Published: March 24, 2006 10:45 pm      

Woman sues Nature Center Board

CLINTON — A disagreement that has been a long time in the making may finally be resolved in Clinton County District Court.

Linda Boardsen, 1815 Eighth Ave. South, filed a suit March 17 against the Soaring Eagle Nature Center Board of Directors, of which she is a former member. She individually named President Wendy Krajnovich, Vice President Jule Luckritz, Treasurer Wayne Kubert, Secretary Melisa Petersen, board member Larry Hoffman and Chuck Jacobsen, a board member and Clinton County Conservation Board Naturalist.

Boardsen joined the nature center in April 2002 and served on the board for about a year, beginning in October of that year.

The suit states that during the September 2003 board meeting, Krajnovich called for Boardsen’s resignation repeatedly and allowed her to be verbally attacked by Jacobsen. Boardsen resigned a week later, but retained her center membership.

The suit alleges the board has not held an annual meeting since Oct. 7, 2004, or elected members as set out in the by-laws. Boardsen calls it a conflict of interest to allow CCCB employees to serve on the board and said the autonomy of the nature center board has not been protected.

The Soaring Eagle Nature Society, the non-profit corporation that leases the center from the city of Clinton, signed an agreement with the CCCB in April 2003 that allowed the conservation board to provide environmental education programs for county residents. Jacobsen was assigned to the SENC, and he and wife Melisa Petersen serve on the board.

Boardsen also claims the animals housed in the nature center as part of the education programs are not properly cared for.

“The nature center cat does not have a record of annual veterinary visits,” the suit reads. “Reptiles housed in the nature center are prone to slough salmonella when under stress. Snapping turtles have been inappropriately housed with non-aggressive species of turtles.”

Boardsen addressed similar concerns to the Clinton City Council in January. Mayor LaMetta Wynn later read her a letter from Dr. Cheryl Ernst, a veterinarian who examined the nature center and found no fault with the care provided.

“(Boardsen) is concerned with the future of the Soaring Eagle Nature Center in Clinton,” the petition states. “Clearly the nature center board is not operating under the bylaws.”

Boardsen is asking the court to take the following action:

• Set a date for the annual meeting and designate a neutral party to oversee proceedings using Robert’s Rules of Order.

• Remove board members as the court sees fit in regard to conflict of interest and standards of liability issues, excluding Treasurer Wayne Kubert as he does an excellent job managing the nature center’s funds.

• Mandate the newly elected board enlist the help of the Iowa State University Extension Service to develop a cohesive vision and means of addressing conflicts as they come up.

• Prohibit CCCB employees, family members and close associates from serving on the board due to conflict of interest issues.

• Order CCCB to remove all animals brought in for environmental education purposes to reduce the SENC’s liability.

• Mandate annual veterinary visits and city licensing of the nature center cat.

• Order SENC’s board to reimburse court costs.