Bomb Threat Cambridge/Isanti

From Cambridge Isanti School District

IMS/MNC received a bomb threat at 12:45 p.m.  All students were evacuated from premises by 1:00 p.m.   Law enforcement searched inside and outside and declared an "All Clear" at 1:40 p.m.   Everyone is Safe.  Students have been cleared to re-entry school building. Repeat:  "ALL SAFE"

School Board Filing Update

School Board race update:

Erika Zdon filed for School Board.... waiting for more School Board filing news...

City of Cambridge getting Level 3 Sex Offender

Isanti County News story about level 3 sex offender moving to Cambridge...


http://isanticountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8329&Itemid=1

County Commissioner District Boundaries

I had a few questions about where the County Commissioner Districts even are.


District 1 George Larson
Represents:
City of Cambridge (West)
Cambridge Township

District 2 Larry Southerland
Represents:
City of Braham
Dalbo, Stanchfield, Maple Ridge,  Wyanett, & Springvale Townships



District 3 Alan Duff
Represents:
City of Isanti & Bradford Township


District 4 Kurt Daudt
Represents:
Spencer Brook, Stanford, & Athens Townships


District 5 Susan Morris
Represents:
City of Cambridge (East),
North Branch, Isanti, & Oxford Townships


District 1 and District 5 are up for re-election. The County Commissioner is roughly the same amount of work as is the City Council but they make on average with salary and per diem over $30,000 a year - Council is $3,000. All you need is $50 to file for County Commissioner as compared to $2 for City offices. 

Mayor's Great Yard Award

Looking for one more sponsor for the Mayor's Great Yard Award..... Great publicity..... $100 per month for 3 months sponsors first place and the awards are presented at City Council meetings with the two papers taking the pictures that generally run with the Council story for that week. If you are interested please contact me at george@georgewimmer.com or 763-442-8749....

Local Races

The County News has the list so far of local offices up for election and the people who have filed.

http://isanticountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8302&Itemid=1

Some of the highlights are:

Isanti Mayor - Yep I have a challenger... and Yes I will be fighting against those that want to go back to the days of a city with higher taxes, higher debt, developer lead city, high operation cost, no transparency, and inept business development etc...

Isanti City Council only has the two incumbents of Ross Lorinser and  Sue Larson running... no one has filed to challenge either...

Isanti County Board District 1 George Larson and District 5 Sue Morris have had no challengers yet...

Isanti County Attorney again has no challenger but the County Sheriff has 3 people running  Monson, Kranz and Thomton...

There is a rematch of Olseen and Nienow for State Senate and Jim Godfry against Kurt Daudt for Rep seat 17a

There are still 6 days left file......

Triple Threat

We face the triple threat of lower property values meaning lower tax revenue, cuts in state funding and increasing cost... Our budget plan lowers city cost, does NOT raise the tax levy and continues to invest in economic development. 

What a Terrible Tax

Our great State of Minnesota is making the City of Isanti pay a tax on the water we use to fight fires.... when will it ever end....

Great Political Advertisement

I hear all the time that I am to tough and have a take no prisoners attitude.... Check this guy out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0

Isanti Horseshoe Club

Great part of being Mayor - I had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at the Isanti Horseshoe Club at Junction Bowl on my way to Council.

Cambridge Star never Changes

The Isanti-Chisago County (Cambridge) Star's online version of my candidate announcement was hacked apart and gutted of all our wonderful successes.... I am just so disappointed but it follows their pattern of nonsense in every election cycle.

Thankfully the Star only goes to a few homes in the City so the damage should be limited....

Public Works Union Negotiations Update

After months of negotiating and a tentative agreement with union leadership which was voted down by Union membership, the Council last night voted to present our last and final offer to the Public Works Union. This offer brings our health care cost back in line to a reasonable standard. The Current Gold plan - I did not make that name up it is called the Gold plan and it is an extremely generous plan - that City has paid for has had another massive cost increase (20%) due to usage. The new health plan being offered has the same coverage but improves the cost sharing aspect so those that use the plan more pay a bit more. The City is facing $20,000 plus per year per employee family coverage and this simply is not sustainable. This is the health care plan for all City employees and we are working to make the change throughout the City.

