BROWNVILLE – The Nemaha County Clerk’s Office has suggested an Oct. 10 election date for a recall election involving three members of the Brownville Village Board.

Petition circulators needed 21 signatures for each council member and got 31 signatures in about two days. The Nemaha County Clerk’s Office verified the signatures and the Brownville Village Board held a special meeting Tuesday to order the recall election.

The primary circulator named in petition paperwork is Joann Dunn and the reason given is a claim of mismanagement of city funds, misinformation to the public and a refusal to listen to citizen input.

The stated defense says Brownville is thriving financially, the board shares information with residents and active participation in village business is encouraged.

Paul Fish, an 18-year resident and former Brownville board member, said the village board hastily ended the Auburn Board of Public Work’s management of the village’s water and waste water systems.

He said while the Auburn Board of Public Works operated the systems with professional and licensed management, the village board terminated their service. He said months followed without an official operator before the village board hired a man from Stella.

In a Facebook comment, Fish denied making comments about the man's license.

He clarified that the board cited saving money as motivation to end the operator services of the Auburn Board of Public Works, but Fish said it has not saved money.  Additional  Facebook comments indicate that Fish was not referencing the water operator from Stella at all.

 The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy certified Aaron Davis in 2021 as a class II operator for wastewater plants until October of  2023.

Davis said he has worked for the city in the past as Davis Plumbing when there was a breakage or for emergency repairs. He said he has not charged Brownville anything as wastewater operator, but was filling that role to help out the village. 

He said Davis Plumbing has done some work recently and a bill is pending with the village board, but he has not charged the village personally as the water operator.

Davis said he is trying to stay neutral on any political debates, but he is extremely disheartened to have an article published with misinformation about his license and fees.

Fish also said citizens expressed their concerns to the village board prior to the recall petition, but did not feel well received.

He said a group of 30 people held meetings to discuss the situation and ultimately agreed to seek a recall of three of five members.

The all-mail election will ask if board members Natisha Helmick, Terry Vice and Bailey Bindle should be recalled.