PRINSBURG, Minn. – With no discussion, no debate, the Prinsburg Town Board voted unanimously to shelve a proposal that would have paid people to sue abortion providers and patients — and also to collect a $10,00 reward. The vote came after a four-minute presentation by Mayor Roger Ahrenhol. Without a mention of arguments for against citizen freedom on abortion, Ahrenholz read from a prepared statement that the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, had threatened to sue the town for a constitutional violation pf individual rights if the ordinance were passed. The mayor also noted that the town’s legal counsel could find case law or even a legal theory to rebut the attorney general’s position. A legal battle could bankrupt the town, the mayor said. When Ahrenholz was done, Voard members Mitch Swart and Greg Bonnema made a parliamentary move to kill he proposal. The vote came with no discussion or comment – almost as if pre-arranged, although state open meeting law precludes elected officials from discussing agenda items outside of public meetings. The vote was 3-0 with Board members Dalen Folkerts, Dan Negen and Mitch Swart saying yea. The mayor did not need to vote because there weas no tie to break.
Welcome to believers. The town of Prinsburg, population 500, flaunts its religiosity. Why the windmill? Homage to the village’s heritage.
Ahrenholz. Owner of Prinsbank and Prinsburg mayor.