Great Week Ahead

We have a busy week ahead of us. Rodeo/Jubilee Days looks be building to another great success. The Rodeo will be bigger and better than ever. For more information go to--- http://www.isantifiredistrict.org/isanti_rodeo_assc_ .

Jubilee Days kicks off with Thursday’s parade and ends with Sunday’s Ambassador Coronation. The Isanti Area Chamber of Commerce has a full schedule at http://www.isantichamber.com/ .

I hope everyone tries to sink me in the dunk tank for charity on Saturday the 7th 10am to 12pm. I will then be calling bingo 12:30 to 3pm at the Community Center.

I was at a neighborhood block party on Saturday at Riverside Park. It was a great success. Carla Duncan and the group did a tremendous job organizing and running the event with over 200 people attending. I have asked that she help me start similar events in or parts of the City.

The Council will be hosting Senator Olseen and Representative Eastlund Tuesday night at 7pm. I will be presenting the prizes for the Mayor’s Great Yard Award winners.

We will once again be dealing with nuisance abatements of numerous properties. A conversion ordinance that mandates all single family property owners need to pay full city fees if they convert to multi-family homes. This would only be allowed in appropriately zoned parts of the City.

I have asked that there be a moratorium on enforcing of an old ordinance not allowing residents from selling their vehicle in their own driveway. I believe if the vehicle is allowed by the city parking ordinance then a person should be able to sell it from their own home.

Legislative Visit Reminder

Just wanted to remind everyone that Senator Olseen and Representative Eastlund will be visiting Isanti City Hall during our July 3rd Council meeting.

We will receive a legislative update and then there will be an opportunity for questions from the public. I strongly encourage you to come and ask questions. This is an excellent chance to hear first hand from those that make decisions in our name.

The democratic process only works if we are involved.


“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country."---

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Oberstar Visit Update

Our visit with Congressman Oberstar was a great success. We first met with a prospective bio-diesel company I have been working to locate in Isanti. The company has cutting edge technology and the Congressman brought his years of experience and technical knowledge to the table. The company representatives told me he asked the best questions they have heard so far.

We then met to discuss the proposed pedestrian bridge. I gave a brief presentation then answered a number of questions from the Congressman. He stated his support and the need for the project then asked to visit the site.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational experience.

Guest Kevin Riedeman of Rum River BMX

This is just a friendly reminder that this coming Wednesday the 27th of June is Rum River BMX second community night. Next Saturday & Sunday is our first large race weekend... on Saturday we have our earned double point race and on Sunday we have our Redline Cup National qualifier. We are expecting some where between 350 - 750 people in town at the track each day. It should be a awesome weekend so I would invite you to stop by and watch for a while if you have time. Spectators always watch for free.

For more information call 444-5429 or email kevin@rumriverbmx.com

Kevin Riedeman

Bingo

I will be performing Landmark's Bingo calling at the community Center from 12:30 pm to 3 pm on July 7th. Hope to see you there.

Dunk Tank

I will be in the Isanti Ambassador dunk tank July 7th from 10 am to noon. The dunk tank will be located on Main Street with the other Jubilee Day festivities. Hope to see you there.

Congressman Oberstar Visit

Congressman Oberstar is scheduled to visit Isanti June 24th at 1pm to discuss the Pedestrian Bridge project.

June 19th Council Update

There were three items we discussed at last nights Council meeting I want to follow up on. Police Investigator, Fee Schedule and Building Inspection position.

The Council approved a grant application to help fund a possible police investigator position. This does not mean that we will hire an investigator but does provide partial funding for two years if we do decide to hire an investigator.

The Council called a public hearing for July 17th to update our fee schedule. This fee schedule includes a vast array of fees from development to deck to dog fees. Almost all city fees are included. I hope anyone that has concerns or question will attend the July 17th Council meeting.

The last item is one of our most difficult task as a Council. We decided to eliminate one of our building inspection positions. This was in no way a performance issue but was an economic decision. As building fees have declined drastically along with the work load it no longer made any economic sense to continue the position. We have brought in only 27% of anticipated building fees due to the dramatic slow down in housing. We also need to remember the building fees pay portions of about 6 other city positions as well.

I have been warning about the impact of the inevitable housing bubble bursting for over two years. I have in the past and will continue to push to reduce city cost. The only other option is to raise property taxes. The last two City budgets exploded spending by over 40%. I voted against these budgets for this very reason.

The bonding for the east of 65 expansion was based on a little over 100 new houses per year. We are on pace for 56 this year. We had only 89 last year. If we do not bring in enough development fees to cover the bond you and I as taxpayers will have to pay. This goes against my goal to have development pay for itself.

We are entering into our budgeting process and I will again fight to reduce city expenses and our already high property taxes.

Great Yard Award Update

We have received nearly 20 nominations for the Great Yard Award. Just two days left to get your nominations in.

Royal Golf Tournament

The Royal Golf Tournament is closing in fast. Contact the Chamber office to get your team signed-up. It is a great time and helps support a stronger community.

Royal Golf Tournament

June 22, 2007

Sanbrook Golf Course

Sign up time is 1:00 to 1:45 PM

Contact for more information:

763-444-8515

info@isantichamber.com

Senator Olseen

Senator Olseen will be joining us at Council July 3rd. He will be discussing the past legislative session and answering questions. The Senator and Representative Eastlund will be first on the agenda at 7pm.

Representative Eastlund Planned visit to Council

State Representative Rob Eastlund will be at the Isanti City Council meeting July 3rd. Representative Eastlund will speak briefly about the legislative session and answer questions.

