Looking for an improved public image

Published 1:34 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Jessica Keller, The Courier-Herald

A special meeting to discuss ways to improve Wilkeson's public image in the aftermath of a recent dog killing generated more heat and controversy last week, as residents showed up at Town Hall only to find the meeting cancelled.

About 20 residents of the town arrived for a special council meeting April 5, but the meeting soured as it was declared cancelled due to a lack of council member support. Subsequently, Town Hall was closed at Mayor Doug Paulson's order.

Councilwoman Jean Finney, a sometimes challenger of Paulson, called the special council meeting to discuss how Wilkeson could improve its image after a recent dog killing sparked a great deal of negative publicity and put Wilkeson in the spotlight.

"We just want to show people we're not hillbillies and do love animals," Finney said.

Steven Paulson, 20, who is also the mayor's son, and Troy Loney, 18, face felony animal cruelty charges for tying a stray Siberian husky to a tree and shooting it with a bow and arrow before throwing the body into a creek.

The meeting was called as a special council meeting, but not enough council members attended to form a quorum.

Town Attorney Mike Reynolds said he was paged that morning and was told three council members had called the meeting and there was going to be a meeting that night. That afternoon he received a call stating the meeting had been cancelled because actually there was some confusion as to whether three of the council members agreed to it, and one of the three actually hadn't consented to the meeting.

According to Paulson, the meeting was illegal because it did not have the council support it needed, and that is why the Town Hall was closed.

That explanation was given by Wilkeson police officer Tom Greene, who was at Town Hall at the time of the meeting to ensure it stayed closed. That did not sit well with many residents, who thought the mayor was trying to prevent the meeting from taking place.

"This is a violation of our rights as citizens," resident John Magee said, and other residents voiced similar complaints and criticisms of the mayor.

"I think the mayor should resign because the involvement of his son," in the dog killing, said Sandra Smith.

But the meeting was not intended to target the mayor, Finney said, and she heatedly denied the meeting was a "lynching of the mayor" to one Wilkeson resident who showed up for a couple of minutes to challenge the meeting.

"This meeting wasn't called to put down the mayor, we just want something positive to come from this whole situation," Finney said.

Finney apologized to everybody who showed up, and told them the issue would be addressed at the next council meeting, which is tonight (Wednesday).

The group did not disband and instead took the time to question Greene, who was the officer who wrote the police report on the dog killing. Greene answered questions for about 15 minutes, clearing up misconceptions about what happened the day of the killing and the process that took place.

Some residents were concerned because the bow and arrow were never confiscated by police. Others asked why the suspects were not arrested immediately.

Greene addressed all the questions presented to him and told residents "Going the route we did was the best way to get them jail time."

Then the meeting was taken to the Fraternal Order of Eagles building next door, where residents gathered informally.

Residents, disgusted with Paulson's actions and weary of his motives for shutting down the hall, continued their criticism of the mayor.

"Who is the mayor really protecting, himself or his son?," former councilman and longtime Paulson opponent Dale Perry asked.

Finney, however, was eager to let the matter rest until tonight's council meeting and repeatedly reminded residents the meeting was called to focus on something positive that could be done.

They discussed writing letters to newspapers, and lifelong resident Burt Gonzales suggested the town hold a puppy parade or a free dog wash.

"We should do something positive to show the world that we are not all mean to animals," Gonzales said.

Jessica Keller can be reached at jkeller@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald