As global temperatures warm, Minnesota residents need to prepare for increases in catastrophic "mega-rains" and a greater spread of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, according to a draft environmental report card for the state.
The report card comes from the Environmental Quality Board, a coordinating body for state government agencies on environmental issues. The board will discuss the draft Dec. 21. The final version will provide a foundation for the Minnesota Environmental Congress in February.
The report card is organized around five key areas: water, land, air, energy and climate. Each section uses three metrics to assess how well Minnesota's environment is doing in those areas. It rates their current status as green, yellow and red to correspond with good, OK and poor. And it uses up arrows, flat arrows or down arrows to indicate recent trends.
"We're hoping it's pretty user-friendly. It's designed for a broad audience," Will Seuffert, the EQB's executive director, said Monday.
Bluestem has downloaded the EQB agenda packet for December 21, 2016, since we agree wth Seuffert's assessment about this document being designed for a broader audience and split out the document for our readers.
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Christianson questioned whether focusing on downtown was a good use of money at all, since in his opinion the average person in Willmar does not go downtown. Only specific people frequent the businesses downtown, Christianson said.
"I look at it as a political correct thing, and PC is down the drain for me," Christianson said.
Councilman Shawn Mueske and Mayor Marv Calvin completely disagreed with Christianson's comments.
"I frequent downtown, my colleagues frequent downtown. I'm not ready to give up on downtown," Mueske said.
"I shop frequently downtown. Downtown is a happening place," added Calvin.
I felt compelled to respond to the West Central Tribune article of Nov. 19 recapping the Nov. 15th meeting of the Willmar City Council and the vote on the Willmar Downtown Development group's funding request.
First, I'd like to applaud the council members who voted to fund the group. Downtown Development has clearly been diligent in seeking grants and donations before approaching the council, having secured millions in outside funding over the past 10 years. At the end of the day, $37,000 is a small price to pay for a thriving downtown that builds the tax base and that is attractive to residents and visitors.
Second, I'm disturbed by Councilman Ron Christianson's stated reasons for opposing the funding request. Christianson remarked that "only specific people frequent the businesses downtown" and that he "look(s) at it as a political correct thing, and PC is down the drain for (him)." What could he possibly mean, calling supporting downtown businesses "PC"? Given that many of the new businesses in Willmar have been opened by immigrants and transplants, you don't have to be a detective to suss out his true meaning here.
People of all colors and creeds eat, shop, and do business downtown. Immigrant-owned and -operated businesses benefit everyone. For example, the newly established Southwest Transportation drives people to and from medical appointments. If health care consumers are a niche market, that's news to me. Moreover, downtown's independent business owners have a vested interest in the success of downtown and greater Willmar. The same cannot be said for big-box stores or restaurant chains who pack up when their market shrinks or they outgrow their space.
Christianson's thinly-veiled xenophobia has no place in Willmar and will hobble the city's continued economic revitalization.
Best Buy closed its Willmar store on October 1, so Taketomo isn't talking abstractly about big box stores leaving the West Central Minnesota regional center.
City of Willmar voters have spoken, calling for a new direction on their City Council by electing three new proactive members and re-electing a moderate councilman.
This was a strong statement for a new era for the City Council and the city of Willmar as a new majority will work together and proactively represent all the residents of our fine city. . . .
The 2016 election may well become a bellwether of our city's history as the three newly elected members will join the current forward-thinking members in 2017 resulting in a refreshing majority with a positive narrative and attitude about Willmar.
Kudos to council members Mueske, Audrey Nelsen, Andrew Plowman, Rick Fagerlie and Denis Anderson last week for setting the example and supporting the importance of continued investment in downtown Willmar. They have not given up on downtown Willmar and their support disavowed the personal agendas of the council's old anti-downtown faction.
A prime example of the importance of downtown was Saturday's Holidaze events and parade, which brought many people to downtown Willmar signaling the start of the holiday season, just a day after a major blizzard brought a white and frosty look to the city.
Willmar works best when we all work together. Another prime example is the turn of the century when all in the city worked together to meet critical priorities, such as building a new YMCA and other strategic projects. The city's many efforts, led by a forward-thinking City Council, was recognized with the All America City honor in 2005. It is time to return to this team approach for Willmar.
The time has come some City Council members to cease their animosity toward various community sectors, such as downtown Willmar advocates, the Willmar business community, minority population groups, or Willmar city employees, just to name a few groups. There is no room for hatred, nativism or retribution on the part of any Willmar city leader.
Photo: Even though these guys' ancestors might be responsible for bringing lutefisk to America, they still have a place in the fabric of Willmar's community. It's that kind of town. Photo by Dennis Benson on Facebook, via the Holidaze Parade page.
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In audio posted on Youtube, Heintzeman tells his supporters that he wasn't certain why his heart was against the bill, traditionally carried by a Crow Wing County representative. When he later learned about an Explore Minnesota tourism ad aimed at attracting same-sex couples to Minnesota he knew God had protected him and given . Heintzeman prefaced his remarks about tourism and same sex marriage with
. . . there was a tweet that went out earlier this afternoon encouraging folks maybe to come to our event from the other side of the aisle, and there might be some conversation around that cause we'd the event to stay private even though it's an open area, so we're not recording anything tonight. So I can just talk in a heart-to-heart with people that have supported me.
Heintzeman: . . . And there have been times throughout the course of the last two years where issues come up, and constituents have contacted us, talked to Keri and I, and really blessed us by helping us kind of see perspective on an issue, and a good example is the Explore Minnesota tourism bill [2015]. I was asked to carry an $11 Million increase to their budget. And I couldn't explain to my leadership, I didn't have any good reason why not. The representative from the lakes area, Crow Wing County, always carries that bill.
And the more we [Heintzeman and his wife Keri] talked about it, the more we sought the Lord on it, I just had a no-go. My heart was not allowing me to move forward and support that bill. And much to the chagrin of my leadership, I had to continue to stand and not work on that, so they gave it to another representative, Rep. [Dan] Fabian [R-Roseau] took it.
Apparently, being a co-sponsor doesn't count. The freshman legislator continues:
About three, four weeks after session ended -- I want to preface this comment by pointing out that obviously a lot of you guys know that marriage was an important issue in Crow Wing County and was a big part of the discussion two years ago--well three, four weeks after session ended, Explore Minnesota Tourism released an ad-buy, in the details of the ad, promoting Minnesota as a destination for couples that were of the same sex wanting to get married.
Woman: Wow.
Heintzeman:That ad didn't run in Minnesota. It ran in states all around Minnesota with different law in regard to same-sex marriage.
Heintzeman's description of the ad isn't particularly accurate, since it doesn't promote Minnesota "as a destination for couples that were of the same sex wanting to get married," but rather features husbands Ben Meents and Chet Ritchie as they enjoy the splendors of the North Star state, as The Column's Andy Birkey wrote in Minnesota’s tourism council ad features gay couple.
Travel editor Kerri Westerberg reported in the Star Tribune that the ad ran in "Minneapolis-St. Paul; Milwaukee; Madison; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Omaha; Kansas City; Des Moines; Chicago; Denver and Winnipeg."
