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   A few weeks ago, Deb Scheibel wrote a letter to the editor voicing concern about the Woodrow Township board’s process to fill a recent vacancy on the Township Board.  Minnesota Statutes states that in the event of a vacancy - it must be filled by appointment. All that is required is a motion, second, and successful vote by the remaining Supervisors and the Town Clerk to fill a vacancy. In the interest of transparency, the Woodrow Twp Board decided to advertise in the paper and hold interviews during a public meeting for anyone interested – and that is exactly what we did. We interviewed three candidates who had responded to the notice and answered the questions posted in the paper. These interviews were done at a public meeting with others in attendance – and open to anyone who wished to attend. After each interview, each supervisor filled out a score sheet and placed it into a sealed envelope, effectively grading each candidate and their qualifications. It was communicated to those in attendance that the scores sheets would be tallied by our elected Township Clerk and elected Township Treasurer between the December and January regular meetings. There were no objections or concerns about the process raised by anyone in attendance.  

   At the January meeting the individual who received the highest total score after adding up the scores made by Supervisor Chair Peterson, Supervisor Wold, and Clerk Dietrich was announced – and that individual was Alex Haagensen. After an open and fair process involving three independent reviewers, he was the top candidate.  We were fortunate to have three candidates who all had a strong skill set. These score sheets were and are public data available to anyone who asks to see them. During the meeting to fill the vacancy, we did not walk through each score sheet – and in hindsight that was a mistake. The inquiry by Deb Scheibel to the Commissioner of Administration about a violation of the Open Meeting Law resulted in an opinion by the state that we did indeed violate the open meeting law. 

   While we could have simply appointed an individual at a meeting with no interview process or advertisement, we did not. Instead, we conducted an interview process and the state’s opinion was that those results should have been made public at the December meeting after we finished the interviews. Since those scores were the basis for the appointment made, they should have been read aloud at that time.  Even though the score sheets were available for review, and even though nobody had been denied or delayed in seeing them upon request, it was deemed a violation of the Open Meeting Law. This does not discredit or overturn the decision to appoint the well-qualified Alex Haagensen, it simply states in their opinion, we did not uphold our obligations in the process. 

   Like most people, we are constantly learning and trying to do our best. In an attempt to go above and beyond what is legally required in one area of the law, we inadvertently fell short in another. Apologies are due to the candidates and the citizens of Woodrow Township. Copies of the original vote sheets are now available on the Woodrow Township Website and can be accessed on the Township’s home page. If anyone has questions or concerns about the process taken or the response thereto, you can call me at your convenience to discuss further at (218) 507-1939 – and you are always welcome at our regular monthly meeting to voice any opinions. 

   All of your elected representatives at Woodrow Township are doing their best to work in your interest, and while we might not get everything right all the time we will admit when mistakes have been made. We will continue to do our best to represent you fairly and uphold our obligations under the law.  Thank you.

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