May 17, 2025 noon; Update with photo on 5-19; Update 5-21 Council met last night and failed to override the veto.
(WGTD)---A Racine mayoral veto has set up a showdown with the city council.
Last month, the council went against a staff recommendation and voted to pay a claim filed by a Racine woman. Her parked vehicle had gotten smashed by a tree that fell in strong winds from a city-owned parkway. The woman had asked to be reimbursed for the loss: Around $21,000. The amount did not cover the cost of replacing the SUV, but apparently it was in line with what the vehicle was worth.
Racine City Attorney Scott Letteney said technically the city wasn’t liable.
During last month’s meeting, Alder Sandy Weidner, who represents the woman on the council, argued that the city needs to do what’s fair. "None of us campaigned in our districts to run for a seat so we could follow the recommendations of the staff--the will of the staff," she said. "Some times we have to disagree with a staff recommendation and fight for our constituents. That's what we got sent here for."
During the discussion, proponents of the payment noted that the city had been made aware on at least two occasions in the months preceding the accident that the tree was a hazard.
There were some complicating factors. For one thing, the woman has already been reimbursed for the loss by her insurance company. But alders noted that the amount would not have covered the cost of replacing the vehicle, which was deemed a total loss.
The motion to pay the claim passed by a one-vote margin. Mayor Cory Mason vetoed the payment. A motion to override the veto is expected to come at Tuesday night’s meeting of the council.
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