Jonathan group stages coup with its board

Welcome to chaos, Jonathan Association-style.

The dysfunctional Chaska homeowners group has been at war with itself for more than a year over plans by a majority of the nine-member board to break up the association, the largest in the state.

But just when it appeared that the board majority was on the verge of getting its way, six of the board members favoring the breakup were ousted Tuesday night in a surprise procedural coup orchestrated by their opponents.

Or were they?

This being Jonathan, nothing is as simple as it appears.

Which is why on Wednesday, questions remained as to whether the vote, motion and rule used to oust the board members Tuesday night were completely legal.

"It was very confusing," said Tom Davis, who was apparently removed as board president.

Those doubts did nothing to diminish the euphoria opponents of the board felt immediately after Tuesday's vote during the association's annual meeting.

"We were celebrating," said Gordon Means, a retired college professor and a member of the association who helped push through the ousters. "We feel terrific. We feel like we have a tremendous weight off of our shoulders."

How it all began

The controversy began several years ago when a new board majority took over with an agenda of doing away with the association, which was established 35 years ago to govern one of the nation's earliest planned communities. Over the years since, the Jonathan Association has grown to include more than 2,900 households.

The old board's opponents said the association rule employed Tuesday night allows that a board member can be removed without cause at a duly called meeting by those present.

Mike Sibley, the board opponent who made the motion to oust the board majority, said he and others had been considering the move for weeks.

He disputed Davis' contention that his proposal and the ouster were illegal.

"I certainly bounced this past attorneys prior to the proceeding," Sibley said. "We would not have done this if we didn't think it was legal."

Davis said that while he disputes the outcome, he will not seek to act as the association president or exercise the powers of the office until the group's attorney weighs in.

David Hellmuth, the Jonathan Association's legal counsel, said he had been contacted by both sides and would send them a letter with his opinion by the end of the week. He said he believes that both sides will abide by his decision.

Hellmuth said he had spoken with the new board president, Mike Liebe. He also did not contradict a statement in the Chaska newspaper in which Liebe implied that he had talked with Hellmuth and that the proceedings Tuesday night were legitimate.

"I can't contradict what he told the Chaska Herald," Hellmuth said Wednesday. "What I'll do is confirm that I talked to Liebe today, and I did discuss the issue with him."