Village Board members debate insurance issue, again
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
Several East Troy Village Board members took turns making verbal jabs at each other during the March 6 board meeting when they were discussing the insurance for the May 5 and 6 Sidewalk Chalk-Art Festival.
With accusations of political maneuvering and possible preferential treatment for the festival because it is sponsored by Village Board President Randy Timms the discussion got heated at times.
The insurance issue was put on the agenda by Trustee Dusty Stanford, who said he wanted more discussion because there was some confusion on the matter.
Stanford said the motion from the Feb. 20 meeting approving the festival was clear that insurance was only needed for the Friday activities with the East Troy School District students and staff on the square creating the art and the district was providing that. He said the motion had nothing to do with the Saturday activities, since Village Attorney Linda Gray had told the board insurance wasn’t necessary that day for people just coming to visit the park, as state statues protect the village from liability because the park doesn’t charge admission.
Trustee Scott Seager said he felt Stanford was being “flippant” about the need for insurance and the matter wasn’t as simple as Stanford made it out to be. Seager said he didn’t want the event canceled, but he had concerns that the board was giving the festival preferential treatment and setting a precedent.
“It’s a great event,” Seager said. “We want it to happen.”
Seager said there was an “easy fix” to the matter if Timms partnered with the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce or another organization with insurance, they could cover the event.
“I know Randy doesn’t like the Chamber,” Seager said, “but the fact of the matter is every other event has to have insurance except if you’re Randy Timms.”
Timms took exception to Seager’s statement about his not liking the Chamber, but added the festival would never be a Chamber event as long as he was running it.
“It would be great if Randy was community minded and would partner with Connect Communities or the Chamber to make this a community event,” Trustee Ann Zess said.
Timms said he didn’t appreciate what was being said about him.
“This is a Village Board meeting, not a crap fest,” Timms said. “Linda Gray has confirmed that what we suggested for Saturday, which might not even happen, doesn’t need insurance.”
Timms went on to say the event was something he and his wife came up with. Jo Timms said Tuesday morning the event was originally her idea and her husband “made it happen” for her because he “tries to please me 24/7.”
“It was for me and the village and the children,” she continued. “It’s difficult to stand by and see your husband maligned.”
Seager continued to question whether or not Timms was receiving special treatment as Village Board president and Stanford accused Seager and other members of the board of making the issue political.
“I feel certain people are using this as a political avenue,” Stanford said. “If you’re only here to get re-elected, then get the hell off the board.”
At this point, Alex Marshman, a senior at East Troy High School and one of the two Walworth County Youth in Government students serving on the board as an advisory members spoke up.
“I get the political stuff, but if the kids are covered, why is this such a big deal?” he asked the board.
Zess stressed it wasn’t about politics, it was about the village ordinance and the fact that events on the square need insurance. She pointed out the School District isn’t covering the event, just its students and staff. She said the event has become a village event, because should anything happen, the village would have to take responsibility.
Timms said she was wrong and it wasn’t a village event.
Zess also mentioned that area daycare centers and private schools had also been invited to the event, which wouldn’t be covered under the School District insurance.
Timms said that wasn’t the case and only the East Troy School District had been invited to participate.
Timms followed up on that Tuesday morning in a phone call, saying he had never talked to any daycare centers about the festival and if they did want to come, they would have to provide their own insurance.
Trustee Matt Johnson said in light of the recent decision to waive the event insurance for the festival, he thought the Village Board needed to look at its ordinance to clarify what type of events need insurance and what type don’t.