Mayor's Great Yard Award

I am happy to announce the creation of the "Mayor's Great Yard Award". This award will recognize the hard work, dedication, and creativity of our residents in maintaining a beautiful City. Landmark Bank will continue to show its commitment, with over 100 years of community involvement, by financing the monetary awards.

The awards are open to all Isanti City residents. Nominations will be accepted through Park and Recreation staff, Lisa Krause, who can be contacted at lkrause@ci.isanti.mn.us or by mail or drop off at Isanti City Hall, 110 First Ave N, PO Box 428, Isanti, MN 55040. You may nominate yourself or any property within Isanti city limits. The Park and Recreation board will judge all entries and make recommendations to the Mayor for award winners. Awards will be presented for June, July and August. You may not win consecutive awards. All Park and Recreation board members as well as city staff and their immediate family members are not eligible.

1st place winner receives $100 and Mayoral Proclamation
2nd place winner receives $50 and Mayoral Proclamation
3rd place winner receives $25 and Mayoral Proclamation

All nominations must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. The awards will be presented by the Mayor at the following Council meeting.

June 5th Council Meeting Update

The June 5th council meeting had a few topics that I wish to discuss.

The first issue is that of train noise. The Council has received numerous train related complaints. Last fall the Council researched options to help reduce the noise pollution. Mr. Harris asked about quiet zones, which the council had discussed last fall. The "quiet" zones are a bit of a misnomer. There still is a horn blowing from a fixed position that may improve the overall noise pollution but could only be a marginal benefit. The cost associated with more expansive crossing arms and road improvements to qualify for the "quiet" zones is prohibitive. Isanti has also had a train fatality in the recent past which leads me to believe the more warnings our residents receive of an oncoming train the better. This will continue to be an ongoing issue and as soon as there is a cost effective and safe alternative to the train whistle the City will jump on board.

We approved a development agreement with Pat's Small Engines. This is a success on several levels. This business provided all the information I had been asking of all business that apply to the city. We received balance sheet and business plan information. The company will also provide 14 jobs in the first year with pay ranges of $10 to $19 an hour. I am happy to welcome Pat's Small Engines to town.

The next item is the ordering of a cash flow analysis for our TIF districts. I have long been apprehensive about the ability of our TIF districts to pay for themselves. With this cash flow analysis we will finally have a handle of the effect of our business subsidies.

The fourth item is the renovation and cleaning of the Community Center This facility has been long neglected. This initial step should take us a long way to having a building we can be proud of.

The issue of further annexation also was discussed. A request to annex 34.44 acres to the City located on the SW corner of highway 65 and 301st. I voted against moving forward with the annexation process because the City's carrying cost would out weigh any timely gain. I was the only member to vote against. The City will be responsible for maintenance on 299th, Buchanan and 301st which is currently serviced by Isanti Township. We have an estimated cost of $530,000 to bring City water and sewer to this property along with proper road upgrades for a short stretch of 301st. Sewer and Water would have to come from Cajima and by-pass several non-annexed properties. Isanti has considerable commercial property currently vacant that the taxpayer is already paying to service. Once we have a further need for more annexed land then it would make sense to annex more land to Isanti.

The last item I want to talk about is the police intern. The police intern started out as so many programs do as a low to no cost benefit to the City. The funding has stopped and now the City has to pay for a previously free benefit. The intern was not budgeted and was approved by the Council as a free program. I also believe that with 1 full time and 2 part time clerical/secretary positions in the police department we need no further support staff. If we are serious about controlling city cost and lower property taxes we must stick to our budget unless there are matching funds that make taxpayer dollars stretch further. This is not a reflection on the individual involved but simply a financial decision. We are going to have holes in our budget with this type of spending and only you and I as taxpayers can fill that hole. I voted against continuing this position but was out voted 4-1

Friends of the Rum River

Press Release: Friends of the Rum River meeting at Bunker Hills June 14Friends of the Rum River is pleased to introduce our next speaker, Jim Cummings, who will be presenting on "The History of Lakes Ogechie and Mille Lacs at the Headwaters of the Rum River." This repeat performance, back by popular demand, was originally presented at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, where Jim is Chief Interpreter and Anthropologist. It will be held this coming Thursday, June 14 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Anoka County Park Bunker Hills Activity Center. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about the activities and aspirations of Friends of the Rum River.The Bunker Hills Activity Center is located just south of Bunker Hills Blvd NW, north of Hwy 242, and between Foley Blvd and Jefferson Avenue. Call Anoka County Parks at 763-862-4970 for more detailed directions, or check their website online at www.anokacountyparks.com.

"Friends of the Rum River" was originally organized in Mille Lacs County to address sewage input concerns into the Rum River at Princeton. The group was reformed in January, 2006 in Cambridge with the assistance of original members. Its intent now is to draw interest of river enthusiasts throughout the 1552 square mile watershed (drainage basin) of this "wild and scenic" river, which includes Lake Mille Lacs and extends 145 miles south to the Mississippi River at Anoka, passing through 11 counties in the process.

Meetings are held every second month, rotating up and down the watershed. An eight page newsletter is also published bimonthly, "News from the Rum River Watershed," which addresses concerns up and down the watershed.For information on a group of folks who are currently organizing to research the history of the Rum River, contact Lyle Bradley at 763-421-1663.

For more information on organizing a meeting of "Friends of the Rum River" in your area or to receive the free email newsletter, contact Kriste at 612-309-5838, or RumRiverNews@yahoo.com. Copies of "News from the Rum River Watershed" may also be viewed on-line at www.millelacsswcd.org. Hardcopies are made available at schools, libraries, government centers, food co-ops and coffee shops.Mission of Friends of the Rum River:To provide a base of knowledge that we can use to make wise decisions concerning the Rum River watershed, and to preserve, enhance and enjoy its resources.

