By Megan L. Horowitz, Riverbend Civic Journal, Ashford, Iowa
ASHFORD, Iowa — A city councilman in this town of about 6,500 is drawing criticism after saying what he called “glib” responses during public meetings show a lack of respect for local government, comments that have fueled mockery online and prompted him to consider proposing new rules.
Councilman Robert Wolfram, a retired insurance adjuster serving his second term, said he has grown frustrated with short, joking replies from fellow council members and residents during public comment periods.
“This isn’t a comedy club,” Wolfram said in an interview this week. “People come here to be heard. When someone responds with sarcasm or one-liners, it cheapens the process.”
His remarks quickly became a point of ridicule. Since last week’s meeting, Wolfram’s social media posts and public comments have been met with deliberately casual replies, including “cool,” “noted,” and thumbs-up emojis. Several residents said they plan to mirror that tone during the next council meeting.
Wolfram said the reaction has only reinforced his concerns.
“If people can’t take this seriously, then maybe we need clearer standards,” he said.
Wolfram confirmed he is exploring whether the city could adopt rules discouraging what he described as flippant or dismissive responses during official proceedings. City officials said no draft ordinance has been submitted.
City Attorney Karen Lopez cautioned that regulating tone could be difficult.
“It would be extremely hard to define what counts as ‘glib’ in an enforceable way,” Lopez said. “Any restriction touching speech has to be handled carefully.”
The controversy has also renewed attention on another position Wolfram has taken that has divided residents. In recent posts on the social media platform Lemmy, he has argued against leash requirements for dogs, saying mandatory leashing goes against animals’ natural instincts.
“Dogs are meant to wander and explore,” Wolfram said. “We’ve turned normal animal behavior into a violation.”
Some residents said that view concerns them more than his comments about decorum. They said they feel he is trying to take offense too easily.
“I don’t want someone’s dog following its instincts into traffic or my yard,” said Janice Morrow, who owns two dogs and lives near a busy street. “No more than I want someone telling me I can’t be sarcastic.”
Others said Wolfram’s positions reflect a consistent, if rigid, approach to governance.
“He takes process very seriously,” said former council member Tom Reyes. “Dogs, sarcasm, Dilly Bar restrictions, things like that. In a small town, that can rub people the wrong way.”
Mayor Elaine Porter said the council has no plans to change meeting rules and urged residents to keep discussions focused.
“We can disagree without turning this into a spectacle,” Porter said.
Wolfram said he has no plans to step down and believes the issue is about respect, not popularity.
“This job deserves seriousness,” he said. “If that makes me unpopular, I can live with that.”
The issue is expected to resurface at next week’s council meeting, where several residents have already signed up to speak and say they plan to bring their dogs on leashes.
I will only support those ordinances and enforcements which are conducent to completely removing grass lawns, and replacing them with landscaping choices which are sustainable to maintain without excess water use, and support native pollinators and wildlife in the world we have Terraformed into this, our urban hellscape. As such, I will say this: I support subsidising Ms. Hennings, and any others who wish to follow suit, in her efforts to make a more sustainable lawn which would not require mowing, and which contains only native plants, such as clover and other flowering groundplants.