FdL Voters Get to Vote On Board Size

Many people worked very hard to collect signatures to put the question on the ballot in November to reduce the County Board size. Sam Meyer, who was newly elected when he brought the idea to the people of Fond du Lac. The general public seemed to approve, man on the county board did not. If successful in November, the board size would be reduced from 36 to 18.

Petitioners: County Board size will go to voters By Jared Blohm The Reporter jblohm@fdlreporter.com The Fond du Lac County Board size debate will likely be decided with a referendum vote. The group has received more than the required 3,313 signatures on a petition to reduce the County Board from 36 members to 18, said Anita Anderegg, honorary co-chair of Citizens Promote Representation. "“It'’s well over the number, but I don'’t know how much over,"” said Anderegg, who said a final tally of the signatures would be available on Monday when the group delivers the signatures to the County Clerk’s office. CPR member and County Board Supervisor Jim Nintzel, a member of the County Board'’s ad hoc committee to study County Board size, said he is happy the decision will now be in the hands of the voters. "“The people that I'’ve talked to and got signatures from think it should go to referendum,"” Nintzel said. "“The group did an excellent job. They covered the four corners of the County. They have signatures from all over."” The County Board would save taxpayer's money and operate more efficiently by reducing to 18 members, according to a CPR press release. County Clerk Joyce Buechel will have to check the signatures to verify them. If there are enough signatures and they are verified, the issue will be decided at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Anderegg said she is not concerned with the verification process because they should have well over the required number of signatures, though a final tally will not be available until Monday. "“We wanted to make sure we had insurance in case some get thrown out,"” Anderegg said. County Board Chair Martin Farrell said if a referendum vote is scheduled, it will be the responsibility of the County Board to educate the public on the issue. He said most supervisors are opposed to cutting the board to 18 members. "“While there may be some reason to reduce the size of the County Board, cutting it that drastically I think is not a good idea," Farrell said. "“We will have to have a public discussion and debate about the wisdom of it." He said he thinks CPR'’s perspective represents a minority opinion. "“This is a small group of people that have strong feelings about this and they’re trying to impose their feelings on the rest of the County,"” Farrell said.

(That last sentence is surprising. Since when has the opinions of just a few people stopped anything from happening. There are a lot of examples where there many are ruled by the few.)