SOUTH WAYNE - The controversy over Wayne township's chairman is over, for now.
Town Supervisor Steve Lee shared some concerns about Herb Tornow's actions at March's Town Board meeting. They dealt with premature bridge repair, extra sealcoating done on a township road, the rental of a front end loader and an accident involving a township vehicle.
On Wednesday, Tornow had a chance to respond.
"I told them (the other two board members) that I wasn't going to argue with them," Tornow said. "I think I answered their concerns."
Tornow responded to Lee's concerns with a written statement addressing the specific concerns.
Regarding premature bridge repair on McKnight Road, Tornow said the board directed that its interest in pursuing the bridge project be communicated to Lafayette County. It also directed, Tornow said, that the project be tabled pending DNR approval of minor relocation of the creek channel.
When the DNR approved realigning the creek, Tornow authorized the work to proceed.
Tornow said minutes of two board meetings after the work began showed no disapproval from supervisors.
"If any member had voiced disapproval, the board could have suspended work at that point," Tornow said.
Regarding sealcoating an extra mile of Larson Road, Tornow said after he and fellow supervisor Louis Schultz traveled the "questionable" roads in the town, they completed a road evaluation form. They decided sealcoating of 5.2 miles of roads was essential, and it may be wise to do an additional mile on Larson Road.
Tornow and Schultz sought the advice of Lafayette County Highway Commissioner Tom Jean, who advised them the additional mile of Larson Road should be sealcoated, Tornow said.
"Having been a part of the discussion and action related to this question, I felt that I was acting within my authority when I followed Mr. Jean's recommendation ..." Tornow said.
In October 2007, Tornow discussed payment of the additional mile with Jean. An $11,000 payment from the state TRIP program was missed in the 2007 budget. That payment was received and used to cover the extra sealcoating, which cost about $10,000.
Regarding the rental of a front end loader, Tornow said he rented one for use on town roads to combat a record snowfall only after Lafayette County told him its equipment already was committed and not available to the town.
At its meeting Feb. 8, 2008, the board directed Tornow seek help from Lafayette County. When that wasn't available, Tornow decided to find a solution himself.
"I viewed (the record snowfall) as a serious and pressing public safety concern," Tornow said. He said the snowfall made several town roads impassable and clearly unsafe.
Tornow rented a front end loader. Town employees used it a total of 58 hours at a cost of $3,000 to remove snow.
Regarding the accident involving a township vehicle, Tornow said on Feb. 29, 2008, when clearing roads of snow, town employee Steve Ruegsegger was involved in a minor accident.
Tornow said Ruegsegger reported the accident to him and the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department, which did not take a written record of the accident but has a phone record that the accident was called in.
Tornow said he sometimes has to make decisions without conferring with the board.
"It is not possible for the Town Board to decide every detail of every policy decision," Tornow said. "The town board chairman's responsibility is to interpret and carry out the board's decisions, and in the process to make the many decisions about details that are necessary to properly carry out the decision, such as method and timing."
Lee said, for now, there will be no board action on Tornow's role as town chairman.
"Herb put his spin on the questions I asked him," Lee said. "This is still a work in progress."
Town Supervisor Steve Lee shared some concerns about Herb Tornow's actions at March's Town Board meeting. They dealt with premature bridge repair, extra sealcoating done on a township road, the rental of a front end loader and an accident involving a township vehicle.
On Wednesday, Tornow had a chance to respond.
"I told them (the other two board members) that I wasn't going to argue with them," Tornow said. "I think I answered their concerns."
Tornow responded to Lee's concerns with a written statement addressing the specific concerns.
Regarding premature bridge repair on McKnight Road, Tornow said the board directed that its interest in pursuing the bridge project be communicated to Lafayette County. It also directed, Tornow said, that the project be tabled pending DNR approval of minor relocation of the creek channel.
When the DNR approved realigning the creek, Tornow authorized the work to proceed.
Tornow said minutes of two board meetings after the work began showed no disapproval from supervisors.
"If any member had voiced disapproval, the board could have suspended work at that point," Tornow said.
Regarding sealcoating an extra mile of Larson Road, Tornow said after he and fellow supervisor Louis Schultz traveled the "questionable" roads in the town, they completed a road evaluation form. They decided sealcoating of 5.2 miles of roads was essential, and it may be wise to do an additional mile on Larson Road.
Tornow and Schultz sought the advice of Lafayette County Highway Commissioner Tom Jean, who advised them the additional mile of Larson Road should be sealcoated, Tornow said.
"Having been a part of the discussion and action related to this question, I felt that I was acting within my authority when I followed Mr. Jean's recommendation ..." Tornow said.
In October 2007, Tornow discussed payment of the additional mile with Jean. An $11,000 payment from the state TRIP program was missed in the 2007 budget. That payment was received and used to cover the extra sealcoating, which cost about $10,000.
Regarding the rental of a front end loader, Tornow said he rented one for use on town roads to combat a record snowfall only after Lafayette County told him its equipment already was committed and not available to the town.
At its meeting Feb. 8, 2008, the board directed Tornow seek help from Lafayette County. When that wasn't available, Tornow decided to find a solution himself.
"I viewed (the record snowfall) as a serious and pressing public safety concern," Tornow said. He said the snowfall made several town roads impassable and clearly unsafe.
Tornow rented a front end loader. Town employees used it a total of 58 hours at a cost of $3,000 to remove snow.
Regarding the accident involving a township vehicle, Tornow said on Feb. 29, 2008, when clearing roads of snow, town employee Steve Ruegsegger was involved in a minor accident.
Tornow said Ruegsegger reported the accident to him and the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department, which did not take a written record of the accident but has a phone record that the accident was called in.
Tornow said he sometimes has to make decisions without conferring with the board.
"It is not possible for the Town Board to decide every detail of every policy decision," Tornow said. "The town board chairman's responsibility is to interpret and carry out the board's decisions, and in the process to make the many decisions about details that are necessary to properly carry out the decision, such as method and timing."
Lee said, for now, there will be no board action on Tornow's role as town chairman.
"Herb put his spin on the questions I asked him," Lee said. "This is still a work in progress."