I am hopeful that this situation will be settled soon but if it is not we have prepared a contingency plan to make sure all City services will be delivered in a seamless and cost effective fashion....

The Battle is Joined

Looks like I have my first challenger for Mayor.....

Third Annual Mayor's Employer Luncheon

Another New Great Business in Town

KJD Signs is located just east of the railroad tracks on Main Street. Lets welcome this new great business with Jill Reller's lifelong ties to Isanti....

Parade 2010

Looking for more people to join us in the parade. We over 30 and shooting for at least twice as many. It is a great time & if you have an ATV you can ride that in the parade. We will have one trailer with coolers of water and a place to sit for little kids or seniors if they get tired. You get a great T-shirt as well... anyone not walking in the parade with us and would like a t-shirt please let me know your size. 

Email me at george@georgewimmer.com

Minnesota Legislative Session Countdown Clock

The Minnesota Legislative session must end by state law at a specific date and time.... here is the link to the countdown clock...

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2010/05/budget-calendar/index.shtml

State Representative 17A

Daudt, Titus, Grams and Duff all seeking Republican nomination for 17A ... should be interesting 


Godfrey is DFL endorsed candidate 

Announcements for Senate 17 & State Representative 17A

I have been hoping to get more announcements to post for those running for State Representative in 17A or State Senate in 17... I have only received one so far.... Republican, DFL, Independent... does not matter....

Tax Talk 1

The expected loss of City revenue for 2011 due to LGA/MVHA cuts and decreased property values is nearly equal to the $500,000 is taxes and assessments that are in default. I constantly hear these are tough times and it is ok to let some not pay their taxes. A couple problems with that argument - who decides who the special people are that do not have to pay their taxes and without that money we have to either cut services or make actual taxpayers pay more. 


Since my first election in Isanti we have cut City property taxes by 30% and when other communities have recently hike their tax levies we have not. I hope these facts are taken into consideration the next time someone tells me the City should allow a person or business to slide when it comes to paying their taxes.....

Alan Duff Running for State Representative 17A

Just read this announcement a bit ago on County News website:

http://isanticountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8174&Itemid=59

I have heard of a few others running but have not met them. Hopefully whoever gets the position will know and represent the district well. We are an interesting Rep district in that we have three cities and a lot of townships. We need someone that understands the issues we all face and has the experience to actually do something about it.

Duff's website: http://alanduff.net/

Re-election Announcement

The City of Isanti is shining as a beacon of success over today’s seas of trouble:   Our Nation is faced with the worst economy since the Great Depression.  Our State is gripped by a looming $6 billion deficit.  And our County suffers under a double-digit unemployment rate and massive home foreclosures.

The City of Isanti has led statewide in innovative economic development, downtown revitalization, foreclosure management, and groundbreaking fiscal policy.  As our country and state are suffering under staggering deficits, the City of Isanti has the largest fund balances in its history.  We have faced the same issues as all communities, but we planned well and worked hard.

Our success includes:

·         Budgets that consistently cut taxes and spending

·         Development of a long-term financial plan

·         Dozens of new and relocated businesses

·         Main Street business development

·         Local job growth of 30%

·         New water treatment plant

·         Foreclosure management program, named best in state

·         Business Recruitment Award from Minnesota Economic Development Association

·         Transparency of City government

·         Improved City credit rating to A+

·         Administrative costs 33% lower than our statewide peer group of cities

·         Per capita debt cut 57%

We will build upon our economic success by developing our commercial districts (along County Road 5 and Highway 65), expanding our industrial park capacity, and diversifying our tax base. Maintaining strong fiscal discipline will enable us to weather the tough economic storms we shall endure over the next few years, while we continue to place citizen safety at the forefront of our actions. 

I humbly ask for your support again as Mayor of the great City of Isanti. 

May 4th Council Meeting

The Isanti City Council Agenda for the May 4th 2010:

http://www.cityofisanti.us/images/stories/05-04-10_City_Council_Agenda.pdf

Isanti County Unemployment Rate

Isanti County's unemployment rate is 11.6%. Sobering news and yet another reason to keep government cost reasonable.