Letter: Says his town board is ‘out of touch’

Kinnickinnic voters at the special town meeting Nov. 7 demonstrated to the Town Board how out of touch with reality was the board’s proposition to raise taxes.

The 181-4 vote denied raising the tax levy by 46.7% to support a 151% increase in the budget.

After the resounding defeat of the first budget and tax increase, Chairman Roger Van Beek introduced a second budget 6% higher than last year’s. This item was not on the agenda so voters were not prepared to discuss it, nor were they given the opportunity to discuss the actual massive increase from 2008 to 2009.

The chairman ignored meeting procedures, entertaining one motion, ignoring another. The vote tally was completely chaotic, but somehow the unannounced 6% budget increase passed by less than four votes.

If all the facts had been presented and if proper meeting procedures had been observed the vote outcome would have been different. The town is spending more on road maintenance and construction than any other town in St. Croix County.

If you voted for the 6% increase and if you would have voted differently had you been informed of the prior massive increases, please let the Town Board know at kinnitownhall@pressenter.com.

Please mark your calendars for April 1, 2011, when three new board members including the board chair are to be elected.

Tags: opinion, letters, government, kinnickinnic