In 1999, Bill McKeever and fellow town board members approved a motion regarding septic problems in Schroeder, supporting the concept of a sewer district. A letter to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) was written and signed by Kevin Johnson citing the town’s problems and the Tofte Schroeder Sanitary Sewer District (TSSSD) was formed. Rick Anderson was eventually asked to sit on the TSSSD board as a Schroeder representative.
Shortly after, Bill McKeever said the town board changed its mind and wanted Schroeder out of the district. After much research, TSSSD found that the MPCA would allow Schroeder out of the district if it hired an attorney and took the legal steps necessary to proceed. Rick told this to the town board and was answered with angry insults and a “we refuse to participate” attitude from Town Chair and TSSSD co-founder Bill McKeever. However, when attorney Tom Spence presents those same facts and steps to Schroeder, the town board finally listens.
One requirement for Schroeder’s removal is proving that the town’s problems listed in that letter have been fixed. McKeever hotly refused town support for grant money that would have helped many people complete that requirement. Those requirements will still have to be met.
Bill McKeever is very skilled at shifting blame away from his initial involvement. He obviously did not research the implications of that letter written to MPCA, nor did he care to research the correct avenues to take if Schroeder wanted out. A stacked vote at an annual meeting was not the legal remedy and McKeever should have known that.
I believe Supervisor Bill McKeever needs to admit partial responsibility for putting Schroeder in the controversial position it is in today, instead of placing all the blame on TSSSD and, in particular, one Schroeder representative.
A town supervisor who engages in pointing fingers instead of taking actions necessary to remove Schroeder from the district he helped create smells bad, in my opinion. Schroeder needed a town supervisor who could have worked with TSSSD to get these issues resolved, instead of wasting 10 years working against it. Schroeder deserves more effective leadership.
Peggy Anderson
Schroeder, MN
Leave a Reply