Kinnickinnic: Resident questions ethics of town board members

Talk about it

River Drive resident and former Board Supervisor Gordon Awsumb was present at last week’s Kinnickinnic Town Board meeting to read a letter he wrote which questioned actions of certain Board members.

“The town’s work should not be awarded to Board or committee members. In some cases this may be a violation (of) Wisconsin statute 946.13,” wrote Awsumb. He went on to say, “The Board should put a stop to this apparent conflict of interest. You should immediately implement an ethical standard for the Town Board and committee members that will prohibit even the appearance of conflicts of interest.”

Also in his letter to the Board, Awsumb stated he is against an ordinance that was passed to allow marking and removal of trees on River Drive and elsewhere in town. He said, “The Board should rescind the ordinance passed last October which was done with what appears to be the purpose of creating more work for local contractors including Town Board and committee members.”

Responding to the comments made about the tree removals, Supervisor Milo Oppegard, who is also a resident on River Drive said, “I have planted 500 trees and I cherish them but I also respect the opinion of the highway engineers and I take road safety very seriously.”

Read more in the July 16 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: kinnickinnic town board, communities, news