Letter to the Editor: Quarry fight is about rule of law

By PAT CONWAY | Ontario

The Wilton quarry issue is unique in that the Town of Wilton has a nonmetallic mining ordinance with very specific procedures that must be followed. Step one is that the application must be considered at “the next Town Plan Commission meeting.” “The Plan Commission shall review and consider the application and make a recommendation to the Town Board.” Even though no requests were allowed at the town board special meeting Nov. 3, after the meeting, I asked Attorney Mubarak about the Town Plan Commission requirement. Mr Mubarak declared that the Wilton Town Board IS the Town Plan Commission.

Also, Mr, Mubarak was asked if town board member Jan Brandau must recuse himself from the Mathy quarry permit vote due to a conflict of interest. Attorney Mubarak immediately responded that Mr. Brandau had no conflict of interest.

Chapter 19 of the Wisconsin Statutes deal with “General Duties of Public Officials.” Statute 19.46 reads, “Conflict of Interest Prohibited … no state public official may: Take any official action sustantially affecting a matter in which the official or a member of his or her immediate family has a substantial financial interest.” It is clear that Mr. Mubarak’s legal opinions about the Wilton ordinance and the state statute on conflict of interest are open to question.

It seems to me that the Wilton Town Board, with the blessing of Attorney Mubarak, has rigged the passage of the Wilton quarry permit. This issue is not about environmentalists going up against “entrenched locals.” This issue is about meeting the requirements of the Wilton mining ordinance and obeying the law about conflicts of interest. We have organized the meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, to discuss strategies to restore the democratic process and rule of law to the quarry permitting process in Wilton Township. Please join us at 6:30 p.m. on the 10th at Dorset Valley School Restaurant, 26147 State Highway 71, outside of Wilton.

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