Given that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in late June 2015, we're pleased that the ad buyers had it in their hearts to buy time in markets where same-sex marriage was legal, in addition to places where it was not (as Heintzeman believes), since that would have been a waste of money. God--and media markets--work in mysterious ways.
Heintzeman continues:
Heintzeman: So, I just want to leave you with that, I guess pointing out that when I first talked to everybody here two years ago, I referenced 1 Kings 3:9. There's two accounts, Solomon on his bed asking one account, he asked for wisdom. And I like the accounting kings, because he talks specifically for asking for an understanding heart that would know the difference between good and evil, that he would judge God's people rightly. And so many times on the surface over the last few years, there's things that seemed right to Man, that seemed right to me, but thankfully the Lord protected us from those things, and we're very blessed to be able to keep out of those kind of situations like that Explore Minnesota tourism bill.
Perhaps Heintzeman can explain to his anti-marriage equality base why co-authoring a bill means that he wasn't involved in it. He also voted for HF843, which included funding for Explore Minnesota, but which was authored by Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington. (Garofalo voted for marriage equality, so there's no pious hypocrisy in this on his part).
Other than all these details about the bill and the ad campaign, Heintzeman totally has an understanding heart and no way misleds his supporters.
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After losing the Republican endorsement in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District to sitting Representative Tom Emmer, rabid anti-refugee ranter AJ Kern continues to fight toward the primary.
Sixth District residents should probably be happy that she's running for Congress, rather than running a travel agency.
Minneapolis to Somalia flights. Book cheap flights to Somalia from Minneapolis. Search multiple flight deals from various travel sources with one click.
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This is followed by sharing a 2013 post, Mogadishu's Best Popular Beach: Lido Beach, from Visit Mogadishu:
Kern would like to serve in Congress, but substitutes cheap shots for due diligence on her campaign page.
We'll help her out, since she doesn't seem able to help herself.
US State Department Travel Warning
Vacation in Somalia? Not recommended by the United States State Department, which issued this Somalia Travel Warning back in late May:
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Somalia because of continuous threats by the al-Qaida affiliated terrorist group, al-Shabaab. U.S. citizens should also be aware of the risks of kidnappings in all parts of Somalia, including Somaliland and Puntland. There is no U.S. embassy presence in Somalia. This replaces the Travel Warning dated October 1, 2015.
The security situation in Somalia remains unstable and dangerous. Terrorist operatives and armed groups in Somalia continue to attack Somali authorities, the troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and other non-military targets. Kidnapping, bombings, murder, illegal roadblocks, banditry, and other violent incidents are common throughout Somalia, including Somaliland and Puntland. Al-Shabaab remains intent on conducting attacks against popular restaurants, hotels, locations known to be popular with Westerners, and convoys carrying Somali and other government officials. Last year, there were at least eight prominent hotel attacks located in the heart of Mogadishu, the Somali capital. One U.S. citizen was killed during one of these attacks. Munitions caches and unexploded ordnance exist in various parts of the country and remain a danger to civilians.
In addition, al-Shabaab has demonstrated the capability to carry out attacks in government-controlled territories, with particular emphasis on targeting government facilities, foreign delegations' facilities and movements, and commercial establishments frequented by government officials, foreign nationals, and the Somali diaspora. There is a particular threat to foreigners in places where large crowds gather and Westerners frequent, including airports, government buildings, and shopping areas. Inter-clan and inter-factional fighting can flare up with little or no warning.
There are continuing threats of attacks against airports and civil aviation, especially in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab continues to conduct attacks against the Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ) using mortars and other standoff weapons. The group also has conducted attacks from within the airport’s secure perimeter and successfully detonated an explosive device concealed in a laptop on an airplane shortly after take-off.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) containing information on the U.S. prohibition against U.S. civil aviation operations in airspace over Somalia due to security risks toward civil aviation. For further background information regarding FAA flight prohibitions and advisories for U.S. civil aviation, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
U.S. citizens are urged to avoid sailing near the coast of Somalia. Merchant vessels, fishing boats, and recreational craft all risk seizure and detention by pirates in the waters off the Horn of Africa, especially in the international waters near Somalia. Pirates and other criminals have specifically targeted and kidnapped foreigners working in Somalia, including two U.S. citizens in the past several years. Consult the Maritime Administration's Horn of Africa Piracy page for information on maritime advisories, self-protection measures, and naval forces in the region.
. . . Looking at the Facebook photos of Omar and Abdirahman together, I thought about the wave of violence eliminating my country’s young brains. I remembered my friend, engineer Abdullahi Barre, who was shot in front of his house in Mogadishu in April 2015. I thought about another school friend, Omar Afrah, who narrowly survived a car bomb. I counted the number of journalists, businessmen, aid workers, teachers and lawmakers who I knew and who had been targeted in attacks over the last few years.
The violence that dominates Somalia is as physical and emotional as it is gruesome and ghastly. Those who have the will and the way are either hiding behind barriers or leaving the country. However, through an unyielding veneer of persistence, people in Mogadishu wake up and go to work every morning. They defy the violence and try to have normal lives – until they don’t. . . .
Bluestem can't discern whether Kern is ignorant, cruel, or sadistically stupid. One thing the post clearly demonstrates--with its indifference to the brutal facts of the Somali Diaspora and current situation--is that she's not congressional.
Photo: People carry away a body away from the Lido beach (top, AFP via the Independent); Kern's Facebook post (middle); Lido Beach (via the Guardian, top).
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The county-wide frac sand ban debate took a few small steps forward Thursday night, but will be the subject of several more meetings.
The Winona County Planning Commission will continue discussion on a proposed county ban on industrial sand mining, particularly as it relates to silica sand for fracking, on Aug. 8, Aug. 11 and Aug. 15.
Questions of what information is needed to continue that discussion and to make a decision, and how staff should be directed to request it, dominated Thursday' night's meeting. . . .
Despite not having any more public hearings on the issue, written opinions are being accepted until August 1.
Aug. 16 is the deadline for the recommendation to the Winona County Board of Commissioners, at which point they could recommend to accept, deny or modify the ordinance change.
For earlier coverage of this issue, see the posts below.
Photo: A frac sand mine. Residents of Winona County have organized to pressure the County Board to pass an ordinance banning the boom-and-bust industry inside the county's borders. They want land use that promotes farming and tourism, sustainable job growth, safe roads, and environmental protection.
If you appreciate our posts and original analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.
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In Friday's Rochester Post Bulletin, Andrew Setterholm reported on one Olmsted County Board meeting agenda item in County closing rail grant early.
Read on its own, the article seems fairly straight forward, but read in the context of the two sets of documents embedded in our post, Meeting minutes and email reveal Olmsted County's consulting HSR engineer can't count, the piece underscores concerns citizens have had about public spending being diverted to a project that claims it will be privately funded.
Olmsted County's investment in investigating a high-speed rail project is winding down. The county's Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved up to $175,000 in expenditures to the project for 2015, but anticipated little spending in 2016.
The county had been working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation under a $2 million grant to study the financial and environmental effects of a high-speed rail line, or Zip Rail, between Rochester and the Twin Cities; the county's share of the grant was about $300,000, said Richard Devlin, county administrator, at a Thursday county board meeting. . . .
