Bootsma and Konz Save the Day

By Mari Radtke
Editor’s Note: Video of all 3 meetings, May 18, 25 and 26 are available on our website, www.belltimescourier.com.
The O’Brien County Supervisors filled the vacated O’Brien County Conservation seat vacated by the retiring Royd Chambers on Tuesday May 18. Three nominees were considered, Jack Schreurs of Sheldon, Jan Snyder of Sanborn and Tom Konz of rural west O’Brien County. Most of the discussion about the candidates was from Sherri Bootsma, who also is a board member to Conservation (OCCB) and Dan Friedrichsen. Dennis Vanden Hull offered some input as well as John Steensma. After discussion of the value each would bring to OCCB Vanden Hull moved to appoint Tom Konz to the Conservation Board. It was seconded by Friedrichsen. There was more discussion including Bootsma commenting that she thinks there is a lot of friction remaining and Kathy Luedeke, an OCCB member and attendee asking about his residence and if his residence would not give representation to the northwest area of the county where Chambers had represented. There was no discussion about how a Bootsma/Snyder representation would affect geographic representation.
With a motion and a second a vote was called. It went 3 to 1 to select Konz. Some complaints have surfaced about how Konz’ became a nominee. There is no known formal nomination process for any county board or committee.
An agenda item for the May 25 Board of Supervisors meeting was “O’Brien County Conservation Staff.”
Every member of the staff attended the supervisors meeting on May 25 leaving the Prairie Heritage Center closed and unmanned. Brian Schimmer spoke first offering a variety of complaints from pressure from citizens working to gain horse access on Hannibal to claiming to have been lied about, lied to and told how to do his job, to public records requests to the appointment of Tom Konz to the board. He submitted his resignation to Bootsma.
Zane Roberts spoke next. He first spoke to the shortage of volunteers for the nature center and noting that the room was full of potential volunteers and included one regular volunteer. He did not mention that another in the room had been refused as a volunteer. He went on to say that the rangers have families and that they were giving up time with them sitting at the Nature Center on Sundays. He said he was not aware of (being at the Nature Center) as part of the rangers’ job description. (It is. Was said at Conservation meeting on May 26.) Roberts went on to convey his discontent that citizens are complaining about conservation generally but those complaints had not been brought to staff. He asked for five of those complaints including names. He prepared to write down five complaints. Dan Friedrichsen responded. He first said that he had never sought out any current or former employee to talk to, that he speaks to a peer – Sherri – regarding public concerns for the agency to which she is a board member. Roberts went on to express his disappointment that they did not get recognition for putting in some kind of horse trail, accepting that it is less that what is wanted, but it is what could be provided at this time. He then expressed frustration that the trails had not yet been used. They had been opened for just 1 week which was mostly rainy with a rule that riding could not happen within 24 hours after a rain. While the weekend was great weather, it was full of graduations. Roberts drifted from his complaints of the horse trail supporters to comparing Charlene Elyea’s quitting after being demoted, enduring a salary cut, a raise revocation, her office moved, and denial of company resources to Terry Boltjes’ retiring for unspecified reasons as both being personal life choices. He claimed he had had his job threatened over things he was uninvolved with. He then spoke of Tom Konz, how he did not know him and that Konz had threatened his position.
Ryan List followed Roberts. He explained that they have heard nothing but good things from the public, adding, “you can’t fix what you don’t know is broken.” He then said they are being “treated crap for decisions not even made by us. They were made by legal actions of the county attorney.” He spoke about the budget cut the supervisors handed out this year. An additional ranger was added in the ending budget year and was taken away for the budget year that starts July 1. He made the point that they were told they could “earn it back,” but complained that they didn’t know how to earn it back when they don’t even know why [the position] was taken away. He said it was hard to work hard when you aren’t appreciated for it. He pushed back against the accusation that hunting is the only thing they are focused on and followed that up with a long list of projects and parks that have been fulfilled by conservation staff in the past 5 years.
Andy Kathman spoke next. He started by stating that he felt “‘you guys’” have made this a hostile work environment for us by behaviors, actions, communications with newspapers directly.” His descriptions to support his allegations attempted to define the targets of hostility to include discriminatory to race ,age, color and includes harassment and retaliation. Kathman made it quite clear that the appointment of Konz to the board was his idea of retaliation – apparently by the Board of Supervisors. Kathman explained that he has received phone calls and other communications that Konz has stated that he intends to dismantle county conservation, starting with the employees. So Kathman put out a serious allegation based on “someone said.” He described a low employee moral from what he believes is the board’s actions. He claimed there were physical reactions such as throwing up caused by the board’s action. He also accused the supervisors of “working with the ‘local’ newspaper and everything seemed to be worded one way against County Conservation in his opinion. He feels this is a type of harassment. Kathman also feels that Konz has a conflict of interest with Conservation. Kathman spoke to the verbal easement that is apparently a source of the dispute between Conservation and Konz. Along with a fence Konz has on private property.