Vision Statement of FRR:To improve our ability to care for the Rum River watershed and all of the associated watersheds that make up the Mississippi River system.

City/County Comp Plan

I attended a little over an hour of the County Comp Plan meeting tonight and heard some interesting information. I thought it might be good to refresh our memory and let you know the web links to the City and County Comp Plan information.

City of Isanti: http://www.ci.isanti.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={82A3D932-CDE8-43B0-84F3-7721176A62E1}

County of Isanti: http://www.co.isanti.mn.us/planfuturecomp.htm

Check it out and if you have any questions please let me know.

Mayor's Great Yard Award

I will be announcing the Mayor's Great Yard Award in the next few weeks. I am providing a preview in case anyone would like to add helpful comments.

The premise is to show our appreciation for the great work residents are doing. I believe we need to highlight the good of our community even as we are working hard to clean-up troubled properties.

I am approaching area businesses to help provide the money needed for the award. I am currently working with the idea of a $100 1st place, $50 2nd place and $25 third place award. The award would be granted for the months of June, July and August. We would receive nominations and the Park and Recreation Board would determine the winner. I would present the awards at City Council meetings. It is important to note this award would not be paid for from taxpayer money.

If you have any suggestions please let me know. If you would like to contribute as a business with name recognition or as a private citizen please let me know.

May 15th Council Meeting Update

The three items I previously discussed passed on 5-0 votes. Abatement, City rain garden and the resolution supporting a hotel in Isanti.

We received a comprehensive overview of the proposed water treatment plant tonight and discussed a possible annexation.

The water treatment plant process is on track and we are moving forward with the preliminary work and we will get an update at the next Council meeting.

The annexation would involve the City of Isanti taking more responsibility for roads currently under Isanti Township jurisdiction. I asked that this item be tabled so the City would have time to discuss and meet with township representatives and workout any potential issues of joint responsibility. It is critically important to me that we improve our intergovernmental relationships and communication.

May 15th Council Meeting

I wanted to talk about a couple of items from this Tuesday’s Council Agenda. Nuisance abatements, Rain Garden grant and the hotel deal.

We are continuing our work on removing nuisances in Isanti. We are making progress but there is a long way to go. I again hope that as we proceed, the problem property owners will understand that the City is serious and will start to clean-up before they are ticketed and fined.

I will be asking the Council Tuesday to allow City staff to spend an estimated 1 1/2hours to write a grant application for funding of a model rain garden project at City Hall. Staff had previously researched the cost for rain gutters to help correct some of the runoff issues. I want to create a model rain garden project that can be copied by residents to help with our City’s runoff issues. Rain gardens can become an integral part of our storm water solution while its aesthetic appeal can add real value to the individual home. I have received support to design the garden for free and I am receiving volunteer help to build the garden. The grant would cover up to half the rain gutter cost, something the City would have to pay for anyway at some point, and for a the plantings. If the Council approves the grant writing and we do not receive a favorable response I will continue to look for free money to make this project a reality.

The last item is a project I have been working on for several months. Many have heard a hotel is coming to town. Then not actually seeing a hotel being built…..well a hotel, AmmericInn, is coming to town but a bit of help was needed to complete the deal. Many financial tools were suggested such as Tax Increment Financing or tax abatement….both could have cost the City tens of thousands of dollars on an ongoing basis….and were not really needed or appropriate for this project. The solution to the problem was a delay in SAC and WAC payment charges….sewer and water access charges.

The 1/3 a 1/3 and a 1/3 payment deal is what the hotel owners and I worked out. The cost to the City is perhaps $2,000 to $3,000 in lost interest on the delayed payments. I balanced this with the amount of property taxes that will be paid by this commercial entity. The hotel in Cambridge pays over $40,000 in property taxes each year. The AmericInn will have a higher valuation and therefore be paying even more in property taxes.

They would pay the first third immediately…then a 1/3 when they receive their Certificate of Occupancy and the final third after the first year in operation. Current City policy is the full payment up front. There are roughly a dozen findings of fact as to why I am proposing this deal in this limited situation…..all of which are included in the proposed resolution that would prevent this being applied in differing circumstances. As part of this process we will be looking at this and other economic tools to help foster greater commercial growth as mandated by the Council. If you are wondering what happens if they should not pay the remaining payment while in operation, the City can shut off their water and assess their property taxes. I have no fear this would happen but we are covered if it should be the case.

I have been working hard on increasing commercial expansion in Isanti. This is critical to lowering all property tax rates. This one hotel project will pay more in property taxes than 25 residential properties and use less City services. I hope to be able to announce a few more businesses breaking ground in the next month or two…..the summer has started slow but I see signs of our work paying off and a strong summer should propel us nicely into 2008. Stay Tuned

Mother's Day Quote

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown


"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~Washington Irving


"A mother understands what a child does not say." ~ Anonymous


"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother" ~Abraham Lincoln


"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world" ~Anonymous


"No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you - life" ~ Anonymous


My favorite follows...

"The greatest gift a father can give his children, is to love their mother"

Mattson Park Community Install

A copy of the Mattson Park Community Install......

The City of Isanti Park & Recreation Department is requesting your help! We are constructing a new piece of equipment in Mattson Park . The equipment is a climbing structure to replace the structures removed this spring. The Community Build for the equipment in Mattson Park is May 18, 2007 starting at 8am, hopefully ending at noon . We are building rain or shine!

