OSAGE – Folks in Mitchell county are disagreeing on policy and procedure on reciting the nation’s Pledge of Allegiance, leading to controversy after one lawmaker left a meeting before it even began as the sacred words were about to be spoken.
On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, the Mitchell county supervisors met. Although there is a video of the incident, people disagree about what happened when a citizen in attendance demanded that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited that morning. Supervisor Stan Walk allegedly left the room as the Pledge was recited, later saying the meeting had not yet been called to order and the action was not voted on. A person who provided video of the incident, Al Winters, says in a description of the incident that the incident took place before the meeting was to begin and only after a person in the audience arbitrarily called for the Pledge to be recited. However, even though it is rare for elected officials to act without a vote or outside of an official meeting’s designated start and end, some are calling the move by Mr. Walk “disrespectful,” leading to a social media buzz.
The following is a statement sent to NIT by Supervisor Walk regarding the incident:
IT WAS A SETUP.
Last Tuesday at the Board of Supervisor meeting, when Russ Brandau requested everyone to stand up and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, Al Winters already had his movie camera up and running to record the proceedings. Al Winters did not have his hand over his heart reciting the Pledge as he was filming the event. As soon as Al Winters shut his camera off, he went running from the Board of Supervisor’s room so he could post his video on Facebook and send the video to KIMT and KAAL TV. Russ Brandau soon followed Al Winters out of the room. Neither were interested in the BOS meeting.
So if saying the Pledge of Allegiance is so important to these two individuals, why have Al Winters and Russ Brandau not requested the Osage City Council to recite the Pledge at their meetings? Why has these two avoided going to the Hospital Trustee meetings with their request? What about the beginning of the OMU board meetings, where have these two been with their request? Do the Osage Firemen start with the pledge? The Osage School Board? What about the St. Ansgar City Council, shouldn’t Al Winters and Russ Brandau be making the same request? Stacyville City Council? Stacyville Firemen? Riceville City Council? St. Ansgar School Board meetings? It should be obvious this was not about reciting the Pledge at Board meetings.
The truth is: Al Winters and Russ Brandau are unhappy about the direction of Mitchell County. Al Winters ran for County Supervisor, wanted to change the direction of Mitchell County and lost the election. He is bound determined to change the positive direction of Mitchell County. Al Winters and Russ Brandau are attempting to have the three county supervisors fighting amongst themselves. But do not kid yourself, these two are being put up to these destroy tactics by a third individual who will remain unnamed at the present time.
Mitchell County has been progressive, growing, excellent opportunities for those who desire them. These two individuals want to stop this growth and they believe by attacking the progressive Stan Walk, the other members on the Board of Supervisors will just say NO to everything and progress will come to a halt.
Do not be fooled folks. This was not about the Pledge of Allegiance, it was about a personal attack on a dedicated elected official who Al Winters, Russ Brandau and a third individual want out of office. Their attacks are personal.
I will suggest if we need an opening to the BOS meetings, we sing God Bless America. This song supports God and Country.
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SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO AND DESCRIPTION VIA AL WINTERS, CANDIDATE FOR MITCHELL COUNTY SUPERVISORS:
14 thoughts on “Controversy erupts in Mitchell county over Pledge of Allegiance”
I didn’t realize this story had been reported here. To clear up the misconceptions in Supervisor Walk’s narrative I’ll issue the following statement.
1. This was not a “set-up” as Walk claims. For about 8 months I’ve been recording various Mitchell County Board of Supervisor meetings as well as Port Authority meetings. Based on information provided to the Iowa Ombudsman’s Office I have been asked to capture as much video of the proceeding of the Mitchell BOS and Port Authority as possible. The Ombudsman continues to gather information in an on-going investigation. Had this been a “set-up” as Walk claims I would have had my video camera up and going. This action happened prior to calling the media to order. As the video shows I hurriedly got the camera going in time to see Walk, walk out.
2. That morning I was only able to stay until just before 9 am because I had to open our store at 9 am. I did not go “running from the Board of Supervisor’s room” as Walk states. Walk doesn’t know the facts.