A long discussion about the purchase of property neighboring Hannibal and Konz property near being at auction followed. It was unclear what the point was. Kathman brought up clean water in Des Moines and the impact on conservation.
Most of Kathman’s remarks were directed to Dan Friedrichsen. The ensuing exchange between Kathman and Friedrichsen seemed to be about an exchange other than one in the boardroom.
The conversation drifted to if the entire dialogue was personal with Roberts saying that it would be seen as personal as each of the employees were fired. Friedrichsen and Roberts debated a bit if Konz had ever said that with Friedrichsen saying he had never heard that said.
Dave Stoll, an attendee, spoke up and reiterated that he had never heard “the new person on that board” say that. Brian Schimmer interjected at that point, “He said that to Amber.” With Roberts joining in saying,”Yea, in our office.” Schimmer repeated the entire claim.
Tom Konz, when asked says the first time he ever spoke with Amber Wetherell was mid to late afternoon on Tuesday May 25 following this board meeting to get his email address.
Patti Vollink spoke up and referred to a board meeting in September in which all rangers attended in full uniform and gear. They have only explained that with, “ They’re licensed. It’s their job. Recently obtained public records indicate that plans for that meeting, originally scheduled for Crosbie but relocated due to weather, included some shooting at the range. The mention of that meeting sent Ranger Zane Roberts to Sherri Bootsma handing in his resignation.
A detailed discussion followed about using the trails with Roberts’ comments expressing frustration they didn’t ride last week.
Numerous members of the large crowd spoke about horse trails, Konz, rangers attending board meetings en masse while armed.
John Farrell stated that he spoke with Tom Konz “for an hour while I was trucking. And he said that it was his goal to get rid of county conservation and the board because Terry Boltjes hand picked them all.” Farrell admitted back and forth between himself and Konz about the truth if Konz made these statements. Farrell ended his statement that he feels Tom Konz is not the right man for the job.
Sherri Bootsma spoke as Chairperson Nancy McDowell ended the meeting. She explained that she received phone calls at the opposite end of the spectrum. She gets the complements and praise for the work the Conservation employees do rather than the complaints. Bootsma gave both Schimmer and Roberts the opportunity to withdraw their resignations. They declined.
An emergency meeting of the Conservation board was called Wednesday night to consider what to do about operations. All 3 rangers had submitted their resignations along with the director Brian Schimmer.
After the formality of accepting all of the resignations the 5 person board get busy with the hard work of determining if and how to keep the campgrounds open for the coming Memorial Day weekend without staff. Primary ranger concerns were bathroom and shower cleanliness, garbage collection at the campgrounds, lawn mowing, turnover of “The Lodge” at Mill Creek. It was rented each night of the weekend to different parties. More longer term concerns were repairs and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
Board members expressed that dozens of volunteers had stepped up to help with various chores. Bootsma had done a lot of behind the scenes work determining limitations dictated by insurance, safety or other constraints. Konz offered that he had had a discussion already with a 3-year summer employee of Conservation, Garrett Hunt. Konz reported that Hunt was willing to come back and lead the outdoor operations – lawn mowing (transporting the mowers and summer help as well as oversee productivity and quality) and garbage collection to keep the parks open for the Memorial Day weekend. Mary Hicks, a long time Prairie Heritage Center volunteer and her kids were willing to volunteer to do specified cleaning, but Bootsma reported that the insurer felt a contractor would be better, so a verbal contract was made with a written contract to come after the holiday. They are cleaning Mill Creek park bathrooms two times each day on weekends before both 9am and 9pm, and the Prairie Heritage Center once a week. Lynn Burmakow is backing up the Hicks family. Campground hosts and hostesses are also playing large rolls in the condition of the park facilities at all campgrounds.
The manufactured crisis was averted. O’Brien County Conservation summer recreation assets are continuing and will continue while permanent employees are recruited and considered. OCCB has the opportunity now to consider what the best way forward is – replacing a full staff of law enforcement rangers that spend their time 90/10, according to an estimate by Schimmer or if they think they can do more with a different makeup of skills in their labor force.