Vets turn in recall petition

KELLOGG - A Silver Valley veterans group is trying to recall Kellogg's mayor and City Council.

Veterans for Restoring Memorial Park collected the necessary 188 signatures, or 20 percent of registered voters from the 2009 election, for the recall petition before the Aug. 30 deadline.

The petition was handed to Kellogg City Clerk Terry Sharp by Brian Becker, a vocal member of the Veterans for Restoring Memorial Park.

"I don't think they realize how serious we were about this," Becker said.

The source of tension between some Silver Valley veterans and the city of Kellogg stems from when the city removed the longstanding Veteran's Memorial from its original location in front of the Scout House on Hill Street.

The memorial honors Shoshone County servicemen from World Wars I, World War II and the Korean War. After digging up the memorial, the city moved it to a new location alongside the Silver Valley Veteran's Memorial. Further fueling the controversy, the city re-raised its Tree City, USA flag on the City Park pole.

In a gesture of displeasure with the Kellogg City Council, area veterans lowered the Tree City, USA flag with the aid of a lift supplied by Dave Smith Motors on May 19.

The act was illegal according to Kellogg Police Chief Dave Wuolle. Tampering with the Tree City, USA flag is considered trespassing, he explained at the time of the incident, because the flag pole is owned by the city.

Dave Smith of Dave Smith Motors donated three flag poles, which were installed late July and now carry the American flag, state of Idaho flag and the Tree City, USA flag.

Casey Duncan, a local VFW member, is not pleased.

"I don't like that the Tree City flag is anywhere near the United States flag after everything they've done to us," he said.

Becker said he is fine with the flag poles, and added that it was one of the propositions his group made to the City Council in the first place.

"They can put up any flag they want as long as they're displayed properly," Becker said.

Shoshone County has 15 days to verify signatures on the petition and to ensure its legality. If accepted, the petition will lead to a special election, which Sharp said will likely take place the same day as the general election on Nov. 2. If rejected due to not enough valid signatures, petition organizers must wait 90 days before they can start the process again.

If the special election takes place but not enough votes are cast to recall Mayor Mac Pooler and the City Council, there will be no option for another recall during their terms based upon the Veterans Memorial issue.

The current City Council was elected in November.

Becker is confidant, though, that eventually things will work out in their favor.

"It's not a question of if, it's a question of when."