Airport officials are strapping themselves in for a full-throttle response to a harassment claim filed last week against the airport’s manager.
The Shawano City-County Airport Commission said Tuesday that Airport Manager Clarence Schampers would be represented by insurance company counsel and that legal counsel from both the city and the county would be present on Schampers’ behalf at a court hearing Monday.
Wescott property owner Robert Mueller filed a court petition July 9 seeking a temporary restraining order and/or injunction against Schampers. Mueller has not engaged any legal counsel.
At issue is a stand of trees Mueller had planted on property outside of the airport fence. Schampers removed the trees in November.
Mueller was one of nine property owners in the town of Wescott adjacent to the airport who unsuccessfully petitioned the Shawano City-County Airport Commission in 2010 to modify the boundaries of the fence in hopes of forestalling the clear-cutting of trees along the airport’s border.
In April 2012, Mueller hired a landscaper to plant a new stand of 10 trees on what he believed was town of Wescott property between Gumaer Road and the airport fence. Mueller said the trees were worth about $2,700.
Mueller said he and the other property owners were given assurances by town of Wescott officials that they could landscape the area outside the fence to lessen the fence’s visual impact on the neighborhood.
Larry Sperberg, Airport Commission chairman, said at Tuesday’s commission meeting that Mueller sought permission for the landscaping from Town Chairman Mike Schuler, who Sperberg said was not authorized to give it.
“He asked the wrong person for permission. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
Sperberg said the space around the fence is needed for maintenance and that landscaping could eventually damage the fence. He said it was important the commission take a stand on the issue.
“Unfortunately, if we don’t do something about this situation, who’s going to plant something next to the fence next year or the year after or whenever?” he said.
Mueller said he is representing all nine property owners in the action filed against Schampers.
The petition seeks to halt any contact, intimidation or harassment from Schampers, though Mueller admits there has not been any recent contact or communication with Schampers.
Commission member John Seidel said Mueller’s complaint was misdirected.
“I’d be going after the township of Wescott,” he said. “They’re the ones that gave bad information. Mike Schuler is the one who gave him information he had no business giving him.”
Schuler told the Leader on Tuesday he was reserving comment until the court hearing, which he said he plans to attend.
“I think most of that will be coming out on Monday,” he said.
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