Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@shawanoleader.com
The Shawano County Board of Supervisors voted 16-10 Wednesday against holding all of its meetings at night.
The measure, because it would have changed County Board rules, required a two-thirds majority of the board (18 votes) to pass.
The board meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday from May through September and at 9 a.m. the remaining months. Some supervisors have said they would have difficulty attending day meetings because of their jobs, prompting the proposal to move all meetings to 6 p.m.
The resolution passed the Administrative Committee on Dec. 9.
Supervisor Bert Huntington, who had to leave the meeting shortly after the vote, said the demands of his business make it difficult for him to stay at daytime meetings.
“I own a business, and I’ve got to get on the road,” Huntington said. “I love serving on the board, but this is crazy. If we’re going to have day meetings, let’s start them at seven in the morning.”
“When you took out your papers, you knew the times,” responded Supervisor Robert Krause, a farmer. “Either this County Board job is interfering with your business, or your business is interfering with your board job, one or the other. I have the same problem.”
Krause pointed out that when he attends night meetings during the summer, he still has to work in his fields, occasionally until 2 a.m.
Supervisor Bonnie Olson said it would be unwise for the board to change the schedule to accommodate current supervisors.
“I think when you find people you want to run for the board, and you keep them, and you change things just to make it easy for them, you’re playing politics, and I think it’s a dangerous thing,” Olson said.
Supervisor Deb Noffke, who said she prefers night meetings, suggested that the board should consider the public, too, noting many residents work during the day and have to ask for time off if they want to attend a board meeting.
“If you want to attend a meeting because there’s something that the board plans to act on and you’re a working member of the public, you have to take a day off also,” Noffke said.
Supervisor Dennis Knaak, who was against all night meetings, suggested that if the public is a factor, the board should consider changing its schedule from Wednesday nights, when churches traditionally hold evening services or other activities.
“Schools do it,” Knaak said. “For most families and businesses, Wednesday is a church night. The day should probably change to Tuesday or Thursday.”
Supervisor Gene Hoppe argued that having all night meetings would give more people a chance to run for public office.
At least one supervisor — Sandy Steinke — is not running for re-election because of the daytime meetings. County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann explained Steinke, who was absent Wednesday, recently changed jobs, and her new employer is not as “forgiving” about juggling her schedule to attend county meetings.
Erdmann said the board should include people from various walks of life to effectively carry out the public’s business.
“You can’t just be a board of retired people anymore,” Erdmann said.
Several supervisors also questioned whether committee meetings also should be held at night. Some supervisors serve on two or three committees, which meet at different times of the month.
“We have 20-some committees,” Supervisor Marvin Klosterman said. “It would be almost impossible for all those committees to meet in the evening because of all the employees of the county who are needing to attend. What are we profiting by having the board meet at night but still having the committees meet in the daytime?”