The following are ways that you can help:
- We need at least 10 volunteers.
-Building the structure.
-1st Aid, refreshment, sign in and information area

-Equipment (please mark your name on your tools!!):
-wheelbarrow. -3/8 inch drive sockets & wrenches (also 9/16 & 1/4inch)
-shovels -tape measures -pitchforks
-hand levels -step ladders -cordless power drill
-vise grips -utility knives -power saw

County EDA

We have had our second meeting of the County EDA Advisory group. We have completed the basic information gathering and review. The next meeting will start the discussion of what direction the County will take in forming an EDA, HRA or hybrid. We will also be discussing who will make up the membership, entity powers, possible projects and working relationships within the county.

After we conclude the 3rd meeting I will layout my recommendations.

Tree Planting

We completed the first phase of the tree install at Blue Bird Park. This was a volunteer project. We used bare root trees, volunteer labor and donated planning time from our city engineering firm to make this a success.

We saved the city thousands of dollars in the process. There were just a few of us but in a little over three hours we dug the holes, planted, mulched and watered the 24 trees. The trees are small in stature today but will grow over the years to provide the much needed shade for the generations to come.

We will be adding more trees each year until the tree plantings are complete.....

On a personal note my four year old son, Alexander, made his dad very proud with his digging abilities.....

Newspaper Correction.

I want to clarify the County News story about the new Parking Ordinance. The grandfather clause is only for unpaved driveways. All other impervious requirements for parking are still required. The original story online and in print may give the impression it covers non-paved driveways and all other impervious surfaces not already in existence. The online edition has been corrected.

http://isanticountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=852&Itemid=1

May 1st Meeting Update

The Parking Ordinance passed with a 5-0 vote. I was surprised that there was no public comment. I believe we have taken a strong step towards improving the current situation.

The Council moved forward with ordering an abatement hearing for nuisances on multiple properties. This is never something we want to do but it does need to be done.

The next item is the city website. We approved a redesign that will improve all aspects of the site.....this was really started as a way to improve our Citizen communication and economic development. The proposal will create the "backbone" for items such as online bill payment permit pulling......these functions may not be part of the initial roll out but we wanted to make sure the website is flexible and powerful enough to accommodate future changes. Quoting from my previous post...

"The improved website will be easier to use, allow for future bill payments, Council audio and video, strong economic development resources, citizen resources and on and on......"

The last item to follow-up on is timely reviews of city services....We voted to take 1 of the 5 major City service providers and do a full RFP for each on a revolving 5 year cycle. The first two that will be reviewed are the City Engineer and then City Attorney. It has been five years since last time City Engineering services were reviewed. I hope this rotating cycle will help ensure the City is getting the greatest benefit for the dollar. This reform will give the City a process to follow and make clear to our service providers what we expect.

May 1st Council Agenda Items

The Council will be reviewing the new residential parking ordinance, nuisance abatements, a good new business coming to town, proposal for new City website, and discussion on professional services. There are 9 other agenda items.

The first item of residential parking ordinance was tabled at the last council meeting because the City Attorney had not reviewed all the materials at that time. Please review http://georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2007/04/council-meeting-april-17th-2007.html for the brief discussion on this item.

The second item is following through on enforcing nuisances in the city. This again has been discussed many times and will continue to be an issue until the city has addressed all the violations. I hope after a few of these properties go through this process the word will get out that the City is serious about making improvements.

Pats Small Engines is applying to enter our industrial park. This is a company that has grown tremendously the last few years. There will be 12 to 17 jobs between $10 and $19 an hour. The majority of jobs will fall in the $10 to $13 an hour. I am excited not just because of the job creation but this is the first applicant since I became Mayor and we received the companies financials and company summary. I have been asking for this information from each applicant for the last two plus years. I hope this standard will continue to be met moving forward.

The Council will be looking to approve an overhaul of the city website. The improved website will be easier to use, allow for future bill payments, Council audio and video, strong economic development resources, citizen resources and on and on......

Lastly the Council will be looking at starting a revolving review process of City services. I asked for this agenda item so we can ensure the city is receiving the best possible service for the lowest possible cost. Many service providers including City Engineer and Attorney have not been reviewed for many years. We must make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. We also need to have current accurate information when the City charges fees to Citizens and developers. My intent is to review one service provider each year on a revolving schedule.

Bear Books and Gifts Opening

Bear Books and Gifts opened on Main Street this week. Great store with a mix of books and gifts. Stop in and take a look.

Oberstar Cancelled

I am disappointed to report that Congressman Oberstar cancelled his visit to Isanti. No reason was given. We had discussions planned on the pedestrian bridge and economic development. I hope he will try to reschedule his visit in the near future.

Chamber of Commerce Open House

You are invited to the Isanti Area Chamber of Commerce Open House at our new office located at:

2 Enterprise Ave. NE, Suite C4 (by Isanti Co.
Equipment & Junction Bowl)

Thursday, April 26, 2007
5 pm to 7 pm

City Council Special Session

I called a special City Council session for Tuesday the 24th at 6:45 pm. The benefit for Jason Wicht needed to have a gambling permit for their raffle and they did not realize they needed to submit the gambling paperwork to the Council for approval. Without Council approval the raffle event could not legally occur. The next Council meeting would be after this event and I do not believe a paper work snafu should punish this man already dealing with so much adversity. This will be the only item on the agenda. If you have any further questions please let me know.

The event is April 29, 3-7 p.m. a fish fry dinner / silent auction / raffle benefit at St Elizabeth's Catholic Church at the corner of 5 and 23.

Lindsi Lorinser Benefit Fund Raiser

I am reposting this so it stays on top of the Blog until the Event. The Council update is just below.

