Bluestem's been hearing outlandish tales about Willmar's mayor and city council, as well as reading story after story about odd remarks and behavior reported in the West Central Tribune.
The latest wrinkle may take all though.
Linda Vanderwerf reports in Willmar, Minn., mayor says he doesn't have to release committee names:
Willmar Mayor Frank Yanish continues to withhold the names of the eight advisers who helped him draft his alternate plan for reorganizing city government.
The West Central Tribune has filed a letter requesting information about the group with Willmar city government. The letter asks the city to cite specific Minnesota statutes that allow the names to be withheld if the city does not release them.
Under Minnesota's Data Practices Act, records of state and local government are presumed to be public unless a specific exception exists in the law.
Yanish released an "Option C" plan late last week, an alternative to ideas presented by consultants hired by the City Council to study the city's organization. They are looking for ways to serve the public without gaps in service or duplicated services. The cost of the study by Brimeyer-Fursman of Maplewood is $22,500.
Go check out the article at the West Central Tribune for the details on Yanish's contempt for the law and the Tribune's dogged search for transparency.
Some aspects are downright puzzling. Take this:
Yanish said Wednesday that the eight people are not members of an official city committee but a group with diverse backgrounds who "are more in tune with my line of thinking," Yanish said.
He characterized his thinking as "conservative, but not ultra-conservative," adding "I think we do have some ultra-conservative people on the (City) Council."
What's "conservative" about breaking the law? Transparency itself is neither left nor right, but sound government.
Conservatives like Anoka County Board Chair Rhonda Sivarajah, who announced her bid for the sixth congressional district race yesterday, tout transparency. Indeed, the Sunshine Review, founded by the conservative Sam Adams Alliance, awarded the Anoka County website a "Sunny" award.
Photo: Willmar mayor Frank Yanish doesn't want citizens to know who served on his non-public committee.
If you enjoy reading posts like this on Bluestem Prairie, consider throwing some coin in the tip jar:
I am guessing that a quick call from the AG's office might remedy that situation quickly. As a small city employee, I cannot fathom how nobody in the municipal apparatus did not question this - or maybe they did and were ignored.
Posted by: Mike Worcester | Jun 13, 2013 at 03:31 PM
If you read the Mayor's White Paper, he talks about Willmar having an identity crisis, as evidenced by the Downtown neighborhood (which is predominately Somali). What kind of dog whistle is that?
Posted by: Steve Gardner | Jun 14, 2013 at 12:28 AM