After the Vote, Muskego for Ethical Government Stays Focused

In the days after the Muskego Common Council narrowly passed a resolution for a $3.55 million offer to purchase property owned by developer Michael Dilworth and the Cherek family, a group formed in opposition to it remains committed to halting the process.

Debbie Bolton, treasurer for Muskego for Ethical Government, said that after Tuesday's meeting, they are just trying to regroup and organize the signatures they have already collected. For the most part, she said they have been obtained by going door to door, but said they may also be available to residents in public places in Muskego.

So far, there hasn't been a determination if the petition for direct legislation would be in time. Alderman Kert Harenda had asked prior to Tuesday's vote if the required signatures (15 percent of the total ballots cast in the last gubernatorial election, or approximately 1,800) would need to come before that vote or just before a closing on the sale.

Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti explained that the petitions can be submitted to the city, however, "pursuant to statutory procedure, once it’s filed and the clerk has reviewed the signatures, the legal council will then advise the clerk" whether the process can be halted to allow for a referendum.

The group, which has formed as a political action committee with the city clerk's office, remains confident that they will get the amount of signatures needed. Suzi Link, who is gathering and counting them from other group members who are canvassing neighborhoods said she didn't have an exact count, but stated "more are coming in by the hour from all over the city."