Benefit Fundraiser

For Lindsi Lorinser

Lindsi is the daughter of Anoka County Deputy Ross Lorinser and was born prematurely weighing only 1 lb. 4 oz. Ross is also an Isanti City resident and member of our Planning Commission.

Please join us April 19 at WinterGreens
306 Credit Union Dr.
Isanti, MN (763) 444-8422

From 3:00 pm to 10 pm to help Lindsi & her family!

Donations can me made to:
Community Pride Bank (763) 444-8800, under the
“Loriner Family Fund”

April 17th Council Update

We had several tough votes last night. The 2006 street assessment challenge, liquor store expansion vs. new store and the street number east of 65. We also reviewed or City Audit report. The parking in residential zones was pulled from the agenda because our City Attorney had not been able to review the proposed ordinance in time.

The Council voted to use last year’s assessment amounts for the challenging property owners. We based this decision on an appraisal of the property. The Council is bound by expert opinion in these matters otherwise there is no consistency in our decision making process. If we change the process and cost for one then we would need to change it for everyone. The property owner believed that their value did not increase because of the street, sewer, curb and gutter replacement. The clay sewer was replaced. There has been an ongoing debate about the longevity of clay sewer pipes. The City has been working over the last few years to replace all the existing clay sewer pipes. Clay may last 100 hundred years or break tomorrow. Isanti has had problems with the clay sewer pipes several years ago. Replacing the clay pipes is a precautionary maintenance process. The cost of one major pipe burst dwarfs the cost of a complete neighborhood replacement. This does not however diminish the impact of a 5k to 10k assessment.

The Council debated the merits of a liquor store expansion vs. building a new store. The current store needs major repair even without a remodel or new store build. It was just a month or so ago that several members of city staff and the liquor store staff and I were hurriedly moving inventory because there was water pouring out of the damaged sprinkler system. Nothing like a freezing cold shower combined with insulation and drywall. The cost difference between a remodel and a new store is 7% to 8% more for the new store. The benefits of a new store is that current store operations do not need to stop during construction, better location of the store and more parking, lower maintenance and lower energy cost. The Liquor Store Committee, which CM Johnson and I sit on, also considered the need to have a new building be resalable on the commercial market. This becomes important as the state and County are liberalizing liquor sales. If at some point in the future liquor sales are no longer controlled by the City we can much more easily sell the new building vs. the old. The other major point considered was if the current location should not be reconsidered. The idea has been raised to move the location out 65. This would increase sales but would also have high acquisition cost, take prime commercial real-estate off the tax rolls and may very well devastate the current commercial business adjacent to the liquor store. The Council voted to build new on the current location on the northern most portion of the existing lot. This will allow for continued operation at the current store until the move to the new store takes place. The cost of the new building will come from roughly $650,000 excess in the liquor fund and a bond paid for by liquor store profits. There will be no tax payer money used for this project. There will however be less money available to transfer to the general fund to. This is a long term investment that will more than pay for itself but we need to be honest about the funding and impact on our budget.

The Council made the final decision last night on street number and naming east of 65 along with what and who would be paid for the changes. The decision was to extend all street names from west to east and use numbering system for north/south streets. The City also agreed to pay $250 of any addressing changes for those residents whose homes were in place before the June Council meeting last year when it was first decided to make a change. After the June meeting developers and builders were notified the addresses were temporary and therefore should not have placed the address stones in homes. This has been a difficult process but the sooner we make the right decision the less harm will be done. I am thankful the Council was able to act and the city can move forward.

I am also happy to say each of these hard Council decisions was made by unanimous vote.

The City Audit presentation reveals two important facts. First, is that the hiring of our Finance Director was one of the best decision the city has ever made. We were given a clean audit and the previous years’ note about separation of duties was finally removed. Having a finance professional in this position has been a tremendous improvement for the City. The second is that we are at a tipping point of city debt and the ability to pay for it while reducing our tax burden. I have spoken about this extensively and will only add one structural concern to my past statements. Building permits and fees have fallen sharply. The City is more dependent on Local Government Aid in our budget. We have not trimmed cost for operations we no longer need and are subsidizing it with the extra LGA and interest income. One decision by the state or change in the LGA formula and the only recourse will be to raise taxes sharply if the appropriate cuts in spending are not made. I will be discussing this more this summer as we start the budget process and stressing the need to follow through on Long Term Financial Planning so we are able to adjust more quickly to changes in our community.

City Ordinance on Assessments

I thought it would be useful to publish the the ordinance on assessments.


CITY OF ISANTI
ORDINANCE NO. 2002-257


AN ORDINANCE AMMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF
ORDINANCE 161 PERTAINING TO THE ISANTI
ASSESSMENT POLICY



THE CITY OF ISANTI DOES ORDAIN:

Section 1. Section IV, Item 2, E (Streets), of Ordinance 161 shall be amended to read as follows:

Reconstruction or Resurfacing Projects: Twenty-five percent of the cost shall be
assessed to the property owners and seventy-five percent shall be assessed to the city. Reconstruction or Resurfacing for the purposes of this section does not include overlays, which shall be considered maintenance.

Section 2. Section IV, Item 3, E (Water Mains), of Ordinance 161 shall be amended to read as follows:

Reconstruction Projects: Twenty-five percent of the cost shall be assessed to the property owners and seventy-five percent shall be assessed to the city.

Section 3. Section IV, Item 4, E (Sanitary Sewer), of Ordinance 161 shall be amended to read as follows:

Reconstruction Projects: Twenty-five percent of the cost shall be assessed to the property owners and seventy-five percent shall be assessed to the city.

