TALMAGE – Over 100 fire district residents turned out Wednesday for the re-election of the Talmage fire board.

The vote tally was:

 

  • Dianne Bohlken, 95
  • Megan Brehm, 91
  • Gage Boyce, 79
  • Doug Teten, 65
  • Travis Kinnison, 48

 

Bohlken and Brehm will serve four year terms. Boyce and Teten will serve two years.

Craig Schroeder will finish one year remaining on his current term to complete the five-member board.

The results overturn an apparent election in August where four of the five board members were replaced.

Board President Allen Gottwald was re-elected and firefighter Stephanie DeGroot was elected.

Gottwald and DeGroot opposed the new election saying the Secretary of State’s office told them only a judge has authority to overturn the results.

 

Other members recognized that ballots were cast in August from voters who were not registered in the fire district. They concluded a formal election should be held with an up-to-date list of registered voters and proper public notice.

In addition, Dianne Bohlken said previous board elections show that Gottwald's term on the board had expired. Of those with time remaining, she said only Craig Schroeder wished to remain on the board.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, board members announced that  the fire department has hired legal counsel to assist with handling of complaint to the state’s Equal Opportunity Commission.

Bohlken told the potential voters that DeGroot did not opt for a public forum when her complaint was discussed by the board this summer. She noted a News Channel Nebraska report where Dan Swanson reported that DeGroot told him she is being singled-out because she filed the complaint.

Bohlken indicated that the media report means the board is free to publicly talk about the situation, but said the matter is between the fire department and EOC investigator. She said the fire board will not take up the topic.

https://rivercountry.newschannelnebraska.com/story/47177425/talmage-recasts-fire-board