Tempers Flare At Silver Lake

SILVER LAKE - Silver Lake town councilwoman Donna McCune retained her council seat Monday by a stalemate.

Councilman Gale Owens made a motion saying McCune does reside in Silver Lake. But no one seconded the motion. Council president Brenda Wadkins, the only other council member able to motion, said McCune did not reside. There was no second.

Clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell was the only one left to second the motion.

After a seven-minute legal counsel session with town attorney Michael W. Reed, of Reed and Earhart, Warsaw, it was decided Howell could not second a motion. The clerk-treasurer could only vote to break a tie. The clerk-treasurer's status as an ex officio council member was not sufficient to allow her to second a motion.

Reed said there was "nothing to vote on." The meeting was adjourned.

McCune stormed out of the town hall, slamming the door. She was crying.

The dispute arose from a complaint received by Wadkins about McCune's status as a Silver Lake resident. That complaint led to the public hearing.

"It's my obligation, as a council member, to follow procedure," Wadkins said after the meeting.

Earlier in the meeting, McCune told the council she had a financial "hardship." She owned a large electricity bill that she could not pay. For six weeks, she has lived near North Manchester. She maintained that she was a Silver Lake resident, though.

She said her daughter attends Silver Lake Elementary School, she pays Silver Lake and Kosciusko County taxes and her mail is addressed to Silver Lake.

"This is home," she said. "I have never left my house," she said later, "even though I didn't sleep there."

More specifically, the question was did she "live" in town. She said she has slept in town since Thursday, even without electricity.

"I am satisfied that Donna (McCune) is a resident of Silver Lake," said Owens.

Most townspeople seemed to agree. One resident called the hearing a "railroad job."

"You do not fulfill your obligation" as council member, Wadkins told McCune.

Tempers flared. More complaints were mentioned about other departments.

"I see animosity here," said Ron Leonard, Silver Lake. "There's something. I see it."

Owens called the hearing and dispute with McCune "a farce."