The county has made an annual transfer of funds to the Olmsted County Regional Rail Authority, between $80,000 and $100,000 each year since 2010, Devlin told the Post-Bulletin. The rail authority, made up of county board members, could have instated a tax levy but instead chose to annually transfer funds from the county's contingency account.
paid to the rail authority in the last year have gone mostly to the studies surrounding the high-speed rail project — including a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement — and to pay its primary consultant on the project, Chuck Michael, Devlin said.
MnDOT officials in October said the department would consider suspending work on the project at the conclusion of the environmental study, in order to allow a private group to pursue the project without public support.
The North American High Speed Rail Group, a private company, has estimated the project to cost upward of $4 billion and has been seeking foreign investors.
North American High Speed Rail Group did not return a Post-Bulletin request to comment on whether the group would attempt to take on state grant funding to continue the project-related studies.
Emails and other documents obtained by a data practice request and forwarded to Bluestem Prairie flesh out the desire of the North American High Speed Rail Group to receive the benefit of that earlier spending, as well as the expertise of the consulting engineer paid by Olmsted County.
The discussion in March of how to "transition" work product from a publicly-funded project into private hands are visible particularly in three places. First, there's this broad outline of tactics to get around legal restrictions on private use of publicly funded work product:
And then, in the next three pages of documents from the data practices material, there additional discussion, including consideration of how to fend off concerns about the project on the part of Representative Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, who had been contacted by constituents alarmed by the prospective of a high-speed train speeding across their counties (and no stops for them).
We particularly draw readers attention to this language:
At this time, North American High Speed Rail Group (NAHSR), a Minnesota company is requesting the transfer of all rights and responsibilities related to the completion of the Tier 1 EIS feasibility study, the service development and business plan components. Additionally, if relevant and within the county’s rights and responsibilities, the right to go ahead with development upon successful completion of the appropriate federal, regional and state level authorizations and approvals including the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
In order to successfully transition this important economic development project for Minnesota and the Southeastern region of Minnesota including: Olmsted, Goodhue, Dakota, Ramsey and Hennepin (the affected counties along the proposed corridor), the North American High Speed Rail Group requests the project management collaboration and continuity of the current Project Manager, Chuck Michael through 2015. This also allows for the significant relationships and knowledge created and cultivated at the city, county and regional levels to continue to be leveraged to the success of the project.
It's obvious that the rail group was asking for work product and project management that was paid by public dollars. Here are the three pages from which the text is drawn:
One final piece: the insistence by the NAHSRG's strategic director--most notably at a meeting she attended--claiming that the new private project was "very different" and that the "rail group's proposal will need its own impact statement if it proceeds" rather than the ongoing Tier 1 EIS.
The Dayton administration and MNDOT have yet to sign off on the ceding of the p, or "transition," of ZipRail project documents into private hands. As rural Minnesotans, we're startled by the request for a free soft technology transfer, since while publicly-funded research is frequently transferred into private hands, those on the receiving end pay for the privilege.
Not this crowd.
A totally different project?
Even after the
Despite the desire for the transfer of government-funded studies from the ZipRail project to the private bullet train, NAHSRG strategic director Wendy Meadley would insist that the projects are "totally different," as in this tweet to Rochester Post Bulletin reporter Josh Moniz:
@Josh_Moniz@PB_News Hey Josh- let's get clear- I don't work on Zip Rail - I work for NAHSR- totally different- pls correct :) #hsr
Moreover, in August, Meadley represented the project as "early on — we haven't even started to study" to concerned citizens gathered in Pine Island. Moniz reported in Irreconcilable: Anti-rail group redoubles efforts:
She [Wendy Meadley] argued the group's proposal is very different than the Zip Rail proposal that has been pushed by the state for years. She said the rail group wants to fund it privately and that it's still a Minnesota company.
"We're doing something new that has never been done before in America," Meadley said.
While the project is in the preliminary stages, the rail group wants the exclusive rights [to build in the corridor] so it can determine if the project is economically viable, she said.
"This is early on — we haven't even started to study," Meadley said. "We're not trying to hide anything from people." . . .
The original Zip Rail proposal is undergoing a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement process. The rail group's proposal will need its own impact statement if it proceeds. . . .
And yet, behind the scenes, the emails and documents in the data practices request materials suggest that the group had asked to transfer work and expertise generated by federal government grants and state and county funds to its own hands.
Images: The Snowpiercer (above); Wendy Meadley in Pine Island in August (below), photo by Andrew Link of the Post Bulletin.
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Documents sent to Bluestem Prairie shed new light on the strategies used by a corporation and its allies as they attempt to squash foes and win friends in a bid to bill a high-speed rail line between Rochester and the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities.
After checking out Data practices request document: North American High Speed Rail Group's business plan, a reader forwarded additional documents related to the project via a Citizens Concerned About Rail Lines (CCARL) activist. (CCARL activists are concerned about the effects of the high speed bullet train--which would not stop in their communities--on their property, safety and quality-of-life).
We post the two documents below, which were obtained via a data practices request made by the third-party, which wished to remain anonymous.
The first document is a fascinating set of emails and memos offering a glimpse of how a private interest works with county-level officials to frame talking points about their project while cutting off citizen opposition and legislative concerns.
The second is a bid to "transition," or transfer work done for the public "Ziprail" project over to the private company, an interesting sort of wealth transfer.
Lots of gems in both. For example, one of the private corporation's chief "influencers" didn't register to lobby for the association until months after much of the persuasion took place. We're sure there's some logical loophole that allowed NAHSR's strategic communications director contact legislators and local officials prior to registering with the public disclosure board.
County consultant: CCARL, or one is the loneliest number
Perhaps more interesting? An email from the Olmsted County Regional Railroad consulting engineer to county board members that severely understates the number of CCARL members at two meetings on June 25, then using the inaccurate number to dismiss the grassroots group to the county commissioners.
Minutes of the June 25, 2015 Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #7 and the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting #1 reveal a different story that that shared in consulting engineer Chuck Michael's email. The disparity between the consultant's dismissive figure and the actual numbers tend to support the activists' contention that the public is being railroaded by a private special interest.
To: Brown Ken; Devlin Richard; Wilson Paul; Kiscaden Sheila
Subject: Zip Rail TAC and CAC
On Thursday, June 25 we held meetings in Rosemount at DCTC for both the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Community Advisory Committee (CAC). This was meeting No. 7 for the TAC, and the first meeting for the CAC.
Membership lists for each are attached. We recently added several cities to the TAC (including Byron, Pine Island, Wanamingo, Cannon Falls and Zumbrota) and many attended. ROCOG attended via conference call.
Both meetings went extremely well from our perspective. Both were well attended and provided for excellent dialogue between the committee members and the project team, clearing up numerous misperceptions, rumors,and disinformation. . . .
A citizen’s group opposed to the project, Citizens Concerned About Rail Line (CCARL) are members of the TAC and advertised both meetings, asking that all their members attend to support their cause. Only one showed up. In fact,other than a MnDOT communications person and two from CARB, no one else attended. . . .
Here's a screenshot of the attendee listed in the minutes for the TAC (online here):
Two CCARL members (Heather Arndt and Nora Felton) who are part of the TAC, attended, as did Don Evanson, a CCARL member and property rights activist from Winona.
