by Dennis Dalman
A St. Wendel Township resident, Liz Fiedler Mergen, recently wrote a formal letter of complaint against Stearns County Commissioner Joe Perske, claiming he disseminated false misinformation about her, leading to incidents of harassment against her and her family.
Fiedler Mergen sent copies of the letter to each of the county commissioners.
The Newsleaders contacted Perske July 10 for comment. He vehemently denied the accusations made by Fiedler Mergen and said he would welcome a full investigation into the charges. (For more on his reactions, see Perske replies further on in this story.)
Fiedler Mergen is the owner/operator of “Sunny Mary Meadow Flower Farm” in LeSauk Township, about seven miles north of St. Joseph. Earlier this year, she requested from the county a conditional-use permit to host flower-related events, such as weddings, on her property. When neighbors in that area heard about the plans, they contacted Perske and other commissioners with concerns about increased noise and more traffic. Perske, a Sartell resident, represents Commissioner District 2, which includes St. Wendel Township and St. Joseph.
In January, the Stearns Planning Commission held a public hearing about Fielder Merten’s request and voted to recommend approval by the county commission. On Feb. 11, after reviewing the CUP request, the Stearns County commissioners voted 3-2 to grant Fiedler Mergen the CUP. Voting yes were Tarryl Clark, Steve Notch and Leigh Lenzmeier (by remote vote); voting no were Joe Perske and Jeff Bertram. In April, Lenzmeier later resigned from the board because of cognitive issues, which had caused him for many months to be treated at a memory-care center in Buffalo, Minn. For 34 years Lenzmeier had represented Commissioner District 4 (parts of St. Cloud and all of Waite Park).
At the February commissioner’s meeting, Perske insisted the county board should hold a second public hearing so residents who live near the flower farm could share their concerns about noise, increased traffic and safety. Many of those neighbors had emailed, written or called commissioners to express those concerns, and a signed petition was presented to the county. However, at that February meeting, commissioners decided a second public hearing would not be necessary. Perske, so upset by that decision he considered wrong, walked out of the meeting.
Complaint charges
Among Fiedler Mergen’s assertions in her letter of complaint are the following:
That Perske and neighbors had shown “escalating hostility” toward her, her family and business through spring and into this summer. Such hostility, she wrote, causes her to fear for her family’s safety.
That Perske’s claim that during the CUP application process her intention to have music at the proposed events was never mentioned. (It was mentioned, her complaint emphasizes).
That Perske made repeated comments, including via media, which created a false narrative that Fiedler Mergen acted deceitfully and without transparency.
That Perske claimed there would be loud rock concerts on her property, which in her complaint Fiedler Mergen termed “ridiculous.”
That while driving with her husband and two young daughters, a neighbor gave them a middle-finger gesture.
That when she, Fiedler Mergen, was gardening, a neighbor drove back and forth on the road, honking aggressively at her.
That while she was standing in her meadow with contractors, a neighbor rolled down a window on his moving vehicle and screamed “Liar! Liar! Liar!”
Fiedler Mergen, throughout her letter, accuses Perske’s assertions have caused harassment, misinformation and defamation of her, her family and business.
Perske replies
“Her (Fiedler Mergen’s) CUP application had no request for outdoor music, yet music was granted from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on 15 days of the year until 10 p.m.,” Perske said. “That whole process lacked transparency and due process.”
The neighbors in question were not able at a public county meeting to voice their concerns about music or other safety/traffic concerns at the proposed events at Sunny Mary Meadow, Perske said.
He maintained she never disclosed her business plans fully to the township or the neighbors. And Perske adamantly disagrees he is a culprit who incited those neighbors.
“I am being attacked because I am advocating for the health, safety and well-being of my constituents,” he told the Newsleaders.
He said he is being accused of inciting neighbors against her, but those neighbors, he added, approached him because they did not want their peace and quiet they’d enjoyed for so long to be ruined.
Perske emphasized he would welcome a full investigation into the controversy from an official who lives outside of Stearns County.
The Newsleaders has learned at this point, there is no indication Fiedler Mergen’s formal letter of complaint will lead to any kind of legal action, although that remains a possibility.
Stearns County Commissioner, District 2, Joe Perske
Liz Fiedler Mergen is the owner/operator of Sunny Mary Farms.
