Greenwood: Bradach, Drobec vie for Stoehr’s seat

Greenwood: Bradach, Drobec vie for Stoehr’s seat

Paul Thompson runs for treasurer—and urges passage of Option B.

By Terry Carlson

GREENWOOD TWP., Minn./January 9, 2025/—Paul Thompson, president of the Lake Vermilion Pickleball Association, has thrown his hat into the ring for the township’s treasurer position, a position from which he might have to step aside and reapply if two things happen on March 11th—if both he wins and Option B passes.

Thompson is a strong supporter of Option B. In the Public Comments portion of the meeting, he explained why:

  • Option B “is a legal term for the option of appointing (interviewing and hiring) qualified candidates for the Treasurer and Clerk positions, versus voting for candidates in a popularity contest who may or may not be qualified.”
  • The Treasurer and Clerk “would be accountable to the Board of Supervisors for their performance and service to our Township.”

Thompson further quoted from a letter sent from Steve Fenske, the attorney from the Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT), who pointed out that, unlike past reports that falsely said MAT was against adoption of Option B, “This is not the case—MAT expressed no opinion about this matter,” Fenske wrote.

Fenske later added in his letter, “Given Greenwood Township’s tumultuous history and refusal of prior officers to stay in their lanes, adopting Option B would be an effective means of restoring good governance and management with the board and clerk position.”

Of course the motivating issue in all of this, and what no doubt inspired Thompson to run for Treasurer has been the performance—or lack thereof—of the current Treasurer, Jeff Maus. More on Maus in a moment.

JoAnne Bassing, presently the assistant treasurer, has also filed for the position as Treasurer and will oppose Thompson.

The other news pertaining to the upcoming March 11th election is the contest for the board supervisor seat currently occupied by Rick Stoehr. Stoehr’s not running again, so two candidates, Steve Bradach and Sue Drobec, have declared their candidacies.

Drobec, as you may recall, was soundly drubbed in the last election 224-134, by Los Roskoski, who was immediately named chair, ironically nominated by Stoehr’s crony, supervisor John Bassing, and seconded by Stoehr himself. Many townsfolk have commented that Drobec hasn’t helped her cause by her behavior during the town meetings since then.

Also, concerning the election, the board approved the appointment of the election judges (5-0), the appointment of the absentee Ballot Board (5-0), and the dates for absentee voting (5-0) which is February 7 through March 11, 2025.

More ongoing issues with Maus

Certainly the board’s experience since March of 2024 with Maus as treasurer would be a strong argument in favor of Option B. The board has also endured equal challenges with Maus in his appointed position as fire chief. The latest involves Maus’ somewhat confusing and contradictory saga regarding his medical leave.

As covered in the Special Meeting on Jan. 2, the board had received a notice on Dec. 20th from Maus’ doctor that he was to be relieved from duty through January 22, 2025. Maus alleged he had been working on administrative duties through December and was still doing so, and that his doctor was now allowing him limited duties. Roskoski had received no such information. Next, the salary was decided by a 3 to 1 vote, Bassing against. Maus would receive Chief’s pay for December. January would be prorated with Trancheff receiving Chief’s pay until Maus returned.

In this meeting, Roskoski said the board didn’t find out that information until the Dec. 9 meeting, when Maus was absent from his role as treasurer and deputy treasurer JoAnn Bassing said that his surgery was completed and had gone well.

Maus then sent the doctor’s note to the township on Dec. 20 saying he was off work until Jan. 22 while he recovered from his surgery.

Maus sent an updated doctor’s note, dated Jan. 3, saying he was able to return to full duty with no restrictions, but some on the board questioned the legitimacy of the doctor’s note, since it was issued only a day after a note saying he could return to light duty.

Supervisor Craig Gilbert, who is also a member of the fire department, questioned the validity of the doctor’s notes Maus had submitted—none were signed. Maus hemmed and hawed, interjecting that he had both in-person and virtual visits with his doctor.

Roskoski brought the reverie back to earth by stating that the bottom line was that “he did not comply with the township’s policy to give the required notice,” despite his seemingly contradictory emails.

Roskoski said, “We want to make sure Jeff is fit to return,”  and made a motion to have a doctor working for Fairview Job Care examine him, at township expense, to make sure he is fit to work as EMR, firefighter, and fire chief. The motion carried 3-2, with Bassing and Stoehr against.

A further motion to place Maus on paid medical leave until he is deemed fit carried 3-2, with Bassing and Stoehr against; and another motion  to rescind a motion from the December 10th meeting for paid leave in the month of December carried 3-2, with Bassing and Stoehr against.

Maus remarked that all of this was being done “in retaliation” for complaints he had lodged several years ago with OSHA, which brought grans from the townspeople in attendance. Later Supervisor Bassing accused Roskoski of “bullying” Maus in his capacity of treasurer and fire chief—which triggered loud objections from the audience, with some shouting, “they just want him to do his job!”

Meanwhile, captain Brian Trancheff is interim fire chief until Maus can return to full duties.

In other business:

  • The Board set February 11th as the date for the Annual Board of Audit.
  • Due to nonpayment of Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) payroll funds since 2022, the current board agreed (5-0) to pay the amount of $4,990.35, which now includes penalties and interest. The slackness from the previous board majority is also costing the township another $1,212.50 ($25 x 48.5 hrs.) for the additional time Clerk Debby Spicer had to work to resolve the issue. The motion carried 3-2 (Bassing and Stoehr against).
  • As to the renewal of Certificates of Deposits, the board agreed to place $100,000 in a 1-year CD, $50,000 into a CD dedicated to broadband, and $107,000 in a six-month CD (5-0).
  • The board approved the posting above the outside water spigot that the water is nonpotable by a vote of 3-2 (Bassing and Stoehr against).
  • . Maus requested that the 988 mental health emergency phone number be posted on the township’s website.