the board should be increased to five. Olson said there is a process for that; it starts at the annual meeting.
It was when township treasurer Pam Olson, no relationship to the chairman, went to the microphone that the tide of the meeting turned.
She began to speak on the personnel issues that prompted the whole thing, and how the “closed” meetings came about as she had no other avenue to speak to the supervisors without the clerk present.
Her issues apparently were about the clerk.
Roxanne Kahler, the clerk, interjected that she still didn’t know what she did wrong, and just about when it appeared treasurer Olson was going to say something, the township attorney ask the moderator to stop the discussion.
Pam Olson ended by saying she receives e-mails daily from Milles and that he wants to put a stop to Olsonville, Minn.
But Milles, still seated at the board table, reminded her he had resigned so they didn’t have to worry he was going to stir anything up. “I’m done, I’m not on the board.” And then he reminded them all of what Thomas Jefferson had said, “People get the government they deserve.”
Chairman Olson asked Milles for his keys to the town hall, which were relinquished. And Milles had another paper to sign, which he did. Chairman Olson added that Milles did have something to offer the township and things he could do to benefit the township. But he noted that the things he (Milles) did in the last couple of months were not good for the township.
Regarding his resignation, Milles’ final comment to the people was, “This proves to all of you that I was not intending to take over your township.”
After the meeting Milles told the Post Review he expected the outcome of the meeting and expected it was planned.
Olson told the Post Review that there was no intention to get him to resign.
The two remaining officers will interview applicants to fill the seat, there are two years left in Milles’ term. Once filled, that person will hold the seat until the annual meeting next March at which time an election will take place to fill the remaining year of the position. The person appointed this year would have to file for the election next year.
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