Black Earth Village President Confirms Administrator Did Not Lodge
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TRUTH JOUR THROUGH NALISM VOL. 4, WK. 44 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 $1.00 Black Earth Village President confirms Administrator did not lodge complaint against Library Director Public comes out in support of Director after open session disclosure of personnel matters by JOE BLOCK agenda prevented the board complaint did not come from at an unknown time in the future cerns to the Village Administra- and Communications Subcom- Editor from holding a closed session Benish. Reached for clarifica- in order to see the remainder of tor, Shellie Benish. The process mittee, is working on devel- In the wake of a special meet- for discussion of the complaint, tion about her statements at the the meeting. The Star News was has been clarified, all parties oping better communications ing concerning a complaint filed president Linda Colby then meeting, Colby said she “does unable to attend the remainder have resolved the issues at hand with Village representatives. against Black Earth Library disclosed much of the closed not remember” what she said. of the meeting because no spe- and no formal complaints have the public and other partners.” Director Carolyn Schaffer, the session content in an open At the October 20 regu- cific return time was given. been made regarding the em- There has been no further facts remain unclear, but one meeting. This is unusual, be- lar library board meeting no As for the action taken by ployee or the Director. After ex- comment from the board. thing is known for certain: cause closed session--where the mention was made of Colby’s the Board after the closed tended discussions, the Library At the same meeting, after Black Earth Village Administra- public and media are prohibited statements, and no correction session, Colby released Board supports the path forward the closed session, board tor Shellie Benish did not lodge from attending--is specifically was given. Over 15 people at- the following statement: chosen by all parties. The Li- member Heather Messer the complaint. Black Earth Vil- reserved for personnel issues. tended the virtual meeting to “An employee had concerns brary Director is working with resigned. She said the fol- lage President Troy Esser con- Colby repeatedly stated that speak in Shaffer’s defense. regarding verbal interactions the Library Board to develop a lowing to the Star News: firmed this with the Star News. Benish was the person who filed All spoke in support of her. with the Director. The employee procedure to help prevent fu- “I resigned on Tuesday At a confusing October 7 the complaint--that is was Ben- The board then entered into was unaware of what the proce- ture miscommunications. Fur- evening because I lack the special Library Board meeting, ish’s complaint. The truth is far closed session. Attendees were dures were in order to discuss thermore the Library Board, personal capacity to continue where an incorrectly formulated different, as Esser confirmed the told to log back in to the meeting the concerns, and took their con- through the Library Finance SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 10 Wisconsin Heights As State COVID-19 Black Earth looks starts in-person cases skyrocket, at creek repairs effects seen in by JOE BLOCK seeking help, whether from the labs for students Editor DNR or other entities, to clear Trout Unlimited spoke to the the creek bed. Black Earth Village Board at Trout Unlimited members by JOE BLOCK for students identified to be at local case counts their September meeting about said what they heard from the Editor risk. Finally, in-person 4K edu- by JOE BLOCK 200,000. According to the potential improvements to the Village at the meeting is a lot cation started a few weeks ago. The Wisconsin Heights Editor Department of Health, stretch of Black Earth Creek of “frustration and miscommu- The District’s online-only School District started Middle it took seven and a half running through, and adjacent nication,” as attempts to contact model is still causing problems The state of Wisconsin’s School/High School labs for increasing COVID-19 cases months to reach 100,000 to, the village. the DNR have led to different students on Monday. These labs for some parents. Angie Wolf are starting to show them- cases, and only 36 days Since the flood debris--brush, statements and contact people. bring students to the school to spoke during the public com- selves in local counts, as the to reach 200,000. Local downed trees, and sediment- Trout Unlimited offered sev- augment their online educa- ment period, talking about her area saw 50 new cases in the cases have accelerated -have littered the creek and are eral helpful contacts with the tion. In addition, close to 100 four children, and specifically last week. Wisconsin’s total over the month of October. causing higher water levels and DNR and other entities, as well students are enrolled in Student her first grader. number of cases topped flooding issues. The Village is SEE CREEK, PAGE 10 Support Hubs, in-person classes SEE HEIGHTS, PAGE 10 SEE COVID, PAGE 11 Students hard at work A Wisconsin Heights student works outside, at left, and a Sauk Prairie student uses her magnifying glass in class. