Mother against Mining Files Recall Petitions for 3 Officials in Glenwood City

[First published on WIvoices.org]

On September 20, a local citizen bustled into a Glenwood City restaurant and announced, "We're recalling 3 local officials."

To the collective applause of the small group of diners at The Cafe, Julie Augesen, a mother of 7-year-old twins in Glenwood City school, explained what sparked the upcoming recall attempt.

"The council refuses to let us vote" about the potential frac sand mine proposed next to the school attended by both her daughter and son. "That's why we are recalling," said Augesen.

On September 9, the Glenwood City council tabled a motion to discuss a referendum petition that would have allowed citizens the right to vote prior to land annexation for the purposes of frac sand mining. Instead of discussing the referendum, the council chose to enter into a closed-session meeting with TX company Vista Sand the following week.

A group of citizens calling themselves "Glenwood City Citizens for Legal & Ethical Representation" responded by filing recall petitions with the Government Accountability Board 4 days later.

Augesen said that she would remove her children if the "Vista" sand mine is approved. "My kids have to go to school there for many more years. Wisconsin has open-enrollment, and I'll pull them if the mine goes in...and the tax dollars that go with them."

Another citizen chimed in, "Reasonable people talk to each other. But the council is unreasonable."

 The officials listed on 3 separate recall petitions are Mayor John Larson and Glenwood City council members Nancy Hover and Dave Graese. Augesen stated that "malfeasance" is listed on the GAB paperwork as the justification for recall. She chose not to elaborate further at this time.

The citizens now have 60 days to collect recall signatures from 25% of the number of registered voters who took part in the last gubernatorial election in order to trigger a special recall election.

Augesen isn't worried about collecting enough signatures. Recent canvassing seeking a referendum yielded over 50% of registered voters.

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WIvoices.org has been closely following this story:

• 'The democratic process is window dressing,' says Man of Mining in Glenwood City; September 19, 2013
• Mining Referendum Stalled, Negotiations Begin with Frac Sand Company; 9/12/13
• (VIDEOS) A Small Town Debates Silica Frac Sand Mining; 8/27/13
• Mine? Let us vote! Glenwood Area Residents Want Referendum on Frac Sand; 8/16/13
• Inside a Town Meeting on Frac Sand Mining; 3/8/13
• County official comments on Frac Mine; 1/24/13
• Frac Sand Mine Proposed Near School; 9/20/12

The Huffington Post report on Glenwood City frac sand

Want More Information? See WIvoices.org's Reference Document

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