The minutes (online here) for the CAC reveal even more CCARL members in the room:
Four members of CCARL--including two who serve on the TAC--were in the room. Former state representative Bill Kuisle was a substitute for Norma Monroe. Monroe is a CCARL's member who recently spoke to business people in Kenyon about the project:
If there's one thing Bluestem thinks technical staff like engineers should be able to do, it's count. Three CCARL members attended one afternoon meeting, while four (and a substitute for another) were at the evening meeting. Those five people do not equal "one."
The June 25 meetings were held in Rosemount, rather than in the Rochester area.
CCARL's last meeting drew over 50 people in Zumbrota, the Cannon Falls Beacon reported on November 12. The next meeting of CCARL will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 3 at the Cannon Falls High School auditorium.
According to the "transition" document embedded below, the NAHSR group asked to keep Michael on as the project moved from being the public Ziprail project to the private bullet train. Perhaps they approve of his dismissal of citizens via addition errors.
Fundraising and letters of transition
The "document dump" also shows in a June 5 document that NAHSR's CEO Joseph Sperber was irritated at the Dayton administration's pace at signing off on "current legislation," and releasing a letter, as he as in China looking for investors:
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the North American High Speed Rail Group (NAHSR) are drafting a letter on behalf of Transportation Commissioner Zelle, which will be released once the Governor signs off on current legislation. Joe Sperber of NAHSR has been meeting with investors in China this past week, and was not happy that the letter had not been released in advance. We are not certain of the effect, if any, this may have on the outcomes of the meetings. . . .
. . .The most recent draft of a letter discussing MnDOT's possible agreement with the rail group states that the company requested the exclusive rights as it "evaluates the feasibility of its project" and states that MnDOT "will refrain from developing a lease of this corridor for passenger rail with other parties." . . .
MnDOT is in the midst of a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement of the high-speed rail corridor, known as the Zip Rail project. Meadley has said that while the proposed elevated rail line would be along the same corridor as the proposed Zip Rail line, the project would be very different. If the project moves ahead, the group plans to change the name of the rail line.
MnDOT and the rail group are also working on a Memorandum of Understanding that would designate the rail group as the sole entity authorized to study, design, build and operate the proposed rail line.
MnDOT spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said neither the letter nor the memo have been signed and both are being evaluated by the department. . . .
Gov. Mark Dayton has not met with representatives of the North American High Speed Rail Group, according to governor's office spokeswoman Cambray Crozier.
Olmsted County Commissioner Ken Brown said he has not seen the letter or memo but he was told the rail group was working with MnDOT and the governor's office. . . .
We used to call this "counting one's chickens before they're hatched.
We'll be pulling out more from the files and taking a look.
Image: The snowpiercer (top) We'll continue to push our way through the fog of the concept development; Simpsons angry peasants (middle); various screenshots of documents.
We're conducting our November fundraising drive. If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie's original reporting and analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Next week, the DNR is expected to announced a pheasant action plan that is also a result of the summit and will likely include more suggestions for increasing the permanent acreage of natural grasslands in the state.
A friend sent us details of Monday's meeting, to which our reader had been invited as a participant in the 2015 Governor's Pheasant Opener in Blue Earth County:
From: Roemhildt, Scott (DNR) [address redacted] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2015 9:13 AM To: Undisclosed recipients: Subject: Governor at Nicollet Conservation Club on Monday, September 14, 2015
On behalf of Tom Landwehr, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources I have been asked to invite you to the Governor’s news conference next Monday, at the Nicollet Conservation Club. As a local landowner who is participating in the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener, I encourage you to be part of this important event. Please RSVP to me if you are able to be there. Details on the event are below. Thanks. - Scott W. Roemhildt
Governor to present pheasant summit action plan in Mankato
WHAT: Gov. Mark Dayton and key administration officials will discuss an action plan designed to revitalize Minnesota’s pheasant hunting tradition and restore grassland habitat. Actions outlined in the plan grew out of citizen ideas offered during 2014’s Pheasant Summit in Marshall.
WHO: Gov. Mark Dayton
Tom Landwehr, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources John Jaschke, executive director, Board of Soil and Water Resources
Matt Holland, director of grant development, Minnesota Pheasants Forever
WHEN: 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14
WHERE: Nicollet Conservation Club, 46045 471st Lane, Nicollet, MN 56074, 507-232-3366. Take U.S. Highway 14 west out of Nicollet for approximately ½ mile. Turn right (north) on to 471st Lane/Township Road 173 and travel approximately 0.8 miles. The club is located at the end of the road.
Kevin Lines, Pheasant Action Plan Coordinator . . .
Our reader notes that Highway 14 is under construction, so those attending should plan accordingly. We've occasionally bird watched on Swan Lake near the club; bring your binoculars if you're inclined to watch for waterfowl and migrating birds.
Photo: Swan Lake, via Nicollet County website. While pheasants won't be wading in the lake, conservation efforts surrounding the large but shallow prairie lake provide prime habitat for pheasants and other wildlife.
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We've just gotten surprising news that the request by Duininck for a variance was turned down by the Renville County Board of Adjustment and Appeals at this morning's hearing.
In an email to Bluestem, Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) Water Program Coordinator Ariel Herrod writes in part:
This morning, about 20 people attended the hearing, although only 4 landowners were notified. . . .
At the end of the hearing, and to everyone's surprise, the Renville County Board of Adjustment and Appeals denied the variance request, citing the arguments made throughout the morning that issuing the variance would not "maintain the essential character of the locality."
. . .[T]he option still remains that Duininck will sue in an attempt to overturn the decision. However, without such a lawsuit, this mining project has effectively been stopped in its tracks, because residents in the area were given the chance to speak up.
The site, on the floodplain, was close to the Minnesota River and about a half mile from the Joseph R. Brown Wayside Park. The Brown mansion was destroyed in the 1862 US Dakota War. We enjoy taking guests to the Upper Minnesota River Valley to the site, which is also a favorite of geocaching enthusiasts. Please thank the county by visiting its lovely riverside parks and spending some money on your way up or down the river valley.
The wayside park is also within easy driving distance of Upper Sioux Agency State Park and the Swedes Forest and Gneiss Outcrops Scientific and Nature Areas (SNA).
Photo: The Joseph R. Brown Wayside Park is home to the ruins of "Farther and Gay Castle," the Brown family mansion that was burned in the 1862 US-Dakota War. We love to tell the story of Indian agent and inventor Joseph Brown's role in renegotiating treaties (and those terms' impact on the run-up to war) and the courage and eloquence of his French and Dakota wife, Susan Frenier, whose Dakota name is Hinyajice-duta-win (Soft Scarlet Down), in securing the lives of her children and hired hands when they were captured in fleeing the fire.
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Our friends at Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) alerted Bluestem to a public hearing at 8:30 am on Thursday, August 27th, in Olivia regarding Duininck Inc.'s request for a variance to mine gravel less than 1000 ft from the Minnesota River in Renville County.
As the map shows, and CURE writes, the proposed pit is also near one of our favorite places to take friends visiting the Upper Minnesota River Valley:
Duininck Inc. controls a little less than 20 acres in the Sacred Heart South Township, and while they have ignored that particular parcel for years, they are now planning to reopen the gravel mine. Surrounding areas are Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program land vibrant with wildlife, and the historical Joseph R. Brown Wayside Park is only a half-mile away. The pit is also in the Minnesota River floodplain, and, according to locals in the area, floods frequently.
