Menominee's Gutless Wonders

Thumbs up to Menominee City Council Members Frank Pohlmann and Steve Fifarek for coming out against the Back Forty Mine Monday night.

During a poorly-attended Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, Pohlmann rightly pointed out that the risks of an open-pit sulfide mine next to the Menominee River are "too high."

Fifarek called the venture "reckless," noting that it took decades to clean up the pollution caused by shoddy industrial practices.

Both are correct.

So is Mayor Jean Stegeman, who noted that the community has low unemployment and doesn't need jobs created by a risky venture. Stegeman has never wavered in her opposition to the mine.

Sadly, the only other two alders in attendance, Doug Robinson and Dennis Klitzke, apparently couldn't muster up the courage to take a stand against the business community - and for the community as a whole.

Alders Bill Plemel and Heather Nelson were AWOL, as they were at the ill-fated May 25 meeting, while Nick Malone and Josh Jones allegedly had other commitments.

Read the specifics here.

The city council will likely continue its discussion in September. Let's hope Plemel and Nelson deign to attend and that Jones and Malone have ample notice so they can clear their schedules.