By Kacie Svoboda
Shortly after three new Keystone Town Board trustees Lynette Gohsman, Justin Moss and Trygve Nelson stepped up and trustees Nikki Ball, Cathy Madison and A. Gideon Oakes stepped down at the Wednesday, May 4 meeting, the three first-time board members faced a tough decision. Newly appointed board president Kwinn Neff began his tenure by making a motion to open up the city attorney position held by Mitch Johnson to other proposals.
“I think we should look at the options for the town,” Neff said.
At this proposal, the packed room erupted into a slew of questions and comments from attendees.
Trinity Rapp began by addressing the new trustees and asking if they felt informed enough to make this decision.
“You may or may not be knowledgeable enough to make a decision right now,” she said. She suggested that none of them may know enough about Johnson to decide whether or not he keeps the appointment.
Neff said that he had already spoken with Johnson about this decision and that he had already submitted a proposal for the board’s consideration. This proposal followed the same guidelines as his prior years of service — a one-year appointment at a $85/hour rate.
“I’ve done the work,” Johnson said. “I’ve been accessible. This shouldn’t come down as a money issue. But I don’t think you’ll find anyone who’ll charge less than me.”
Former trustee Bob Nelson questioned whether Neff had ulterior motives for looking at other proposals.
Neff assured that he had nothing personal against Johnson and commended him for 31 years of service to Keystone.
“I believe it would be good to look at other options because we have never looked at them,” Neff said.
Bob Nelson also asked if other city positions, such as city engineer and city finance officer would also be opened up to new proposals.
“If you’re going to look at a new attorney why not look at a new finance officer or engineer?” he asked.
Neff said the engineer position had already undergone the proposal process for the selection of the AE2S firm last year. He also said that he had no intention of opening up the city finance officer position.
Bob Nelson said that it was only fair to have the same procedure for city positions.
“That’s like comparing apples to oranges,” Neff said.
Former trustee Dave Cofoid then asked if Neff had spoken to other attorneys. Neff said he had not. Bob Nelson questioned what the trustees would do without an attorney.
Neff reminded him that the board still had Johnson’s proposal and stated he expected the board to select an attorney by the next meeting.
Ball commented that expecting to choose a new attorney in a week was very optimistic. Oakes agreed and added that the timing was poor for this change. He was concerned Keystone would lose Johnson’s “institutional memory” and leave the town exposed and without a city attorney.
Former trustee Cathy Madison was upset that this topic had not been broached with the prior board and yet Neff had admitted to discussing the issue with the new trustees. Bob Nelson questioned the legality of this. Johnson responded that if there was a quorum it would not be legal.
Neff stated that he had spoken with everyone individually and that no consensus had been reached.
“We’re discussing it right now,” he said. “Nothing has been decided.”
Before the role call vote was held, Johnson used the lull in discussion to thank all of the many board members he had worked with and finance officer Vanessa Row.
“I’ve had a lot of good times up here,” he said.
Gohsman voted against Neff’s motion. “It’s a really hard decision and I think we need to do more research,” she said.
Trustee Sandi McLain agreed that there needed to be more research and thought the issue deserved more time. She voted against.
Trygve Nelson also voted down the proposal. “I do like change,” he said. “But it will have to wait.
Moss and Neff also voted against the motion, defeating it with a unanimously against verdict.
“This was a great test for the new board,” Neff said.
Johnson thanked the board but offered to waive the one-year appointment stipulation. “I work at the will of the board,” he said. “So if in 60 days, you look at this again, you can terminate my agreement. I want to work for those who want to work with me.”
Johnson was unanimously appointed and Neff swore him in. Finance officer Row and city engineer David Holland were also sworn in to their respective opinions.
Existing members of the Keystone library, housing board and historical society boards were reappointed and can be sworn in at their convenience at Keystone city hall by Row. Library board members are Linda Halley, Cathy Drummond, Kim Taylor, Diane Rohde and Cathy Madison. Housing board members are Jodie McClure, Jim DeHaai, Arlette Schweitzer, Cathy Little Bull and Diane Rohde. Historical society members are Sandra McLain, Richard Fuga Jr., Lois Halley, Wally Hunsaker and Karen Boland.
The Bridging Generations workshop hosted by the city of Keystone will be held on Tuesday, May 17 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Keystone Community Center. This workshop is open to the public.
CPR classes will be held on Tuesday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the Keystone Community Center. This course is open to the public for a fee of $5 per person. Those interested should contact Keystone City Hall at 666-4827 to sign up.
