Letter: Dwelle did same as commissioner

To the Editor:

Tom Dwelle’s letter (R-E, Jan. 23) is a case of “the pot calling the kettle black.” He was guilty of all the same issues while on the board of commissioners.

In case you forgot, Tom, you saddled the taxpayer with a $32 million Criminal Justice Center that will take 20 years to pay for — if it doesn’t bankrupt Wabasha County first.

How many times did you use money from the reserves when you were on the board? Or did you forget that you did that?

Concerning the money spent on the consulting firm, this is a normal process done by all counties and businesses on a regular basis. The company I worked for did it yearly and guidelines recommend it be done every so many years at the county level. This has been done in Wabasha County by past boards.

I am surprised you didn’t see this as a positive action as the new board majority used it as their reason for terminating Bridget Hoffman.

Time would be better spent asking what prompted this action by the new board majority Mike Wobbe, Rich Hall and Don Springer to fire the coordinator immediately.

A recommendation is exactly that, “a recommendation,” not a mandate. Their actions were nothing more than vindictive payback for a perceived wrong.

What about the law? Statute 375A states that the form of government can’t change for three years. Is the new majority above the law?

Virginia Kautz

Zumbro Falls, Minn.

Tags: opinion, letters