Reader has concern about outside legal counsel

To the Editor:

I am concerned about the engagement of Larry Konopacki by the Oneida County board. My concerns stem from Mr. Konopacki’s work in the past that supported advancement of mining in Northern Wisconsin, including the Lynne Deposit in western Oneida County. Mr. Konopacki’s firm, Stafford Rosenbaum, LLP of Madison, was widely known to work for entities that wanted to promote metallic mining, including the Wisconsin Towns Association. In fact, I attended the August 10, 2018 Wisconsin Towns Law Conference in Madison, where Mr. Konopacki spoke about regulatory options and support available to Wisconsin Towns from the Wisconsin Towns Association as they sought to engage future mining opportunities. It was also clear that Stafford Rosenbaum was a resource available to Wisconsin Towns seeking guidance.

In and of itself, this doesn’t amount to measurable concern, until we look at some history within our county.

1. There has been interest in metallic mining in the Oneida County township of Lynne since sampling of minerals was done there in the 1990s. Although this site is considered a sulfide deposit, with significant percentages of sulfuric acid ingredients among the desired minerals, and its location is adjacent to the Willow Flowage, environmental protection of this outstanding resource water area is an absolute necessity.

2. Various Oneida County boards have reconsidered mining multiple times over the past 30 plus years, when yet another company dangles the promise of financial jackpots in front of them.

3. Mining exploration in southeastern Oneida County has kept pro-mining interests hopeful of future success.

4. The November 6, 2018 Oneida County referendum showed support of 62 percent of the voters to not pursue metallic mining in the entire county.

5. From the 2017 efforts initiated by then State Senator Tom Tiffany to do away with previous Wisconsin mining protections, Larry Konopacki has been involved with pro-mining positions, the earliest of which I am familiar with was the series of kick-off meetings titled “Mining 101,” with one of those meetings held in Minocqua in January, 2018.

So now the Oneida County board wants to hire outside legal counsel, Larry Konopacki, to help fight the Wisconsin DNR regarding concerns perceived to be inequitable enforcement of zoning rules among various counties. Why in the world would the Oneida County board engage an attorney who has a record of promoting positions totally opposed by the majority of the county’s voters/constituents? At the very least, this is a conflict interest, a comical example maybe of “artificial intelligence!” I am guessing there might still be some very pro-mining board members that remain on the current Oneida County board that personally appreciate Mr. Konopacki’s legacy of mining support. Are there additional possibilities lurking for even more work for Mr. Konopacki when the next mining company knocks on the county board’s door, or is this just my “conspiracy theory” running wild? If this is the case, I believe there’s plenty of opportunity for concern about this expanding relationship.

I hope this provides some valuable transparency. 

Jeff Brown

Tripoli