The Joseph R. Brown Wayside Park is home to the ruins of "Farther and Gay Castle," the Brown family mansion that was burned in the 1862 US-Dakota War. We love to tell the story of Indian agent and inventor Joseph Brown's role in renegotiating treaties (and those terms' impact on the run-up to war) and the courage and eloquence of his French and Dakota wife, Susan Frenier, whose Dakota name is Hinyajice-duta-win (Soft Scarlet Down), in securing the lives of her children and hired hands when they were captured in fleeing the fire.
Right now, it's a lovely and peaceful place, but given the way sound echoes in the valley, we're concerned about the proposed project. We'd rather be able to hear migrating wild swans each spring in the river bottoms than mining equipment.
According to Renville County Ordinance (Chapter Seven, Section 2.7), an Interim Use Permit for a new or expanded mining operation can only be granted if the property is at least 20 acres in size. As Duininck only owns or has a permanent easement on 16.98 acres, Duininck cannot reopen this gravel mine without receiving a variance from the County Board of Adjustment and Appeals. The meetings of the Renville County Board of Adjustment and Appeals are public, and interested persons can be heard during the meetings.
While the staff of the Board of Adjustment and Appeals have duly noted that the ordinance requiring that mining parcels be at least 20 acres was in place before Duininck bought the property, Duininck insists that they did not know about this provision. This sounds like a lack of due diligence and respect for the community where Duininck hopes to extract resources.
If you can join us at the meeting, please do. Even if you can’t, please share this news with friends and acquaintances in the area. It’s just not right that these decisions can be made with minimal citizen input.
Public Hearing Time and Location: Thursday, August 27th at 8:30 am Renville County Government Services Center 105 South 5th Street, Suites 312/313 Olivia, MN 56277
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A developer has proposed just such a hotel project, a $12 million, 69-unit Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, nine condominiums and a 4,000 square foot restaurant on the site of the former Capri Motel and surrounding commercial and residential property.
But the Detroit Lakes City Council has run into a beehive of legal threats and ethical accusations surrounding the project and the way it has handled voting at the committee and council level.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources emailed a letter April 8 addressed to Mayor Matt Brenk and the Detroit Lakes City Council, threatening to sue the city if it approved the hotel project.
The city council’s Community Development Committee voted to approve the project the next day and to send it on to the full city council with a recommendation for approval.
But that letter from the DNR threatening a lawsuit was not shared with CDC members prior to the vote.
Details, details.
The paper is coming around with a bit more comprehensive coverage after some public shaming in its own pages. In Newspaper, city not giving all info on hotel project, a letter to the editor, Willis Mattison wrote:
I notice that your online story about the Fairfield Inn shoreland development controversy now includes reference to the Minnesota DNR’s letter threatening lawsuit.
But why did you not reveal that the mayor and city staff received this letter on April 8?
Your online coverage would now come under the heading of “better late than never,” so thanks for that. But what may be worse than never carrying the story at all is omitting the larger picture about lack of “government accountability.”
As you know, this is the Minnesota DNR’s second letter to the city on the project, the first having only recommended that the Planning Commission deny the requested variances.
In the April 8 letter, for the first time, Minnesota DNR clearly threatens formal legal action should the city approve the project. Your reporting staff knows that the CDC, which met last Thursday (April 9), “green lighted” the project, as you reported.
As you must have noticed, the April 8 Minnesota DNR letter was addressed to the mayor and the members of the City Council. But the city council did not receive the letter until after the vote of the Community Development Committee.
Again, how in the name of good journalism could you possibly have left that part of the story out?
One further question: Is this significant omission in keeping with Forum Communications’ standards both journalistically and ethically?
Photo: Does this movie still from Citizen Kane now serve as a analogy for tensions between press (Mrs. Brenk) and government (Mr. Brenk) in Detroit Lakes? For an explication of the famous image, Breakfast with the Kanes.
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Following his autocratic removal of Representative Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis) not just a minority lead on the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, but as a member of the committee itself, Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) has replaced Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul) on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Minority Leader Paul Thissen had recommended both lawmakers for the respective bodies. Minnesota House custom has allowed minority caucuses to pick leads on committees.
It's not the first time the Republicans have sought to banish Hansen, a frequent critic of special interests who also farms and hunts, from the Council. In 2011 the Star Tribune reported in Hansen booted from Lessard Sams Council:
The ax has fallen on Rick Hansen, the legislator who had been a critic of Legacy money spending.
Hansen, a DFLer from South St. Paul, has been removed from the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which recommends spending from the so-called Legacy constitutional amendment for outdoors projects.
Although he was to serve until 2013, Hansen said last month that subtle changes in the law were made to shorten his term. On Tuesday, Hansen was replaced by House leaders.
A letter signed by House Speaker Kurt Zellers announced the changes. Hansen said he was informed by a fellow legislator of the move. “Rep. [Leon] Lillie told me,” said Hansen, referring to the Lillie, a DFLer from North St. Paul who was appointed to the council.
Hansen had complained that the legislative changes that shortened his term amounted to a “get rid of Rick Hansen amendment.” Council members who at times were at odds with Hansen denied there was an attempt to remove the DFLer, and one said that “Rick needs to just kind of put his paranoia to rest.”
But said Hansen of the council: “There’s not a strong tolerance for dissent.” Hansen had cast the only “no” vote during the past three years on the council’s funding recommendations.
Given that the Republicans have repeated their 2011 decision, Daudt's action suggests that it's not "paranoia" on Hansen's part, as the brave anonodem asserted at the time.
Bluestem has to wonder exactly what Daudt thinks he's achieving here, other than handing over more goodies to a Range DFLer to distribute to good old boys in exchange for a solid vote for trashing the state's environment. Certainly the corporate interests that funded the independent expenditure attacks on defeated rural DFLers in the 2014 elections will be getting their money's worth.
. . .“I think there are many outdoor groups, and some individuals who worked on the campaign (to establish the Outdoor Heritage Fund), who see this money as their money, rather than the people’s money,” said Hansen. “And I see it as the people’s money, and I believe there needs to be more accountability, transparency and effectiveness regarding the recommendations and use of these funds.”
. . .Although his time on the council is finished, Hansen said that he will continue working on conservation issues. “Whether I’m on the council or not, I still have a voice here at the capitol and want to make sure this (the use of money from the heritage fund) is done right,” said Hansen.
Passage of the Legacy Amendment also showed that Minnesotans take seriously their responsibility to our state's greatest assets.
Similarly, those who serve as stewards of the Legacy funds have an exceptional responsibility to spend the money with maximum transparency, accountability and wisdom.
Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, took this task seriously.
So much so that he became a controversial member of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which recommends expenditures for the portion of the fund dedicated to "restore, protect and enhance Minnesota's wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for fish, game and wildlife."
Hansen asked the hard and uncomfortable questions about priorities and processes.
He clashed with some fellow board members over his perception that those who were instrumental in pushing for passage of the amendment were too influential in lobbying for its funds.
His skepticism was reflected in his Lessard Council voting record as well: He voted against the board's recommendations twice, and abstained once, over the three years there has been a vote.
