Thursday February 19, 2015 Vol. 2, No. 50
The Weekly Post
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Insurer seeks to avoid involvement in Rosefield lawsuit By BILL KNIGHT
Rosefield Township’s insurer, Country Companies, is seeking to be separated from a pending lawsuit filed by a local couple against the township, some of its current and former officials, and workers. Country Mutual Insurance Company on Jan. 23 filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment with the Circuit Court asking the court to determine that it “has no duty to defend or indemnify For The Weekly Post
Council OKs $257,000 paint job for water tower
the Township or the individual defendants,” according to papers signed by Jo Wetherill of the law firm of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius and Cerullo. The action – Country Mutual Insurance Company vs. defendants Rosefield Township, Matt Windish, Steve L. Davis, Kevin Windish, John Forney, Robbie Lafollett, plus plaintiffs Mark Vicary and Megan Miller [Vicary] – issued summons on Jan. 26 to all parties. “It is filed by Country insurance to
obtain a finding by the court that Country is not obligated to defend the Township in the Vicary suit,” said Rosefield Township Supervisor Mike Windish. The Vicarys’ suit claims harm from right-of-way, trespassing and propertydamage disputes and also accuses the defendants of invasion of privacy, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotion distress, slander, and harassment. In Country’s 239-page complaint, the corporation concedes it’s legally obligated to insure the Township for bodily
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Williamsfield paying teacher who resigned WILLIAMSFIELD – The Williamsfield teacher who quit after she said she was given a choice between being investigated and resigning will be paid her salary through this school year, according to documents obtained by The Weekly Post. Ann Banks, an English teacher, resigned on Jan. 12 in a settlement approved by her, the Williamsfield Education Association labor union, and the Board of Education, in a split vote. The “mutually acceptable terms” of the separation agreement provide that Banks will “remain employed with the school district until June 30, 2015,” although she is no longer working and a long-term substitute teacher has taken over some of her duties. Banks is earning an annual salary of $61,389 for her advanced degree and years of experience. “Long-term subs earn a per diem of our base, $31,384,” said Williamsfield Superintendent Tim Farquer. Under the “free and voluntary act,” Banks and the teachers union agreed to release the Board, its individual members, employees and other school officials from any action, and also committed to waive claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Civil Rights Act and other laws. The Williamsfield District will provide her a positive letter of reference, the docFor The Weekly Post
For The Weekly Post
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By BILL KNIGHT
By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – The City Council on Tuesday unanimously awarded to L & T Painting of Shelby Township, Mich., a $257,000 contract to sand blast, paint and make necessary repairs to the west water tower in May and June. Five bids were presented by Steve Blust of the Galesburg engineering firm of Bruner, Cooper and Zuck, and L & T was the lowest for work on the tower, erected in the 1960s. Originally estimated to cost about $125,000, the job last year was bid at $218,000. So bids were let again with an alternate possibility of power-washing instead of sand-blasting. Bids for the alternate option were as low as $118,000. However, that approach would result in an exterior life expectancy of about seven years, after which a comparable project would have to be done. So aldermen decided that it was worth investing more money now to achieve a better job that would last some 20 years. “I think we’d be wasting
injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury, liability, and errors and omissions, but says “we will have no duty to defend the insured against any suit seeking damages for bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance does not apply” or “any suit alleging a wrongful act to which this insurance does not apply. “The defendants have no rights under the policy in connection with the lawsuit,” it adds.
Serving as caretakers of the Lorado Taft Museum in Elmwood is one job for members of the Elmwood Historical Society. The society is seeking new members. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
Historical society recruiting
There are currently 78 paid members in the society with 12-15 who attend ELMWOOD – The Elmwood Histori- meetings. Annual dues consist of a $20 cal Society is looking for new faces to contribution that funds the maintenance, attend monthly meetings and help operational costs and upkeep of Elmbreathe life into an organization that has wood’s very own 1880s museum and seen several key members supports the society’s fumove on. ture projects. Next Meeting “We have a lot of older The Elmwood Historical The next Elmwood members and we need Historical Society meet- Society maintains the younger folks with new David Kemp residence at ing is Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. ideas and energy to join 302 N. Magnolia in Elmat the Lorado Taft Muus,” said Doug Whitney, wood, which is now seum. who has been president of known as The Lorado Taft the Elmwood Historical Museum. The Queen Anne Society for the past 10 years. style house was purchased in 1966 for Monthly meetings are held at The Lo- $10,000 and dedicated in 1968. rado Taft Museum at 7 p.m. on the last The museum is open by appointment Tuesday of each month (except May, and contains local artifacts, memoraJune, November and December). Continued on Page 2 By CHERYL HARLOW For The Weekly Post
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