Dismayed But Not Surprised
As a former supervisor and board chair, I’m dismayed but not surprised, to see the attack ads and letters directed at Lois Roskoski from current board members, written by current board members. The cruel bitter criticism, half-truths, and outright lies in recent letters from supervisors Stoehr, Bassing, and Treasurer Maus, along with an ad from supervisors Lofquist and Drobac and Clerk Joanne Bassing, are unwarranted and extremely unprofessional.
Mrs. Roskoski has never stated the reserves should go back to $1.3 Million, as lied about in Supervisor Stoehr’s letter. Her proposal to maintain a 1.5 to 2 times the annual budget in reserve is sound public accounting practice. Treasurer Maus, at a recent township meeting, stated there is no recommended reserve amount. Now Stoehr, Lofquist, and Drobac state 35% of the total is recommended. By spending the reserves down to the level proposed for 2025, the township could be in a difficult financial position.
The incumbents’ tout their support of the pickleball group by stating “we donated the land for the new court location.” It’s my understanding the land is Township Property that wants to be used by township residents, not land owned by the supervisors. Thankfully, the group is well organized and persistent so the current board majority cannot turn their back on them.
This board majority, led by then Chair Drobac and supported by Lofquist and Stoehr, destroyed the former fire department. Currently there are 10 members, down from over 20. Only 4 are certified firefighters and 4 are EMRs only and one is an administrative assistant. This department cannot safely respond to a fire even with 100% turnout 100% of the time. Remember these firefighters are still volunteers. This is not their primary job and they cannot be available all the time. They are residents of the area and give of themselves for the safety of the township residents and need additional members to insure a safe and effective response.
Other detrimental actions of the current board majority are: terminating the contract with the township attorney, who represents 90% of Minnesota Townships. The advice given by this attorney was based on Law and Fact, not the personal agenda of the board members; quitting participation in the Vermilion Trail (Cook to Tower) planning committee; quitting the Tower Area Ambulance Service (TAAS) committee and refusing to participate with financial support of the service. Yet we all know how important an ambulance service is to our area.
Because Mrs. Roskoski has been actively informing herself of township rules and regulations, actively asking questions, listening to the residents, she has, obviously, intimidated the current board members and they don’t want anyone new in their inner circle.
It’s time for a change! Continuing to follow the leadership of the current board will destroy all we know of this township. Vote for openness and transparency. Remove the PERSONAL AGENDAS from Greenwood Township governance. Vote for Change. Move the township forward.
Thank you,
Mike Ralston
Former Township Supervisor and Board Chair