No other member has opposed a funding recommendation during that period.
Last week Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, replaced Hansen on the board.
The new legislative members are Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, and Rep. Leon Lillie, DFL-North St. Paul. Zellers gets to name two elected and two citizen representatives to the 12-member board, as does Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo.
Gov. Mark Dayton appoints four citizen representatives.
The elected officials play a critical, dual role because the Lessard Council's funding recommendations need to be approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor.
Unlike the citizen appointees and those lobbying the Lessard Council for specific projects, these legislators are directly accountable to the public.
As our voice, they should speak as aggressively as Hansen did -- and ask difficult questions in order to avoid the potential of groupthink that can creep into a process that by its very nature can become insular.
Minnesota exceptionalism can be seen in the natural and artistic worlds that the Legacy Amendment is meant to protect.
And it can be seen in Minnesota voters, who bucked the national tax-slashing trend in order to leave a legacy.
More than ever, that same quality needs to be reflected in those who are responsible for protecting the public's extraordinary investment in the state's future.
Bluestem sees nothing different in the GOP's repeat of the 2011 action, other than a lot more money invested in getting rid of rural Democrats serving in the Minnesota House.
There's another dimension to Hansen's removal as well. In discussion of grants requests, Hansen has also defended the rights of Native American bands to ban wolf hunting on their own lands; many Ojibwe people object to hunting wolves because of the cultural importance of the animal to their heritage.
During Hansen's absence of the Council in 2011-2012, it turned down a request by the Fond Du Lac Band of Chippewa because of sovereignty questions. Dave Orrick reported in the Pioneer Press:
The proposal -- the first request to use Minnesota Legacy Amendment tax dollars to protect natural habitat on sovereign land -- tapped into a litany of touchy issues surrounding tribal relations, from wolf hunting to how tribal members pay taxes. . . .
Several Outdoor Heritage Council members, including state Rep. Dennis McNamara, R-Hastings, objected to the fact that tribal members would retain their hunting and fishing treaty rights, which are not subject to state laws. Such sentiments prompted Diver to send a letter accusing the council of being "punitive and discriminatory."
On Tuesday, McNamara proposed that if additional money became available this year, the project should be funded -- a reversal of his position. "I wish I had been better informed the first time," McNamara said. . . .
Council member Ron Schara said the Indian sovereignty of the land was a concern.
"The issue for me was never hunting and fishing rights," Schara said. "The issue was buying land (to be placed in Indian trust). To illustrate my point, the Fond du Lac closed tribal lands to the wolf hunt. I don't think people who pay sales tax in Minnesota would want us to buy land that could be closed to hunting."
Diver said the decision to close tribe-owned land to wolf hunting -- because wolves are regarded as "our brothers" -- was unique.
"I know of no other species where this would be so disagreeable to us," she said. "Other species are meant to be taken." . . .
House DFL Leader Paul Thissen expressed his disappointment today in House Speaker Kurt Daudt’s decision to replace Representative Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul) on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. Leader Thissen recommended Rep. Hansen to serve as the DFL House member on the council. Republicans also replaced Hansen on the committee the last time they held the majority in 2011. Rep. Hansen is in his 6th term and has served on the Outdoor Heritage Council for 4 years.
The move also comes after Republicans removed Rep. Jean Wagenius from her position as designated minority lead on the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee prior to session.
Rep. Thissen released the following statement:
“I am disappointed that Republicans are again playing games with qualified appointees to committees and councils. Rep. Hansen was a co-author of the Legacy Amendment that led to the creation of the Outdoor Heritage Council, was one of the original members of the council, and is a state leader on outdoor and environmental issues.
“Republicans and Speaker Daudt have talked a lot about wanting to work together to find solutions, but their words don’t match their actions. House Republicans continue to say one thing and do another.”
Photo: State Rep. Rick Hansen.
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“When I think of a vacation in Minnesota, I kind of imagine, like a really cold, dreary climate and a bunch of people who sound like they came out of ‘Fargo.’”
That’s what a man says in a video Explore Minnesota Tourism Director John Edman has been showing to House committees. The video includes interviews about travel in Minnesota with people on the street in other states.
“Ouch,” says Edman when the clip ends.
“That was an inspiring video,” was the sarcastic response of Committee Chair Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) at a House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee hearing held Monday at St. Paul’s RiverCentre, where Explore Minnesota is hosting its annual tourism conference.
But Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau), sponsor of HF434, a bill to boost Explore Minnesota’s funding, wasn’t ruffled by the video: “I did come out of Fargo, so I’m OK with that.”
Ok, then. Here's the tourism awareness video:
Photo: A still from Fargo.
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Representative Steve Green (R-Fosston) is an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, or Gaa-waabaabiganikaag Anishinaabeg, but he's having nothing to do with a proposal the nation submitted to the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
The council that reviews and approves proposals included the nation's request in its recommendations to the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee today, but an amendment Green submitted removing the tribe's request passed on a roll call vote.
DFL Representative David Dill joined the Republican majority on the committee in voting down the proposal.
The House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would appropriate just over $100 million from the Outdoor Heritage Fund for 34 proposed projects around the state.
But the committee also approved an amendment that at least one member believes could jeopardize the entire bill.
Sponsored by Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings), HF181 passed 12-9 on a partisan roll-call vote after an amendment offered by Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston) was approved that would eliminate funding for a project that would have provided almost $2.19 million for the White Earth Nation to acquire nearly 2,000 acres of land in northern Minnesota.
The White Earth Nation seeks to acquire land along the Wild Rice River and its tributaries for wildlife habitat protection. It said the matter was of some urgency because the current owner of the property Potlach Corp., a lumber company based in Washington state, is actively marketing it.
Green opposed the acquisition of the land because it would then no longer be subject to local property taxes in an area that he said was already “tax poor” and needed the revenue.
“This (amendment) is to address problems in Clearwater County,” Green said. “This affects our schools, our roads, everything up there, our property taxes, our rent. It’s just a big chunk of land.”
However, Rep. John Persell (DFL-Bemidji) took issue with the amendment, telling the committee he had been part of a restoration project to clean up a body of water in the area polluted by a chicken farm in the 1960s and 70s.
“There’s several million dollars of rice growing up there,” Persell said. “My take on this is White Earth is trying to protect the resource. … You have to be White Earth to rice on this lake, so it’s theirs to protect for themselves and the economic benefit that those couple million pounds of rice brings about.”
His concerns were echoed by Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls) who said the amendment “could potentially imperil the entire bill.” Hornstein noted Gov. Mark Dayton’s 2013 line-item veto of Outdoor Heritage Fund money for several metro area projects that had not been approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Despite the objections, the amendment was approved on a 13-8 roll call vote.
Watch the video of the discussion above. Frankly, Bluestem sides with the band and the council on this one.
Photo: A canoe and wild rice on White Earth Reservation.
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The Land Stewardship Project, which has a field office in Lewiston and deep roots in southeastern Minnesota, raised a holler about that bias in Friday's action alert, Citizens Shut Out of Frac Sand Hearing at State Capitol.
Now embattled Chisholm state senator Tomassoni (DFL) is organizing a field trip for the Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division Committee to a Uniminn silica sand mine "near Mankato" (there are two in Le Sueur County, one close to Kasota and another at Ottawa).
