Louisa County Board of Supervisors votes to remove conservation board chair Sam Willson
WAPELLO — Following a 90-minute closed session on Tuesday, the Louisa County Board of Supervisors voted to remove Louisa County Conservation Board Chair Sam Willson of Wapello from his position on the LCCB.
The supervisors, who had discussed removing Willson at its June 14 meeting but then decided to table action, cited “false allegations that constitute malfeasance,” as the grounds for Willson’s removal.
More: Louisa County Board of Supervisors seek to oust conservation board member over Baird Timber comments
Louisa County Attorney Adam Parson, who attended the closed session along with Louisa County Human Resources Consultant Paul Greufe, said the specific false allegations will be explained in the formal written removal order the board of supervisors will issue to Willson.
County officials indicated they were unsure when the written order will be issued. Parsons said there is no time requirement and county auditor Sandi Sturgell, who serves as the board secretary, said she will be out of the office for the rest of the week.
Parsons said once the written order is delivered to Willson, he will have 30 days to file an appeal to his dismissal with the board of supervisors and request a hearing.
According to a recording of their June 14 meeting, the supervisors were apparently upset with a comment Willson posted on the WQAD-TV Facebook site that had featured discussions on the possible sale of Baird Timber.
More: Baird Timber will remain under Louisa County ownership following long-awaited board decision
The sale had been discussed by the LCCB at earlier meetings that had attracted between 30 and 50 people. Although the LCCB unanimously agreed at its June 6 meeting to keep the 18.5-acre area east of Morning Sun, the discussion on the sale had continued on social media.
Reading from a copy of the posts during the June 14 meeting, supervisor Randy Griffin focused in on one comment Willson posted as a reply to a post from another individual.
In the initial post, the person had asked, “isn’t the conservation board supposed to preserve?”, which prompted another individual to reply: “yes, but when the county supervisors can (appoint) members to the (LCCB), believing in conservation doesn’t seem to be a requirement to sit on the conservation board.”
Willson had responded with: “They are supposed to, but when the board is corrupted, it runs astray.”
Griffin had said he was offended by that response, especially the use of “corrupted.”
“It’s a pretty serious word. Look it up in the dictionary. It talks about being on the take; it talks about doing something for a monetary issue. That’s a pretty severe word to be used and this is the chairman of the (LCCB),” he said.
Shortly afterward, supervisor Chris Ball had moved to removed Willson from the board and Griffin had seconded the motion.
However, Parsons suggested the board delay that action and schedule a closed meeting, which eventually was set as part of the regular June 21 meeting.
The supervisors declined to comment on the decision following Tuesday’s vote.
In the meantime, Willson said he had not made any decision on an appeal, but viewed the supervisors’ action as a power play.
“I think the board of supervisors want full and total control of boards that are supposed to have a little bit of independent thinking and values,” he said when contacted after the meeting.
In other action, the supervisors:
Met with several department heads for their regular departmental updates;
Signed resolutions dealing with appropriation changes in the General Assistance budget and a trail cost-sharing with Columbus Junction;
Approved a historical preservation consultant’s contract for the Fairview Church.
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Louisa County supervisors votes to oust conservation board member
