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Liberty Grove Forum Touches on Marina, Communication Issues

Editor’s Note: Though candidates for Town Supervisor and Chairman appeared at the Feb. 2 forum, this article focuses on the primary to narrow down the race for town chairman Feb. 17. A video of the entire candidate forum can be obtained at the Sister Bay/ Liberty Grove Library.

Liberty Grove voters are trying to figure out who they trust to guide the town through several difficult decisions in the next two years.

Electors got a glimpse of candidate positions at a forum conducted by the League of Women Voters Feb. 2. Nine candidates participated. Six are running for town chairman, and five are competing for two supervisor positions (two of the chairman candidates are also running for supervisor).

The mostly rural town, which includes Ellison Bay and Gills Rock, is dealing with three major issues. A proposed marina in Gills Rock with a minimum price tag of $14 million has many residents roiling. Fear that the town will create a large municipal sewer system in Ellison Bay has others up in arms. Still more are incensed at what they call a lack of openness and communication from the current board.

The latter reason is what spurred Regina Thorn to run for town chair.

“I decided to run when I realized the chairman alone determines who gets to speak at meetings and for how long,” Thorn said. She said the town has not been open and forthcoming in answering citizens questions and getting information out, especially concerning the marina proposal.

Frank Forkert said he would like meeting rules simplified and see the town do a better job getting information out, including better use of the Internet in posting minutes, information and meetings.

Nancy Goss said the board is constrained by laws that govern meetings that don’t allow for the communication many citizens would like.

“During board meetings agenda items are the only ones that can be discussed,” she said, “and it’s the only time the board can discuss them.”

John Lowry talked about the two-way street of communication “from board to citizen and citizen to board. It is important for all of us to understand that the board is restricted as to what it can divulge and when.”

The most contentious issue on voters’ minds is the Gills Rock Marina. If the town doesn’t move forward on a project in the tiny fishing village, it is feared private development will step in and cut off public access and views. But a public project will come at a massive cost to taxpayers and will change the look and feel of the harbor considerably. Supporters see it as an economic engine; detractors say it will change the area forever.

Lowry said the ad hoc marina committee has done good work, but it’s time to get better information to the public.

“The town has to come back to the citizens with an exact plan and all the pros and cons,” he said. “It’s an opportunity we don’t want to simply dismiss. It will position Door County to have a wonderful economic opportunity.”

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Charlie Most, the former Town Chairman who is back on the ballot after retiring two years ago. “Even in hard economic times it’s important to look to your future.” He said it’s not a decision for the board to make on its own, and he would take the project to a referendum.

Ann Miller is worried about the cost, but cautioned against what will happen if the property is left to private developers. Forkert said it could be a tremendous asset to the community, while Goss said she has doubts about how much grant money could come through for the project.

On the subject of a central sanitary system for Ellison Bay, the candidates agreed that there is not an immediate need, saying that diligent monitoring of private wells is sufficient to protect the town’s groundwater.

“The steps the town has taken to identify failing systems have gone a long way toward protecting our water,” Goss said in a summary echoed across the board. “Private systems that are done well are actually very safe.”

Forkert and Lowry agreed, but said it may be something that will need consideration 20 years down the road.

The town has been working on improving its post office for nearly a decade, with little progress. Board members past and present, including Goss, Most, and Miller, said negotiations are akin to running in place.

“I can’t give a firm commitment [on how to resolve the issue] because the Postal Service is a moving target,” Goss said. “Each time we’ve been given options and selected one, that option is pulled from the table. I’m beginning to wonder if the negotiations are really serious.”

Each candidate said the post office is important for the town, but expressed fear that the money-strapped USPS may simply close its Ellison Bay office rather than build a new facility.