Dear editor,

I am writing this letter of support for electing Russ Weichelt and Gary Franz for two town supervisor positions in the upcoming election on April 3.

I had the great honor to work with Mr. Weichelt when we were both on the Board. You will not find a more honest and caring individual. He will make sound decisions and will work hard for the town of McMillan.

In the past, he has served his country and I would like to see him serve our community again. I got to know Mr. Franz by observing his interactions as a supervisor on the current town board. I believe he cares much about his community and makes valid points about wasteful spending for our township. He does research and comes prepared to meetings making his points valid.

If you want transparency, accountability, and following state statutes, vote for Russ Weichelt and Gary Franz.

Clarence Oertel
Marshfield, WI

Dear editor,

As a former resident of the town of McMillan, I very much support the investigation. I participated in a coalition in the town of McMillan which is working to build an open responsive town government. I did so because I felt discriminated against by the town clerk at the time. I felt I had received false statements and that the clerk had abused power as a government official and whose behavior was supported by the town board.

There was no transparency, many ethical violations and an air of intolerance for any questions. An example, we were told by the town clerk at a town meeting that asking for open records was a “HIPPA violation” and the town board supported this statement. This of course was deception and does not apply to Open Record requests of government.

I contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ) after being charged over $300 for open records information (another state statute violated). I received typed versions of the actual records I was requesting, not copies of the actual government records requested. The DOJ informed the clerk and township they were violating state statute and would need to refund the charge or face consequences for their practices.

Obviously this reflects a pattern of dulcifying and deceptive behavior still occurring in this township. The federal Freedom of Information Act and state “Sunshine” laws were created because they are very effective in helping to prevent government corruption and creating healthy government.

If you are a citizen of the town of McMillan, please do your civic duty and attend town meetings. Support those in your citizenship who are working hard and taking criticism for trying to keep their government honest. They are only asking for what is their right by law.

State Statutes are law, not guidelines. When you hear complaints put forth by citizens look into them. The question approach is very effective. Keep asking why or how and then look into the answers you receive. Do not accept them for face value.

Everything starts small. Dishonesty and deceit start small and grow as tolerated. Do not tolerate them. There is a very high tolerance by citizens for the law to be broken in government practice. Do not be that type of citizen and your community will follow suit, change to becoming a healthy community.

When I left there was need for more participation and questions by the community into the budget process, more access to records, the fire department and town board as a community entity accountable to the community and more effort to build a healthy community serving all as equals.

If you are wondering what a healthy community is check this site out: Community Tool Box httvs://ctb.ku.edu/en. It will not only show you the poor behavior traits that this community government has committed as an unhealthy community government but it will show solutions and practices the whole community can take to become the healthy community that the Collation, Mr. Franz and Mr. Weichelt are trying to create.

Barb Tetzlaff
Town of McMillan, WI

Dear editor,

I very seldom get involved in the politics of the Township, but I believe very strongly that the election of board members this April 3 is of great importance to assure balance, fiscal responsibility, and integrity of the Town Board.

We have two candidates running that I believe can give us, the citizens, the representation we deserve to assure that all are represented in the Township, and will be done in a sensible fiscal manner.

The incumbent running, Gary Franz, has shown that, even in the face of diversity, he has voted for the good of all in the Township to try and keep good fiscal policies in place. He along with Kevin Steines, did the necessary work that resulted in updating the town hall instead of building a new one at great expense.

He has also voted no to some of the matters that have resulted in significant cost to the Township. I believe Gary deserves to be re-elected so that he can carry on his due diligence for his position and for the good of everyone he represents.

Candidate Russ Weichelt would bring much experience once again to the position of town supervisor. Russ is a past Supervisor, as well as Chairman of the Board, and can bring this experience to benefit all in the Township. He was willing to serve once before, and is willing, and capable, of doing it again. We will all benefit from his knowledge of government policies and the needs of the citizens of the Township. He is certainly well qualified.

So I ask all to do your duty to get out and vote, and I urge you to vote for Gary and Russ.

Yours for responsible town government,

Bill Arneson
Town of McMillan, WI