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DeGroot censured after apology at tense board meeting

Source: journaltimes.com

TL;DR

Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot apologized for an outburst at a resident during public comments and was censured by the board.
The board voted 3-2 to censure him after he tried to vote against it himself, leading to a revote.
The incident embarrassed trustees and highlighted tensions over meeting decorum amid local political disputes.

The story at a glance

Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot opened a board meeting with an apology for barring resident Kelly Gallaher from speaking and threatening Trustee John Hansen. The Village Board, including trustees Gary Feest and others, voted to censure DeGroot for the outburst at the prior August 28 meeting. This came after a complaint from Gallaher and occurred before a packed crowd on September 11, 2017.[[1]](https://racinecountyeye.com/2017/09/12/village-president-censured)[[2]](https://www.cbs58.com/news/complaint-filed-against-village-president-after-argument-at-mount-pleasant-meeting)

Key points

DeGroot reprimanded Gallaher publicly for allegedly swearing at a previous meeting, saying he would have thrown her out "on her can" if he heard it, and demanded a written apology approved by him to speak again.
He threatened to remove Trustee Hansen for raising points of order during the exchange.
At the September 11 meeting, DeGroot apologized, saying his comments lacked the civility he expects from others and did not match his values.
Trustee Gary Feest moved for censure, calling DeGroot's actions to Gallaher "out of line" and the threat to Hansen "flat out not doable."
Trustees Sonny Havn and John Hewitt voted against censure; Hewitt noted "mistakes were made" and embarrassments on both sides.
DeGroot initially voted against his own censure, tying the vote 3-3, but was barred from voting, leading to a 3-2 passage.
Censure is a formal disapproval with no legal effect.

Details and context

The outburst happened August 28 amid heated public comments, including clashes over Foxconn development plans in Mount Pleasant, a village near Racine, Wisconsin. DeGroot and Gallaher have a history of antagonism, stemming from the spring 2017 election where DeGroot defeated her ally, former president Jerry Garski.

Trustees expressed embarrassment over the scene, with one saying they were "stunned mute" and another calling it a "debacle." The censure followed Gallaher's complaint to the village administrator, who did not comment.[[1]](https://racinecountyeye.com/2017/09/12/village-president-censured)[[2]](https://www.cbs58.com/news/complaint-filed-against-village-president-after-argument-at-mount-pleasant-meeting)

Key quotes

DeGroot's apology: “Two weeks ago, I did not show the civility that I ask of others in this chamber. My comments were inconsistent with the decorum expected at board meetings and with my own values.”[[1]](https://racinecountyeye.com/2017/09/12/village-president-censured)
Gary Feest on the threat to Hansen: “Flat out not doable.”[[1]](https://racinecountyeye.com/2017/09/12/village-president-censured)

Why it matters

The censure exposed strains in local governance during a time of rapid change from major development pushes like Foxconn. It means village leaders face pressure to uphold decorum, affecting public trust in how meetings are run and decisions made. Watch for ongoing board dynamics and any policy changes on public comments, though the censure carries no enforcement.