Waukee Winery Owner Confronts Council Member With Accusations of Vendetta
Kurt Schade, owner of the Schade Creek Winery & Vineyard, says the Waukee City Council and one member, in particular, is preventing him from doing business in Waukee.
Kurt Schade, owner of the Schade Creek Winery & Vineyard, took to the podium during Monday's Waukee City Council meeting to complain about calls sending police to his property and about what he perceives as a personal grudge Councilman Mike Watts has against him.
Schade told the council he had three questions.
"Is it the purpose of the city council to represent all the citizens of Waukee?" Schade said. "Is it the purpose of the City Council to promote development, growth and business in the city of Waukee, and is it appropriate for members of the city council to use their position to conduct personal vendetta activities?"
Watts was given the opportunity to respond at the meeting, but declined to comment at that time. He talked with Waukee Patch today about the issue.
Schade noted that on two recent occasions, Waukee Police were called to the winery at 1230 Warrior Lane to address issues of cars parked on the grass and left without complaint.
On one of those occasions, Schade said he saw Watts driving by, stopping in front of his property on a motorcycle, then speeding off. On another, Schade said, he heard from a clerk at a local convenience store that Watts was saying negative things about the winery owner and his wife, Jana Schade.
"Folks this is simple harassment," Schade said. "Council members, it is very obvious Mr. Watts is using his power as a council person to carry out or execute some kind of personal vendetta. I believe this conduct is not becoming of any sort of code of any public official."
Long-Standing Zoning Dispute
In a phone interview Tuesday morning, Watts said the argument stems from a disagreement Schade had with Waukee's Board of Adjustment, a board Watts served on.
In 2007, Schade applied for a permit to build a shed on the land at 1230 Warrior Lane. The structure was intended to be a spot to store lawn mowers and other small equipment.
According to Watts, that shed is now a 5,760-square-foot commercial building housing Schade Creek's winery. The building includes a kitchen, a bar and seating for parties and events. Watts said it is not properly licensed to operate a business.
"I think it would be a great addition to the city, but he hasn't gone about it the right way," said Watts. "He's done it through lies and deception. The city's spent about $4,000* in lawyer's fees. He wants to act like we’re anti-business. It aggravates me that he says we’re trying to drive business away from Waukee."
At the end of Monday night's meeting, Watts noted that citations are in the works for the Schade Creek Winery that demand the business comply with code.
Check back in with Waukee Patch tomorrow for additional information on this developing story.
*This number has been corrected from a previous version.
Deb Belt
1:21 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Anyone been to functions at the shed called into question? Is it a commercial venue for parties and receptions?
David Leonard
8:03 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The city didn't have to spend $40,000 in legal fees. It could have chosen to leave Schade alone and welcomed his small business.
Briana Jeanay
12:43 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
How could something like this be negative for a community?! Does waukee not wish to grow into a bigger/better community? Places like these and why not have one just outside of your front door? It's very petty of the councilmen in my opinion.. have you nothing better to do with your time then worry about a shed? Been fighting this since 2007... really... 5 years of this. Get over it councilmen and I agree with David.. $40,000 of the cities money in legal fees?! Ridiculous.
Sg28
2:15 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The only way this is going to get settled once and for all is if the council gets the message that the residents want this to stop. It's embarrassing and quite honestly they should all be ashamed that so much money has been wasted on something that should be a star attraction for the city and is more than some people make in a year on an issue that really isn't that hard to figure out. $40,000 could have paved a lot of sidewalks ; )
Concerned Citizen
2:09 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Sadly, the root of the issue is money and Mr. Watts and the rest of the council seem to be too short-sighted to realize the benefits both economically and asthetically that this small business adds to our community. Personally, I agree with Mr. Schade and think the role of the city council should be to advance the well-being of the city for all residents. Preventing hard-working members of our community from adding new businesses by playing politics is bad for our future growth and prosperity as a city and counter-productive to the role the council should be playing. Thanks you for bringing this situation to light, I hope the rest of the council reigns in Mr. Watts and reminds him that he is an elected official and needs to act like it. Waukee doesn't need leaders like this!
Citizen
10:51 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Mike Watts is a recovering alcoholic and certainly would not be attending any events at a winery, and he was also a high school dropout in the 9th grade....these are facts.
Mike Watts earned unemployment in 2009 and 2010 even though he was operating his own service business in Clive. This is also a fact which can be looked up thru public records etc. Unfortunately your city attorney (Steve Brick) is a friend and will stand behind him....those fees were most likely paid to him.
The city of Waukee deserves a leader who has the same values and education that we strive for our children, the only persons to blame are the residents who voted him in office. Those who know Mike know that it is almost impossible for him to complete a sentence without at least two expletives, and not much else needs to be said about the man.
On July 10th, 2012 at 8:00 am he will be suing the same insurance company for the second time on a second disability claim, if you want to see poor behavior I recommend you also attend. You will also find Mike working out in YMCA and snow plowing with these supposed disability issues. Mike knows very well how to manipulate the system and is a very vindictive person. I feel badly for Mr. Schade, even if he has done things that might be in the grey area. Mike needs to look into the mirror, as he milks the system every chance he gets.
ww
4:58 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
What a shame that my duaghters wedding had to be cancelled and pshed back for a year because of a D**k like this. People in Waukee need to stand up and vote himout.