March 2011 letter to the editor

3-1-11 letter to the editor

I recently read an article in regards to the Open Meeting Violation that happened in Gillman Township. (This involving the Spring Valley Board) I also read how the Pierce County District Attorney John O'boyle gave the file to the Pierce County Sheriff Dept. to follow up on. The Sheriff’s Dept. then gave the file to LT. Dennis Sorenson, whom also is the Chief of Police for the Village of Spring Valley. The DA, as well as the Sheriff Dept. should have had better sense than this. There is a “Conflict of Interest” and it does not take a genius to see that.

The complaint was as follows:

According to Board Member Nellessen, access to the meeting was "Denied" because the Village of Spring Valley president Marsha Brunkhorst stated "It was for Chairman only."

This refusal to allow anyone into the meeting, without it being a “Closed Session Meeting” violates the Wisconsin Law.

The article noted that Mr. Nellessen believed this to be a conflict, and so should everyone in the county. The problem stems from the DA not having common sense to start out with. He has an issue with seeing the problems, when it comes to the Open Meeting Laws of Wisconsin. This is not the first time he has denied violations of this law. You cannot say “There will not be issues with a cop, investigating his bosses.”

As a citizen it is clear that there was not going to be any charges to start out with, by the way DA O’boyle processed the complaint. There were many different avenues that could have been followed with this complaint, but the legal system in this county continues to show that ethics are not their strong suit.

When asked if he seen this conflict of interest, Sorenson replied, "No one raised that issue.” Nobody should have to raise the issue. Anyone involved in the legal system, should know this without a citizen questioning it.

It is in everyones best interest to question what their board members are doing behind closed doors, especially when they start denying people entrance to these meetings. If a meeting is not held in "Closed Session", they do not have any rights in denying public from being at the meeting. They do not have to allow anyone to speak, but they cant deny the attendance.

As for the situation at this meeting, they got away with it this time, because DA O'boyle protected them. He did so against the state laws. Like I stated earlier, This is NOT the first time that O'boyle has denied filings against board members in Pierce County under the Open Meeting Laws of WI. I believe he needs to be schooled on these laws, because he is blind when violation happen.