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED PAGE 2 STAR NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 Partisan gridlock at Wisconsin Elections Commission frustrates voters, local officials By Vanessa Swales (Wis- agency overseeing elections, at her over Zoom. from each major party, from a having a noble goal, sometimes consin Watch) such standoffs have become the The inaction has shifted The GAB was formed in list provided by those legisla- gets down to political infight- norm. With the national spot- responsibility to courts and 2008 in the wake of the so- tive leaders. ing, jockeying for position,” As ballots began pouring light on Wisconsin as a swing municipalities, at times sow- called legislative caucus scan- All appointments are subject Kirkpatrick said. “The national in by mail after Wisconsin’s state that could sway the presi- ing confusion, delays and in- dal involving lawmakers who to confirmation in the GOP-run vitriol has made it down to all April 7 primary, local election dential election, the commis- consistency. The commission illegally used state-paid aides to state Senate, including com- the local governing, which is officials became increasingly sion has become increasingly gridlocked over whether the run private political campaigns. missioners’ choice for the ad- sad.” perplexed over which ones to stalemated and ineffective, Green Party presidential ticket The scandal resulted in crimi- ministrator to lead the agency. “Everything is contentious. count. according to an investigation should be allowed on the ballot nal charges against lawmakers Campaign-related investiga- Everything is an ‘us-versus- A federal judge had ordered by Wisconsin Watch and Pro- and whether to follow a judge’s and staff, including the top two tions are now handled by a sep- them,’” he said. that ballots arriving as many Publica. order to purge a quarter-million legislative leaders, Republican arate Ethics Commission. as six days after the election Although the commission has Wisconsin voters from the Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen A controversial figure should be accepted, but the reached consensus on a handful rolls; both issues ended up in and Democratic Senate Major- Pushing partisan agendas U.S. Supreme Court narrowed of important issues, such as the court. During an Aug. 5 hearing ity Leader Chuck Chvala. Jen- Before joining the state that window, ruling that ballots mailing of ballot applications on four cases related to rules sen’s felony convictions later Both Republican and Demo- elections commission, Spin- should be counted only if they to voters, it increasingly stale- changes for the Nov. 3 election, were dismissed, on condition cratic appointees of the Wis- dell served on the Milwaukee were postmarked by Election mates along party lines. Com- U.S. District Judge William that he paid a fine and agreed to consin Elections Commission Election Commission. A cam- Day. mission members have strayed Conley expressed astonishment never seek public office again. interviewed by Wisconsin paign donor who has given at The trouble was that many far from the apolitical approach that the commission had been Chvala was sentenced to nine Watch say they have consulted least $60,000 to state and fed- ballots were arriving without of the panel’s predecessor “frozen by gridlock over such months in jail, serving most with the legislative leaders who eral GOP candidates, Spindell postmarks, or the marks were board, which was considered simple issues.” of the time on home electronic appointed them before voting served as a Republican National unreadable. Other mail ballots a national model for effective The Wisconsin commis- monitoring. on key issues. Convention delegate in 2016 were lost or delayed, threaten- election administration. Both sion’s dysfunction mirrors that The GAB was composed of Calling himself “an officer of and was an unsuccessful candi- ing to disenfranchise thousands Democratic and Republican of the national Election Assis- retired judges specifically to the Republican Party,” Spindell date for a suburban Milwaukee of voters. Desperate for guid- members often take their cues tance Commission, which was avoid partisanship. Although said he plots strategy with Scott Assembly seat in 1992. ance, the 1,850 municipal clerks from their party leaders. established in the aftermath of judges are elected in Wisconsin, Fitzgerald, the Senate majority Even then, Spindell was a who run Wisconsin’s elections The commission’s format is the disputed 2000 presidential they run without party affilia- leader, and Andrew Hitt, chair- controversial figure. While run- turned to the state agency tasked “a recipe for gridlock,” said Jay election to help states and lo- tions.