Some stories shimmer with a subtle, satisfying irony that makes one pause mid-scroll and think: “Ah, humans—impressively stubborn creatures.” Such is the case of the recent showdown in Palermo, Maine, as described by WKRC Local 12: a $20,000 fine, and a truly Herculean haul of pennies.

When Pathways Become Battle Lines

According to WKRC Local 12, contractor Kirk Sherman purchased scenic property along Sheepscot Lake in April 2024 and, before buying, asked Palermo officials what modifications were allowed. Sherman stated to the outlet that he was told he could build a “six foot meandering path for 100 feet,” and fill in a small portion (1/10 of an acre) within the next 200 feet. However, as detailed in WKRC Local 12’s reporting, Sherman’s subsequent construction wasn’t quite so modest: town officials and Selectman Robert Kurek recounted that he built a substantial 20 to 12 foot wide road by bulldozer, stretching 250 feet into what is considered protected buffer.

Kurek, speaking to WKRC Local 12, emphasized the importance of the area as a filter for the lake and a haven for local wildlife. He described the compaction of this section of wetland as damaging to both water quality and ecological health. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) investigated, and according to details reported by WKRC Local 12, ruled that Sherman had indeed disrupted wetlands. However, state officials indicated that if he took corrective action immediately, there would be no penalty from them.

Sherman, in an interview with the outlet, said, “Within a day of the notification, we’d hired the people that we were supposed to. We’d contacted DEP. We’ve done exactly everything the D.E.P. asked us to do, and the D.E.P. is fine with it, they didn’t write a violation or even give a fine.” While DEP moved on, publication records show that the municipality wasn’t quite as forgiving.

Dimes for Justice? No, Just 12,000 Pounds of Pennies

According to the same WKRC Local 12 account, Sherman was ready to accept a $10,000 fine, feeling that was sufficient. He even warned city officials, “If we end up paying any more than that, we’re going to pay it in pennies.” True to his word, and supported by footage reviewed by WKRC Local 12, Sherman delivered $20,000 to the Palermo Town Office—by dumping 12,000 pounds of pennies onto the office floor. “I’m paying it, and I just want them to realize that they weren’t fair with us. So this is our kind of one fun way of saying, ‘Here’s your payment, good luck,’” Sherman stated during his decidedly weighty delivery.

On the receiving end, Kurek didn’t share in the fun. Earlier in the WKRC Local 12 report, he is quoted as saying that town officials found the gesture “very unprofessional” and believed “everybody that deals with the town ought to deal with the town in a respectful manner.” In a detail highlighted by the outlet, the town has even contemplated a “handling fee” to offset the extra labor required to count, transport, or process such an industrial-scale installment of loose change.

Piles of Pennies and the Art of Malcontent

Described in the WKRC Local 12 coverage, Sherman did correct his environmental misstep promptly, and state authorities appeared content with his response. Yet, the local council’s decision to levy a doubled fine—absent a corresponding citation from the state—reads as either zealous stewardship or a lesson in local power. The escalation, as the reporting suggests, turns a simple disagreement into an open-air performance, transforming the Town Office lobby into a stage for the kind of grudge match only possible in municipal life.

There’s an ironic flair in Sherman’s copper-laden protest, a deliberate act of malicious compliance that is both literal and labor-intensive. Can a pile of pennies on the office floor speak louder than a letter of complaint—or does it just add one more layer of bureaucracy and resentment? WKRC Local 12 also notes the potential for further escalation with a possible “handling fee,” a small but telling reminder that neither side is quite ready to blink first.

The Stubborn Majesty of Small-Scale Spite

Ultimately, as documented throughout the WKRC Local 12 report, this is a tale not just of wetlands and ordinances but of people committing to their bit with almost artistic stubbornness. Someone set a rule. Someone pushed against it. In response, 12,000 pounds of pennies were brought to bear—turning a dispute into local legend.

Is this a masterstroke of pettiness, a folk protest against perceived injustice, or just another chapter in the long-running saga of citizens and city hall? Either way, there’s something to be said for making your point so memorable that people might still be counting it, one penny at a time.