The battle over fire protection in Railroad Township has led to some significant legal costs. Last week, the township board approved an additional appropriation of $60,000 to cover attorney’s fees.
While board members were not happy about the township having to cover the expense, Board President Gus Eckert didn’t feel they had much choice. “We could fight it, but you’re going to end up with more charges to it,” he said. “You’ll have lawyers’ fees, court costs, and all that, because it is a lawyer’s salary.”
Board member Clarence Gehrke reluctantly made a motion to approve the additional appropriation, but wondered if it would open the door to more charges in the future. “I’ve been on it a long time,” he said. “Never had this, ever before. The township doesn’t deserve something like this. It does not deserve it. The only time I can remember we ever hired an attorney was to sell [the former San Pierre School] building right here, and that’s a legitimate cost, isn’t it? But this is something else.” Board member Mike Lawecki was absent from last week’s meeting.
The bulk of the legal fees stem from a dispute over fire protection that took place in December and January. Township Trustee Mandy Thomason failed to agree on a contract renewal with the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department. Instead, she entered into a contract with a newly-formed Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department, but not without a legal battle with Eckert, Gehrke, and former San Pierre Fire Chief Joe Kryzyzanowski.
On top of that, Thomason also hired an attorney to help make sure the township’s vehicles are properly licensed. Eckert noted that the state has tightened requirements for titling fire trucks, but Gehrke was skeptical that the new rules would require the use of an attorney.
Eckert stressed that just because $60,000 was appropriated doesn’t mean all of it will be used. Thomason estimated that the township has racked up about $45,000 in legal fees so far, but she wanted to have extra money available to cover future costs. For comparison, Railroad Township’s entire 2017 General Fund budget is $45,001.
