*****The article the following comments were based on was removed from the Anoka County Union paper and replaced with a much more balanced piece*****
Just read a great deal of fiction from Doug Sell the City Administrator of East Bethel. He is claiming they never said they would do forced annexation. That is not true. He also states it was Isanti that started these discussions. Not true. East Bethel had reached out on this topic after their attempt to leave Anoka County and annex to Isanti county reached an impasse.
Isanti had offered the idea of orderly annexation with all entities and that was rejected. We said that Isanti had never forced annexation nor would it appear to be in the best interest of Isanti to annex a large portion of Athens Township as proposed. This situation has left Isanti facing the possibility of all of Athens Township being absorbed by another city. This would also not be in Isanti's best interest. It appears to me that Isanti is being fitted for a black hat that is undeserved.
I have an email trail from November of 2007 to this very day from Mr. Sell initiating discussions on Athens Township as he states...
"The City (East Bethel) is interested in working with Isanti and St Francis to develop a strategy for Athens Township that is mutually beneficial."
He further states...
"I have asked our GIS technician to create a map of the areas of Athens Township that the City would be interested in bringing into the City."
I made sure that our new comprehensive plan did not include one inch of Athens Township in our planning. We were reacting to St. Francis which is already in Athens Township and East Bethel that wants to move into Athens Township. Our Council at our June 2nd meeting made it clear they would first wish to talk with Athens Township.
Mr. Sell says he wanted to be at the table when Athens and Isanti talked so East Bethel's interest were protected. What interest would East Bethel have if he did not plan on annexing portions of or all of Athens Township. Seems an odd comment to me.
Since Mr. Sell seems to be backing off his earlier comments as he is the individual I asked point blank about the annexation then I will also assume that East Bethel will never annex any territory in Athens Township.
With Mr. Sell's unfortunate comments, there will be no further contact with East Bethel -unless the City Council orders me to- on this matter.
To be clear I am only going into this because of the published comments from Mr. Sell. We have a great deal of work this summer without this type of nonsense making it more difficult.
A great case for why meetings should be taped.... anyone may have their own opinion just not their own set of facts....
5 comments:
There is no way I want east bethel in Isanti county! Your plan will keep Athens as Athens. Don't let them take us.
Where's Isanti county government? Why is George the only one taking this challenge on?
East Bethel appears to have some curious underground motives, like enlarging their tax base to pay development they want to do. There really is nothing that they offer to the Township of Athens. Certainly don't want to become part of East Bethel/Anoka County and the unelected Met Council.
I agree with everything already said. East bethel needs to stay out. Lets get it done with Isanti.
This is sad or criminal. First our township lets St Francis take our land now they might let East Bethel take it all. Isanti's plan sounds like it would protect us and kinda leave us alone.
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