Section 4. Section IV, Item 5, E (Sidewalks), of Ordinance 161 shall be amended to read as follows:

Reconstruction Projects: Twenty-five percent of the cost shall be assessed to the property owners in the project area and seventy-five percent of the cost to the city.

Section 5. Section IV, Item 7, E (Curb and Gutter), of Ordinance 161 shall be amended to read as follows:

Reconstruction Projects: Twenty-five percent of the cost shall be assessed to the property owners and seventy-five percent of the cost shall be assessed to the city. Except where the need for replacement has been determined to be the responsibility of the property owner, in that case, one hundred percent shall be assessed to the abutting property owner.

Section 6. This amendment shall be effective following it’s passage and publication.



Adopted by the Isanti City Council this 16th day of April 2002.


________________________________
Mayor Apitz
ATTEST:

_____________________________________
Irene Bauer, City Clerk/Treasurer

Effective Date: April 24 2002

Council Meeting April 17th 2007

The Council will be discussing several items of note at the meeting. The first item is the 2006 Financial Audit. There are several disturbing trends in the amount of City debt, spending and revenue sources. The previous Councils have spent well beyond the Isanti's capacity. One example is our bonded debt per capita has gone from $2,587 in 2004 to $3,214 in 2006. Our debt is out stripping our population growth. We can not continue on this course. I hope we will be able to prepare a budget for 2008 that brings discipline to City spending. The discussion of our Audit Report will lay the ground work for the budget debate that will start this summer.

The other item I want to talk about is the vehicle parking ordinance. We will be reviewing the recommendation of the Planning Commission on a revised ordinance. This covers commercial vehicles, large vehicles, boats, trailers and RVs to name a few. This will be a sweeping reform of the current standards. Once the revised ordinance is past there will be strong enforcement of the new rules.

Congressman Oberstar

We have been working for quite awhile to get congressman Oberstar to visit Isanti. He will be here Saturday May 12th at 2pm. The City Council, Park and Recreation Board, and other community representatives will be discussing the Pedestrian bridge with the Congressman. Congressman Oberstar's support is critical to success of this project. He is a leader in safe routes and alternative transportation. I am excited to have him in Isanti.

Milestone

We hit the milestone of 35,000 unique Blog page hits. I thought I would post the very first entry from March 21st 2005.

Definition

Rhetoric:

The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. A treatise or book discussing this art. Skill in using language effectively and persuasively.

I hope to use this blog as an open communication tool with the residents of Isanti.

That is how it all started...

3rd Annual Tour of Isanti

I will begin my 3rd annual tour of Isanti in May. Each year I have been on the Council I travel through each neighborhood and talk with those that have requested I stop in or that I meet as I am walking. I have met many great individuals and be made aware of numerous issues.

The tour of Isanti gives me a chance to reach out to City residents and see first hand the impact of Council decisions. If you have any specific questions you would like me to be prepared for as I visit your neighborhood please let me know. To request a visit email me at george@georgewimmer.com or call me at 763-444-7158.

Earth Day

Earth Day Celebration

Where: Cambridge Community College Food Court and Spirit River Nature Area

When: Saturday, April 21st, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Program

10:15 – 10:45 Bird Walk with Bill Carlson, Tom Anderson and Brad Wold

10:15 – 10:45 Crow walk (yes, crow walk!) with Rob Lininger

10:30 – 11:00 Live music eclectic

11:00-12:00 “What’s happening to the weather?” by MPR meteorologist
Craig Edwards

12:00 – 1:00 More great music!

Ongoing through the day

♦ Booths on rain gardens, organic foods, local growers, prairie restoration, energy efficiency, composting and more
♦ Free vegetable and tree seedlings to first comers
♦ Local growers and greenhouses
♦ Environmental groups
♦ Free tours of the Russell Johnson Herbarium
♦ Free refreshments!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sponsors

Isanti County Environmental Coalition
Active Living by Design
Anoka Ramsey Community College, Cambridge Campus

Questions?

Contact 763-689-5250
linblom825@hotmail.com

Council Meeting April 3rd

There are several items of note from the April 3rd City Council meeting. City wide grid system adopted for addressing, BMX Community Night, City Purchasing Policy and Council by-laws.

The City wide grid addressing system was adopted to bring greater order and sense to Isanti’s street naming and numbering system. The current previous process had allowed developers name city streets without any rhyme or reason and the city’s zero line was not in the right location. City staff was directed to create a new city grid that will take names of roads from the west of 65 and rename the roads to the east of 65 if they line-up. Roads that do not line up will be renamed according to the new grid system. All names have to be approved by the City Council. The zero line is the point in city where numbers starts from. If you live at 100 x street you are in the first block from the zero line…..if you are 100 y street then you are one block over….unfortunately the zero line was moved by city staff a few years ago from Main street to highway 5 east of 65…..this should not have been done. This has caused all the numbers to the east to be off by several hundred numbers……the zero line was moved back to the imaginary extension of Main Street to the east of 65.

The purpose of these changes is safety. We need to make sure emergency personnel are able to get to an address. A logical addressing system is needed as the city grows. There a few businesses and about 20 homes east of 65 that are affected. This is painful for these addresses but the action had to happen before we have hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses in place. This is was not an easy decision for the Council but we all felt it was necessary to solve the problem now before the situation reaches a critical point.

The BMX Association is hosting four community night rides on their track. The nights are May 30th, June 27th, July 25th and August 29th. There will be a fee of $4 per rider per night but the association has extra safety equipment for riders. These nights are to give the residents of our community the opportunity to use the track without having to become members of the BMX association.

The next two items are part of the year of reforms.

