August 1st County Board Meeting

Did I hear that right ... County Commissioner George Larson said at the Board meeting he talked with a majority of the County Board individually before the meeting about Commissioner Duff. That sounds like a daisy chain meeting where you discuss a topic with a majority of the individual members separately about an action. This is not allowed in Minnesota for local government entities specifically cause it allows for "deals" to be brokered outside the public eye... Commissioner Larson said Duff used false statements and misleading information but gives no examples. Everything Duff said was absolutely factual. Please someone point out to me one single lie ...

Listen to meeting for yourself - http://www.co.isanti.mn.us/brdaudio/bdmtg08012012.wav

I think at the very least we need some clarification on the part of the rest of the Board including Commissioner Mike Warring, who is running to represent the City of Isanti at the County, as to what happened and how. What was his thought process that lead to his vote.

This Per Diem issue has been a problem for years and the issue Commissioner Morris admitted to on TV about being paid multiple times for the same meeting multiple times in one month was over a year old and still no policy or procedure has been created to fix the problem. The Morris issue was handled internally and privately by a few Board Members ... and nothing was done... light has to be shined into the shadows so good policies and procedures are developed not just to ferret out wrong doing but to make sure honest hard working Commissioners and employees have a good set of rules to follow. We need to start from the beginning believing every member is good at heart and help make sure there is no confusion as to what needs to be done when ... with policies and procedures in place that have been vetted in public meetings this can happen. I know because it is the exact reform I brought to the City of Isanti after I became Mayor.

The last point that bothered me was the fact the County Board does not allow any public input at all. In Isanti City we allow Citizens to speak before every meeting. Again we have policies and procedures that define all of this so our public can take part in the government they are paying for. The County still has no rules or procedures of operating meetings.... there are no Roberts Rules of Order or anything making sure everyone's voice and rights are protected. Policies and procedures are paramount to an effective government body.

There are those that will not like me harping on these points but I will each and every week until reform happens. Roughly 30% of my City's property taxes get paid to the County ... We have a vested interest in making sure the County is well run an organized.

We need as follows:

• Rules & Procedures for per diems and expense accounts that establish standard business practice and compliance with IRS codes
• Rules and Procedures to operate meetings
• Reduction in Commissioner per diems to attend non-profit meetings 
• Allowed Public input at meetings
• An answer to the State Auditor's Office question of County Credit Cards used for personal use
• All these issues vetted through regular board meetings so the public knows that it is happening 

Simple reform and this whole issue goes away ... no reform and it becomes and albatross