3. I have a lot of interest In the BOS meetings and so do a lot of other residents of Mitchell County. The board refuses to record and stream the meetings so the public can be better informed of the board’s actions. That is why I record and report what I can.
4. I can’t speak for Russ Brandau but I can say I’m unhappy that Mitchell County is the 2nd highest debtor county in the state. Currently the county has 24% of it’s taxable real estate in Urban Renewal. This is short-changing the school districts and causing St. Ansgar and Riceville schools to be at the very top of district receiving Backfill money from the state. The County Assessor calculates that because of TIF Tax-Increment Financing, taxes are running around 14% HIGHER than they would be without TIF in Mitchell County. It’s time to become educated and informed on what is really happening. Don’t let YOUR community be sucked into the TIF shell game. So yes, Supervisor Walk I and a lot of other educated and informed Mitchell County residents ARE unhappy about your agenda of TIF abuse.
5. Out of four candidates for 1st District Supervisor I placed 2nd in November. Losing by just 7 votes. What Walk doesn’t tell you is that I successfully broke the Voaklander/Walk alliance that has been driving Mitchell County Debt. I defeated Joel Voaklander, the 12 year Republican incumbent, by nearly 20 points in the June Primary. Smelling “blood in the water” a no-party candidate jumped in as well as Voaklander running as an Independent and a Democrat. Walk endorsed Voaklander for a forth term. Voaklander managed to get only 15% of the vote in November. 85 % of voters in Mitchell County 1st District said NO TO STAN WALK and the 12 year Voaklander/Walk alliance. Walk also campaigned for Merlin Bartz in Worth County. Walk helped get Bartz defeated by about 20 points. Excellent work Mr. Walk, keep it up!!
My advice? Stay-tuned……..
You need to MAN UP FOR AMERICA you SOYBOY !
You all sound ridiculous arguing over something so petty. You ALL need to grow the F up.
Just to be Devil’s advocate. What happens when a citizen say that they disagree with the pledge being said. The reasoning is they find it offensive. They will most likely sue, and the county would have a very good chance of losing. Why do you think this is not part of the morning rituals at public schools any longer?
Afraid of his own shadow ? Peckerbelly !
Some one with super mind powers made that supervisor leave the room. Now who could it be?
the 6th would be the crooked gas pipeline he wants you Mitchell county taxpayers to cough up 34 million dollars for alliant energy so they can run a gas pipeline through his buddy bartz’s new properties and also charging worth county taxpayers 24 million dollars in additional property taxes to pay for it. Like the man said – who in the heck is backing these POS ?
he’s a crooked piece of shit just like his old buddy bartzie from worthless county.
This guy is a loose cannon. How does he keep getting re-elected?
As a citizen born in Mitchell co. I am just sick of the BS the board of supervisors have put our county through over the last 5-10 yrs. 1st It was the steel wheels bashing of the Mennonites. where did that get us a lot of National bad press. 2nd The old courthouse on the national History Register They waited til it was irreparable then torn it down. 3rd Didn’t like the fact a county official was caught drinking and driving so told Iowa Highway patrol to have ticketing officer not patrol Mitchell county. 4th Put suicidal deer signs up in county again causing national press and upset citizens. 5th Now this more negative for the county..
What would have happened if Eric Bookmeyer had done this?
I’ve attended a lot of Supervisor, council, etc meetings. Never seen elected officials drop everything they are doing before a meeting to do what some random citizen demands them to do. Can’t blame Mr. Walk for wanting to keep order at the meetings and taking a vote on anything that goes on in the meeting. Also, acting outside of an agenda can be dangerous for the government body. So I think he was right, again, in keeping the meeting actions to an agenda and official votes.
Your reasoning is flawed. Since it’s already been reported that the meeting another had not yet been called order, your reason for Walk’s disrespectful behavior is moot!
Just the bad optics of walking out during the pledge tells you someone with a brain would have found another way.