Here's the audio of the invitation in the committee:
It's especially curious to us why the House and Senate are taking up with the industry lobbyists after both sides were so thoroughly heard out during the 2013 session and a compromise reached at that time. It's not like the state isn't facing tough questions about enforcing buffer strip laws or preserving pheasant hunting through habitat conservation (more on that discussion in Tomassoni's committee in a future post).
Bluestem hopes that this excursion will be open to the press (and perhaps the public) in accordance to Minnesota's open meeting law.
We also hope that the press does due diligence on the history of the mine, including the full history of the lawsuit which lead to the creation of the nearby Kasota Prairie preserve, as well as examining how the Uniminn mines on the middle Minnesota might be working in an area that's geologically different from Southeastern Minnesota--as well as using some critical thinking about whether one mine is representative of the entire industry.
After all, we wouldn't want lobbyists and industry to completely frame the perceptions of this industry via guided tours for the state senate and restricted testimony in the house, would we?
But perhaps Dennis Egan, the former mayor of Red Wing who resigned under pressure when he took a job leading the Minnesota Industrial Sand Council, can tag along on the tour and offer Tomassoni some advice about what to do when public service and career opportunities pull a guy in different directions.
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Friends in Big Stone County report getting the same junk mail, only asking them to call Senator Lyle Koenen. Following the death of Gary Kubly during the 2012 session, the Clara City Democrat served the county in the western boundary waters for eight months before redistricting placed the county in Torrey Westrom's district.
Bluestem's world headquarters is located in Koenen's district, but we didn't get the postcard, nor was it littering the post office where everyone in Maynard receives his or her mail. Yet. Sending the Koenen postcard to people who only wish they were still represented in the Minnesota Senate by the genial DFLer seems like another waste of rich people's money on Norm's part.
It's the sort of project that's perfect for private philanthropy--and would assist the Upper Minnesota River Valley's local arts economy. Perhaps Norm could also charter a bus next fall for the Meander. While some of the artists are known to be dirty hippies, we believe that the rural jobs they generate are neither Republican nor DFL.
To contact the Minnesota Action Network, call Norm Coleman at (612)247-3536 or send mail to PO Box 16285, St Paul, MN 55116. Email him at info@mnactionnetwork.org, or leave a message via the Minnesota Action's Facebook page (we recommend using Facebook messaging rather than posting your request on the page itself).
Ask the Minnesota Action Network to remove your name from its mailing lists and ask Norm charter a bus for the Meander next fall as well as find an angel or two for the Big Stone Arts Council.
Some final questions
We're left with a few questions after learning about this second Did the Minnesota Action Network send the postcard to all DFL-held state senate districts? Or just those in districts for which the Senate DFL Caucus was fined $100,000 for breaking campaign finance rules? (The candidates themselves were not fined).
Whatever the case, the junk mail will certainly give Koenen and Carlson time to defend themselves, aswell as provide an excuse for the DFL Senate Caucus and its independent allies to lob a few rounds themselves into vulnerable Republican districts.
It's not small change. Minnesota Public Radio's Catharine Richert reported in Big money pours into battles for Minnesota House that by the October 20 pre-general election reporting deadline, $344,468 was spent in independent expenditures by both sides (exclusive of the candidates themselves) in House District 12A (where Big Stone County lies), while $403,643 had been spent in House District 17B and $204,947 in House District 17A.
Update: A reader in Senate District 20 has sent us an image of the postcard voters in Kevin Dahle's Senate District 20. We're sure that residents of the Northfield senator's district can nominate a worthy cause toward which the money can be directed.
In its October 20 report pre-election report, the Minnesota Jobs Coalition reported spe
While Al Franken won the U.S. Senate race in HD2A, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson took that race; Collin Peterson triumphed in the MN07 part of the district, while Stewart Mills won in the section of 2A in the Eighth.
On the "B" side of SD2, Republican candidates swept the district winning every race with the exception of Collin Peterson in the MN07 slice of the district. Even Michelle MacDonald and Scott Newman won.
Photos: Minnesota Action Network's Lyle Koenen postcard, front and back.
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But now he's sharing his own envy of the Twin Cities' loss of historic wetlands--and hoping to help move northern Minnesota's lifestyle's closer to that enjoyed by metro dwellers.
With a little less than two months before the start of the Minnesota Legislature convenes, Rep. David Dill met with the International Falls City Council Monday.
Dill, reelected earlier this month to the House District 3A position he has held since 2002, told the council no agenda item for that meeting had drawn him to attend.
“I am here to help,” the Crane Lake DFLer who represents Koochiching County and beyond told the council. . . .
. . .Dill said his priority this session for Koochiching County and the region is to continue to work on wetland regulations that inhibit development in northern Minnesota, where much of the presettlement wetlands have been retained. That contrasts with other areas of Minnesota where wetlands have been filled in to allow for business and housing development as well as agriculture.
Koochiching County is made up of 90 percent wetlands, while Hennepin County is made up of 0.05 percent — less than half of 1 percent, he said of the disparity.
He told the council he will continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and stakeholders to alleviate the rules that hinder development where it is most needed in the state.
How this agenda will encourage metro-centric colleagues to visit when the muskies are biting remains to be see.
In the meantime, we're hearing that the ice is getting pretty thick on Big Stone Lake, the early walleyes are biting, guys are out on their sleds and out-going state representative Andrew Falk dropped a dandy buck in its tracks out on the farm. Come visit the western boundary waters.
Last spring, Bluestem reported in Franson & DFL Rangers totally eclipse Pugh's ALEC crew in EPA nullification March madness that Dill and other area DFLers signed on to a bill to nullify the federal Environmental Protection Agency's power in Minnesota. That attitude certainly didn't make us want to go fishing with Representative Dill or any of his crew. The Democrats later took their names off the bill, saying they were just joking or something.
Photo: Koochiching County's Big Bog should make one heckova corn field, though the growing season might be a bit short. Via MPR.
Bluestem believes that the committee's name is an attempt by the majority caucus to make Representative David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake) feel appreciated for his lifestyle.
Dill said he believes the House Republican majority will be pro-mining.
And he said metro-centric DFLers, including some who were defeated, have never asked him about going fishing, snowmobiling and ATVing. “They don’t understand us and our lifestyle,” Dill said.
With the advent of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Committee, Dill may finally have the empathy he claims to have never found from those unnamed "metro-centric DFLers," who maybe shouldn't have gone fishing on lakes and rivers in their own districts.
Range-based blogger Aaron Brown reacted to news of the Dill-appreciating committee name on our editor's Facebook page:
Aaron Brown Ha. Now THAT'S a committee. Almost perfect, if only Mich Golden Light was in the name, too.
Not everyone on social media is reacting with the same generosity as the genial writer:
On our stretch of the prairie, there's Swift County's Appleton Area Recreational Park, where families enjoy ATV and motocross entertainment in a re-purposed gravel mine. We will inquire if facilities exist for a committee field trip.
Photo: David Dill, who will finally be appreciated for his lifestyle, especially if no Range-dedicated funds are raided by his Republican colleagues in the House. Photo via Politics in Minnesota.
