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About Me
- George
- I have served the City of Isanti as Mayor since 2007. We have accomplished great things together and I look forward to building on our success. United, we move forward to a better future. You may contact me at 763-442-8749 or e-mail me at george@georgewimmer.com.
2 comments:
I am enjoying the thought provoking conversation posted here and am glad that this kind of discourse is happening with residents and our representatives in government.
Why is this intersection so unsafe? I've seen Georges tweets about wrecks in this intersection but it seems much safer than the uncontrolled intersections on Hwy 65 headed south or Cajima to the north.
The most bothersome lines of these conversations are the ones regarding the reality of working with government. "Once in a generation funding, the money is going to go somewhere, did the last improvement not knowing the money was going to be there" are all examples of the attitute and policies of a failed democracy. I know that these are not the opinions of Mayor Wimmer, but rather the realities of dealing with legislatures, budgets, and of course politics.
But what sickness suddenly befalls our representatives when they arrive in St Paul or Washington? Most state level elected officials are smart people who successfully raise families and grown businesses. What malady strikes them that they forget what it is like to live within their means? To say "no" to immediate opportunities in favor of their real long term priorities? What illness sets in that they abandon the forecasting and budget setting they have done at their kitchen table and desk at the office in favor of being comfortable with constructing an overpass just 9 months after completing an upgrade project at that same intersection. What prevents them from saying, as we do, that this is what I can accomplish given my budget and priorities?
Again, I do not assign these conditions to Mayor Wimmer. But my frustration increases when I read that even a fiscally conservative, gifted leader like George settles for this pungent reality. Yes, if data shows that the intersection is unsafe compared to other designs, then build it. Reap the economic benefit, improve the marketability of the community, increase safety and call it a win. But do not forget that when we send our neighbors to St Paul and ask them to stand for us, we are overwhelmingly telling them to say, on our united behalf, that we should not spend more that we generate. We do not accept that the funds were unknown 12 months ago and do not agree to spend rampantly the hard fought cash of our families, our children and our neighbors.
Sean your points are well taken and looking at the federal and state funding decisions is appropriate. I however have to always do what is best for our community regardless of the flawed system in which we live. I must do everything I can to save lives and improve our City for the generations to come.
This project would be built in 2014 and the funds come from the state mandated gas tax funded transportation account. This money will be spent and a person could make the principled decision to not accept the funds if we are awarded the project but that will not save a single live nor will it be much consolation as the money is spent in another community and Isanti is faced with a less marketable community.
Last point - do not forget in 15 to 20 years the vast majority of our City's population will live east of highway 65 and we must have a safe and easy way for them to get to the businesses west of 65. It would be irresponsible to have a situation where it is easier for over half our population to get to Cambridge then to the rest of our town.
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