Supervisor’s appointment to county conservation board sparks scrutiny

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Monday, Dec. 9 to appoint Supervisor Chair Dan Langreck to the county conservation board, and the split decision was met with some scrutiny.

Current Winneshiek County Conservation Board Chair Bill Ohde’s four-year term will expire at the end of December. Although Ohde applied to be reappointed, county supervisors Langreck, Mark Vick and Steve Kelsay voted to fill the conservation board’s opening with one of their own. The supervisors also made half a dozen other appointments to boards and committees — each of which included the reappointment of at least one county supervisor.  

Ohde said he’s “very disappointed” with the supervisors’ decision regarding the conservation board.

“I am the current chair and enjoyed serving on the board,” said Ohde, who is a retired employee of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “I am just finishing my first term and feel like now that I’m more familiar with county conservation operations, I could be more effective. I’ve been involved in conservation activities my whole life — both professionally and in my pastime. It seemed that serving on the county conservation board was a great fit to continue being involved in conservation and contribute some of my experience and knowledge to the board.”

Tim Wagner of Decorah, who is in his second year on the conservation board, said it’s unreasonable to install Langreck rather than allow Ohde to continue serving on the board. 

“There is no reason at all why he should be replaced by someone with no experience,” Wagner said. “No reason whatsoever.”

Wagner added that Langreck’s appointment is on par with previous county appointments which similarly split the board of supervisors. Melissa O’Rourke’s seat on the Winneshiek County’s Planning and Zoning commission expired Oct. 1, and she applied to be reappointed, but the supervisors voted 3-2 instead appointed Paul Lillegraven to the commission — Langreck, Vick and Kelsay voting in the affirmative. Wagner said he feels these two decisions to not reappoint incumbent board and commission members show a dangerous trend.

Full article available in the December 12 Decorah Leader.

“There is no reason at all why he should be replaced by someone with no experience. No reason whatsoever.”

– Tim Wagner

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