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A headline like that might gladden the heart of politician who fantasizes that sand mining builds "empathy" for copper mining projects, and fortunately, Bluestem can assess the reaction of local citizens to the delays that beleaguered corporation is facing at a merciless bureaucracy.
It is my understanding that there was another proposal on the table besides the one by Superior Silica Sands.
Chisago County HRA/EDA was willing to purchase that piece of property outright, market it and sell it.
No worry about silica sand in the air, no excess traffic, less wear and tear on our roads. Sounds like a win-win situation.
This would help with our ESSBY debt. Am I missing something here? To me, it seems like a no-brainer.
I live on Highway 95. I thought I was used to truck traffic. Lately it has increased with trucks transporting sand to Tiller Corp. Add another 250+ trucks to our highway and the downtown area, and the county offer looks excellent.
Our narrow highway downtown, with no expansion available, is a disaster-waiting-to-happen.
Fall back and use common sense.
Superior Silica will be back at the table when permits are received in February or before. Don’t let this mistake be your legacy.
So here’s where my nightmare begins. I recently returned home from Tioga, North Dakota, where I worked for two years in the oil fields. I came back to North Branch to enjoy a safe and quiet life. With property values returning, and jobs more plentiful, things were looking good until I heard that the city wants to put a silica sand trans-loading station in my back yard. Hasn’t anyone here learned of the hazards? Are the citizens of Chisago County prepared to pay for roads that crumble under the weight of hundreds of semis hauling frac-sand? I can’t absorb 30-percent depreciation on my home as a result of this type of development in my neighborhood. . . .
It may not be skullduggery, but it feels that way.
Our city council and mayor want to solve the city’s debt problem that will require a huge balloon payment soon. They ask: Who will save us from the indebtedness that previous councils, mayors and city planners brought upon us when they foolishly purchased the ESSBY land?
Superior Silica Sands to the rescue! This giant corporation is willing to solve the council’s problem by dragging thousands of tons of sand across state lines into our town for shipment to fracking sites. Our council seems to have made up its mind to accept this solution.
The folks who live in North Branch, however, are not so keen to have microparticles of sand floating through town promoting silicosis, fibrosis and other lung diseases, especially in their children. They don’t want to see huge sand-hauling trucks clogging and damaging the city’s roads. They don’t want their property values to plummet. They don’t want to open the door to further harmful developments of the sand industry which will surely come to North Branch as it has to other towns who have signed away their rights to large fracking enterprises.
It seems the mayor and council have decided the safest way to proceed is to keep as low a profile as possible. No referendums. No town meetings. Let the public comment at council meetings be relegated to the end of the meetings after all the votes of the evening have been cast. Don’t supply information on health issues, don’t warn people of decreased property values and don’t publish in the local papers the timeline for closing on a deal that’s already been decided on.
And especially don’t tell the citizens what the city officials offered to Superior Silica Sands that persuaded the company to pursue negotiations with North Branch after it withdrew its offer because of public outcry.
If the council is so set on going against the majority that has objections to the silica sand project, then let it be put on a referendum so we can decide our futures. You are compounding a mistake on the ESSBY project by rushing in with another.
There is a disease called silicosis. It comes from exposure to silica sand. Are these the kind of jobs meant for North Branch? Once you have this disease, there is no reversal. If the sand escapes, and I’m sure Superior Silica Sand will tell us it can’t, what about the rest of the citizens?
I know the council, planning commission and the EDA have already made up their minds and are voting yes, but remember the rest of us and why you are in office – to protect and serve us.
The town is strangled with traffic now by the Tiller Sand trucks making right hand turns from left lanes. They weren’t supposed to come through North Branch. The intersection is not equipped to handle this – yet another costly mistake on the rebuilding of the intersection.
If this is such a good project, stop, think and reassess. All components should be in place before going further.
We’ve talked about a bypass for years, but it hasn’t happened. We’ve always put the cart before the horse.
We’re a small town, not a metropolis. This project is not a good fit. We don’t have room on our roads for expansion. Look around!
So far, more than 3,000 people have signed a petition to stop the trucks, but last week the North Branch City Council voted to approve the deal with Superior Silica. Earlier objections from residents, Taylors Falls officials and the St. Croix Falls Chamber of Commerce seemed to derail the project, and Superior sent letters saying they were no longer interested in doing business in Minnesota.
But North Branch officials reached out to the company, and persuaded them to seal the deal, according to Taylors Falls Mayor Mike Buchite.
“Superior [Silica] Sands said they wanted to be a good corporate citizen and were no longer interested in the property,” said Buchite. “I wonder what North Branch offered to get them to change their minds.” . . .
If the situation in North Branch and Chisago County is building empathy for the mining industry, Bluestem doesn't even want to know what disdain looks like.
Photo: A banner objecting to those trucks.
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John and Marlys Honour think Belle Plaine "has so much charm and such a wonderful Minnesota feel,"and want residents to vote for their son, according to a July 30 letter to the editor of the newspaper in the Scott County community.
Here's the letter printed in the three small town newspapers:
As the parents of Scott Honour, who is running for Governor of Minnesota, we have been extremely lucky to be able to travel the state talking about his plan to better our great state for years to come.
Visiting Belle Plaine this week was an absolute pleasure. This city has so much charm and such a wonderful Minnesota feel, and the residents were more than welcoming. We chatted with a variety of folks introducing them to our son and hearing what they are looking for in their next governor. We once again heard that Minnesotans want a change from the politics as usual sort of candidate and would rather have a candidate with a history of getting results.
Scott Honour has done that in business, and he’s also excelled as a husband and father to three beautiful children.
The primary election is August 12 and if you would like a conservative businessman, rather than a career politician, please vote for our son, Scott Honour.
Sincerely,
John & Marlys Honour
Watertown, MN
The Kenyon Leader didn't preserve the paragraphing, but the Honours found the town to be just as charming and Minnesota feeling, populated by residents who feel exactly like the people living in Belle Plaine and Pine Island:
As the parents of Scott Honour, who is running for Governor of Minnesota, we have been extremely lucky to be able to travel the state talking about his plan to better our great state for years to come Visiting Kenyon this week was an absolute pleasure. This city has so much charm and such a wonderful Minnesota feel, and the residents were more than welcoming. We chatted with a variety of folks introducing them to our son and hearing what they are looking for in their next governor. We once again heard that Minnesotans want a change from the politics as usual sort of candidate and would rather have a candidate with a history of getting results. Scott Honour has done that in business, and he’s also excelled as a husband and father to three beautiful children. The primary election is August 12 and if you would like a conservative businessman, rather than a career politician, please vote for our son, Scott Honour.
We have read a lot about conformity is small towns, but this is a bit extreme.
Photo: John and Marlys Honour, campaigning for their son in New Ulm. Via the New Ulm Journal. We haven't found their letter in the Journal, but hope that they found the German-American city just as pleasant as Belle Plaine, Kenyon and Pine Island and populated by people equally like-minded.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
All of the statements, opinions, and views expressed on this site by Sally Jo Sorensen are solely her own, save when she attributes them to other sources.
The opinions, statements, and views of contributing writers are their own.
Sorensen, editor and proprietor of Bluestem Prairie, serves clients in the business and nonprofit sectors. While progressive in outlook, she does not caucus with any political party.
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