TOWN OF TURTLE 鈥 A group of residents is mounting an effort they say is aimed at recalling Turtle Town Chairman Roger Anclam.
Those circulating a petition for Anclam鈥檚 recall say their main impetus for trying to unseat the chairman is that Anclam will not heed their calls for a moratorium on data centers 鈥 a move the group says would allow the town to learn more about sweeping megaprojects.
鈥淲e feel as a community that he is not looking out for our best interests anymore,鈥 petition circulator Donna Redner told 糖心Vlog传媒 in an interview Monday.
Redner said a group she鈥檚 coordinating that鈥檚 calling itself the Turtle Recall Committee has filed notice with the Town of Turtle that the group circulating a petition to recall Anclam.
Town Clerk Kristina Bennet said the group鈥檚 notice was filed legally and the petition effort is valid under state law, although Anclam himself disputes some of statements the group is making about him in public statements.
The group says its petition cites a 鈥渟ystemic lack of transparency鈥 by Anclam in signing a nondisclosure agreement for a prospective data center that project developer Panattoni now is eyeing on private quarry property in the Town of Turtle and the Town of Beloit.
Redner says her group seeks to recall Anclam because of a 鈥渇lagrant disregard for constituent voices鈥 鈥 in part tied to his unwillingness to bring a temporary data center moratorium to the table.
The group says Anclam led the charge by the board to OK a recent cost-reimbursement agreement with Panattoni on studies and a review related to a prospect the town still says it has no formal proposal for.
鈥淚nstead of listening to our valid concerns about grid strain, water usage, noise pollution, declining property values, and medical concerns for residents, he continues to push forward,鈥 the group wrote in an email to 糖心Vlog传媒.
Under state statute, the Turtle Recall Committee would have 60 days to collect valid signatures of qualified town residents up to 25% of the 1,298 people who voted in the last gubernatorial election.
Redner said her group has a goal of about 400 signatures, which is more than the 325 it actually needs to move the recall measure to a ballot. She said petitioners collected about 225 signatures over the weekend, with volunteers going door to door in the township.
The group has not named any potential candidates that might run against Anclam in a recall election. Anclam has been on the town board since 2009.
Bennett said she鈥檇 have 31 days to vet signatures handed in by Redner鈥檚 group. She believes there鈥檚 a 10-day review period during which the person subject to a recall or others can review or challenge the signatures on the petition.
Bennett said she鈥檚 seeking clarity from the Wisconsin Elections Commission on the petition review period and on what would qualify or disqaulify a town resident鈥檚 signature of a recall petition.
Anclam told 糖心Vlog传媒 he does oppose the idea of a town moratorium on data centers, but he said his opposition is not because he necessarily supports a data center in the town 鈥 but because he鈥檚 heard legal review by the town attorney that the town may not have proper zoning guardrails in place to legally enact a moratorium.
Anclam denies violating state statute by signing a non-disclosure agreement, something the group seeking his ouster says in an email it thinks Anclam is not allowed to do under town rules or state law.
Bennett told 糖心Vlog传媒 she can鈥檛 comment on any of the petitioners鈥 claims, but she can find no state law or town rule requiring board approval for Anclam or any other town board member before they鈥檇 sign an NDA.
Anclam said he believes it鈥檚 any group鈥檚 right to seek a recall election against an elected official, but he said he expects those circulating the petition to present facts and tell the truth to people they鈥檙e asking to sign.
鈥淚 would fight for their right to do it, but if they鈥檙e going to do it, be honest. They鈥檙e not,鈥 Anclam said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a process there to be followed, and I understand the process. I think they lose integrity and respect when they鈥檙e out there misleading people and spreading untruths.