The City Council adopted its first ever formal purchasing policy and Council by-laws. These may not seem like the most exciting actions but they will have some of the longest lasting effects on the city. I had the pleasure to work on both items on the Personnel Committee for the by-laws and on the Finance Committee for the Purchasing Policy. These two items are added to the newly created Travel and Reimbursement policy and start to form the backbone structure of city government.

The purchasing policy details spending limits at each level of city government and addresses budgeted and non-budget items. It also for the first time directs when competitive quotes are needed. The goal of this policy is to layout the Council’s expectations for staff and to bring greater discipline to city purchasing.

The Council By-laws are also a first for Isanti. The by-laws detail Council organization, meeting procedures, Council Members interaction with each other, with the public and the public’s interaction with the Council. I hope this will help demystify council procedures and meetings. I signed this ordinance today and it will go into effect April 12th. I encourage you to read Ordinance 393 at

http://www.ci.isanti.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7BDDAE1093-5A2F-4061-B896-4E2183E27B6E%7D/uploads/%7B44B0B16E-54AE-4596-991A-94A418A4A7BE%7D.PDF

There will be more reform measures coming before the Council over the next year. We have had great success passing the current reforms and I believe we will continue to move along this path. Both reform items passed with unanimous votes.

Water MainFlushing

City water main flushing plan with daily neighborhood schedule is posted on the City website. http://www.ci.isanti.mn.us/

We promised it and City Staff delivered in great fashion. This is one of the many ways in which we are improving City communication with our Citizens and Taxpayers. Water main flushing is frankly a pain for us that use city water but it is absolutely necessary to maintain our system. The long term solution is also being worked on. The water treatment plant, we are currently developing, will correct this problem.

Any questions please let me know.

Isanti City Partnership

I am happy to announce the Isanti City Partnership. The ICP is a joint venture of the Isanti City EDA and the Isanti Area Chamber of Commerce. The ICP has been tasked with three City Council Goals, Increasing Commercial Growth, Strategic Downtown Plan and a City Marketing Plan. These three are all basically about increasing our business development. This includes strengthening existing businesses as well as attracting new commercial and industrial businesses. Jaysen Guthmueller, Chamber President, and I will be visiting existing Isanti businesses to explain the Partnership and get feedback on Isanti’s business climate. I hope to hear all the strengths and weaknesses we have so a strong foundation can be built for the ICP.

We will be developing an economic tool box consisting of all the financial and marketing possibilities Isanti may leverage to grow our commercial tax base. I believe strongly a business needs to provide one of the following three goals. Property tax base, good paying jobs and services our citizens need and want. We also need to remember about 80% of business growth comes from existing businesses. The point is that the greater our business growth the smaller our property taxes.

I am excited as we venture forward together to build an ever stronger business community.

As always I will keep you posted on the ICP's development.

Isanti City and County History display

I would like to welcome the public to visit City Hall and look at the two historical exhibits located in the glass displays by the Council Chambers. The north display was put together by the Isanti County Historical Society. This display presents the 13 Isanti county Townships. The exhibit on the south side was put together by City staff and includes many pieces of City memorabilia. It is quite interesting to learn our community’s history.

Future visit with State Senator Olseen and Representative Eastlund

I have asked Representative Eastlund and State Senator Olseen to come and speak at a future Council meeting, both have accepted. The date will be determined in the near future as schedules warrant. I look forward to hearing from our State Representative and Senator. Intergovernmental cooperation is critically important to many of our future achievements. Any questions please let me know. I will let you know as soon as the schedules have been determined.

Word of Thanks

I recieved a great comment of thanks from our Public Work guys. A lot of thanks to those people that cleared the snow from the fire hydrants in front of their homes.

This is a city responsibility but the guys were very thankful for the help. I thought it should be passed on.

Spring Fling Repost...just a few days away.

The Chamber of Commerce Spring Fling is coming up March 24th at Spectacular events.Social hour starts at 6 pm and dinner is served at 7 pm.

There will be a silent auction, live auction, raffles, DJ music with dancing and door prizes.Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Please contact the chamber offices at 763-444-8515 for ticket and event information.

Tonight's Council Action regarding CM Larson

I am personally sadden that CM Larson has denied she has done anything wrong. She has continued to elaborate why she did what she did was right and just. She made comment to all the good she has done for the city. At no time does she state that what she did was wrong and apologize.

I have written and spoken to this a number of times and only wish to add a few points.

What CM Larson did is not allowed by law. Her actions were also in the capacity of a Council Member---these are not personal issues that have bled into her public role. Her basic argument tonight was 'I thought it was important to give the gifts to the individuals I gave them to for being kind to me and that the city should pay what I thought was the right amount'. First this is not what she claimed in the original mileage reimbursement. She ask for mileage expense and only mileage expense for a trip she did not drive and incurred no expenses. A Council Member or Mayor has no authority to spend a penny of tax payer money for a gift or simply to make up an amount to pay someone. This is so far beyond rational thought it is hard to comprehend why anyone would think this is ok.

She brought out a claim by the City of Cambridge for mileage reimbursement. She did not initially state that she personally asked for the billing after she was caught and after this whole episode went public. I had to add those details to which she agreed to.

This action of hers adds to the concern of how she is using her office to try to find alibis for her story.

The comment was made why are we talking about this again. The reason's are two fold. First many members of the public asked for the item on the agenda. Secondly CM Larson's continued statements and actions have made it clear further action was needed.

The comment was made that Council Members do activities that we are not paid for or reimbursed for. That is very true...it is part of the job we asked the public to elect us to. We serve the public. It is a hard and thankless job many days of the week...but we each asked to do it. CM Larson has been paid over $1,000 in mileage reimbursements the last couple years. Far more than any other member.

