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LAPORTE — A political power struggle is being waged by three City Council members who say the administration views them only as a rubber stamp.

"It's important that it's realized and respected that we are the legislators," councilman at-large Tim Stabosz said during a recent council meeting.

Tensions have simmered in recent years, Councilman Roger Galloway said, but came to a head Feb. 7 when the council was asked to approve a $2 million bond issue for a new irrigation system at Beechwood Golf Course and a new firetruck.

Stabosz, Galloway and Councilman Joe Mrozinske said their only information on which to base a decision was given to them at the last minute.

Mayor Blair Milo and others in her administration, though, said the proposal was discussed at length during several public meetings beginning last summer and that Stabosz failed to attend some of those informational gathering sessions.

Stabosz was then critical of the mayor for not responding in a timely fashion to his requests for information and an apology on recent criticism she leveled against him publicly.

He also suggested that Milo try and win over the council instead of merely expecting members to rubber-stamp her ideas.