The next Keystone Town Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
Shortly after three new Keystone Town Board trustees Lynette Gohsman, Justin Moss and Trygve Nelson stepped up and trustees Nikki Ball, Cathy Madison and A. Gideon Oakes stepped down at the Wednesday, May 4 meeting, the three first-time board members faced a tough decision. Newly appointed board president Kwinn Neff began his tenure by making a motion to open up the city attorney position held by Mitch Johnson to other proposals.
“I think we should look at the options for the town,” Neff said.
At this proposal, the packed room erupted into a slew of questions and comments from attendees.
Trinity Rapp began by addressing the new trustees and asking if they felt informed enough to make this decision.
“You may or may not be knowledgeable enough to make a decision right now,” she said. She suggested that none of them may know enough about Johnson to decide whether or not he keeps the appointment.
Neff said that he had already spoken with Johnson about this decision and that he had already submitted a proposal for the board’s consideration. This proposal followed the same guidelines as his prior years of service — a one-year appointment at a $85/hour rate.
“I’ve done the work,” Johnson said. “I’ve been accessible. This shouldn’t come down as a money issue. But I don’t think you’ll find anyone who’ll charge less than me.”
Former trustee Bob Nelson questioned whether Neff had ulterior motives for looking at other proposals.
Neff assured that he had nothing personal against Johnson and commended him for 31 years of service to Keystone.
“I believe it would be good to look at other options because we have never looked at them,” Neff said.
Bob Nelson also asked if other city positions, such as city engineer and city finance officer would also be opened up to new proposals.
“If you’re going to look at a new attorney why not look at a new finance officer or engineer?” he asked.
Neff said the engineer position had already undergone the proposal process for the selection of the AE2S firm last year. He also said that he had no intention of opening up the city finance officer position.
Bob Nelson said that it was only fair to have the same procedure for city positions.
“That’s like comparing apples to oranges,” Neff said.
Former trustee Dave Cofoid then asked if Neff had spoken to other attorneys. Neff said he had not. Bob Nelson questioned what the trustees would do without an attorney.
Neff reminded him that the board still had Johnson’s proposal and stated he expected the board to select an attorney by the next meeting.
Ball commented that expecting to choose a new attorney in a week was very optimistic. Oakes agreed and added that the timing was poor for this change. He was concerned Keystone would lose Johnson’s “institutional memory” and leave the town exposed and without a city attorney.
Former trustee Cathy Madison was upset that this topic had not been broached with the prior board and yet Neff had admitted to discussing the issue with the new trustees. Bob Nelson questioned the legality of this. Johnson responded that if there was a quorum it would not be legal.
Neff stated that he had spoken with everyone individually and that no consensus had been reached.
“We’re discussing it right now,” he said. “Nothing has been decided.”
Before the role call vote was held, Johnson used the lull in discussion to thank all of the many board members he had worked with and finance officer Vanessa Row.
“I’ve had a lot of good times up here,” he said.
Gohsman voted against Neff’s motion. “It’s a really hard decision and I think we need to do more research,” she said.
Trustee Sandi McLain agreed that there needed to be more research and thought the issue deserved more time. She voted against.
Trygve Nelson also voted down the proposal. “I do like change,” he said. “But it will have to wait.
Moss and Neff also voted against the motion, defeating it with a unanimously against verdict.
“This was a great test for the new board,” Neff said.
Johnson thanked the board but offered to waive the one-year appointment stipulation. “I work at the will of the board,” he said. “So if in 60 days, you look at this again, you can terminate my agreement. I want to work for those who want to work with me.”
Johnson was unanimously appointed and Neff swore him in. Finance officer Row and city engineer David Holland were also sworn in to their respective opinions.
Existing members of the Keystone library, housing board and historical society boards were reappointed and can be sworn in at their convenience at Keystone city hall by Row. Library board members are Linda Halley, Cathy Drummond, Kim Taylor, Diane Rohde and Cathy Madison. Housing board members are Jodie McClure, Jim DeHaai, Arlette Schweitzer, Cathy Little Bull and Diane Rohde. Historical society members are Sandra McLain, Richard Fuga Jr., Lois Halley, Wally Hunsaker and Karen Boland.
The Bridging Generations workshop hosted by the city of Keystone will be held on Tuesday, May 17 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Keystone Community Center. This workshop is open to the public.
CPR classes will be held on Tuesday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the Keystone Community Center. This course is open to the public for a fee of $5 per person. Those interested should contact Keystone City Hall at 666-4827 to sign up.
The next Keystone Town Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18 at 7 p.m.