I am also concerned with thought of entitlement that was expressed tonight. I fear this sense of entitlement was at the root cause of this episode.

The first step to repairing the damage CM Larson has caused is if she will accept what she did was wrong. I do not know if the public trust or my trust will ever be repaired but I know for certain it can not be if she continues to make excuses and continues to put the city in jeopardy of breaking state law.

The following actions were taken tonight:

A vote of no confidence was passed on a vote of 3-1..Duff-Kolb and Wimmer voting in favor of no confidence in CM Larson and Johnson voting against.

A vote to remove CM Larson from all her Council appointments. Same vote totals as above.

There were several comments from citizens angry about CM Larson's action's including a petition asking her to resign.

I hope the city will be able to move on from this matter. The Council has taken as severe an action we are entitled to take. I did ask CM Larson to resign but she refused to do so. She will continue to serve her 4 year term unless she chooses to resign.

This will put extra pressure on the remaining Council Members to carry the full council load. This should be a measure of how strongly the majority felt action had to be taken.

My Statement on CM Larson's Actions

We all ran for office using words like integrity, honesty and transparency. I believe that what we say and the words we use mean something.

I have been waiting for over a month for CM Larson to accept her wrongdoing and to apologize. Instead, in her public remarks after the council’s initial actions she admitted no guilt. When I asked her if she would sign a similar erroneous mileage reimbursement from a CM she said she would. In her published comments, she makes it quite clear she does not understand conflicts of interest. She stated she could get around a conflict of interest by giving a gift to a spouse or children.

CM Larson’s actions continue to cause the City, this Council and me personally, immeasurable damage. CM Larson’s multiple acts of wrongdoing cast suspicion on this Council and how Isanti is governed. Isanti needs to be focused on the goals the council established of LTFP, Comprehensive economic growth and building our water treatment plant. We should be celebrating the newly formed Isanti City Partnership, which is the partnership between the City of Isanti EDA and the Isanti area Chamber. Instead we have had to answer questions from the State Auditor’s office numerous Citizens inquire of our accounting practices. I have been bombarded with hundreds of e-mails, phones calls and face to face complaints as I go shopping or simply walking with my family or playing in the yard with my children. I have been copied on several letters sent to the County Attorney asking him to investigate.

We have serious challenges and incredible opportunities in front of us. We need the publics’ trust now more than ever. The public deserves integrity, honesty and transparency from its elected officials.

I gave CM Larson the benefit of the doubt in 2006 for her personal misuse of a City of Isanti Credit Card. In return I was slapped in the face with an erroneous request for mileage reimbursement.

This Council’s reputation has suffered and my judgment has been called into question. This has weighed heavy in my mind since the beginning of February when I uncovered her trying to get reimbursed for expenses she did not incur.

I have lost trust and respect for CM Larson. CM Larson’s pattern of behavior and public statements prove to me there is only one option left to ensure the public trust. Tonight, I ask Miss Larson to take the honorable course and resign her City Council seat. Please spare our city from further shame and disgrace by stepping down. We need to move past this scandal so we can focus on the many positives in our great city. If Miss Larson chooses to stay on the council, I will ask for a vote of no confidence and to remove her from all committee assignments and from representing this council in the future. I also believe the past and present issues should be forwarded to the County Attorney to investigate to assure the public that if the level of misconduct is criminal it will be handled fairly and objectively.

We must rebuild the public trust that Miss Larson’s continued actions have damaged.

Communication

If you want your letters or e-mails read at Tuesday's meeting regarding CM Larson please let me know. I will also be trying to contact you to verify. I want to respect every one's confidentiality so if you did not explicitly ask me to read your comments at the council meeting I will not.

Council Agenda March 20th

I wanted to share a few of the March 20th Council agenda items. You can see the full agenda at: http://www.ci.isanti.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7BDDAE1093-5A2F-4061-B896-4E2183E27B6E%7D/uploads/%7B9CBA072A-F792-4EA4-9CDA-776F5DE5278C%7D.PDF

The first item is the response to a citizen letter and citizen requests to give input regarding CM Larson’s erroneous mileage reimbursement request. Citizens will finally be given a chance to publicly voice their opinions. The Council will also be given a chance to respond to a citizen letter and citizen concerns on this matter. I will also make a statement on this shameful and irresponsible act. I will explain how it has and continues to affect the city, the council and me personally. I will layout the two options the city has to put the destructive acts of a Council member behind us. One option clearly allows us to move forward and the other option will help limit the damage from past and current events and hopefully lessen the harm from any future incidents.

The Council will be making the final decision on a variance request for a pawn shop located near a daycare and an apartment building. The Planning Commission held a public hearing last Tuesday. The Council has received the meeting minutes from this hearing and will be making the final decision.
Several developer requests for plat approval with long term consequences for Isanti’s future.

The last two items are Community Center improvements and consideration of charging property owners snow removal from sidewalks per ordinance.
I will be writing more in the next few days.

Spring Fling

The Chamber of Commerce Spring Fling is coming up March 24th at Spectacular events.

Social hour starts at 6 pm and dinner is served at 7 pm. There will be a silent auction, live auction, raffles, DJ music with dancing and door prizes.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Please contact the chamber offices at 763-444-8515 for ticket and event information.

Meals on Wheels

I will not be holding office hours Wednesday March 21st. I am delivering meals on wheels with Catholic Charities Senior Dining.

Please contact me if you have any questions. george@georgewimmer.com or 763-444-7158

Correction for the County EDA Story

The Star report of the County Commissioner meeting has a proported statement from me stating Isanti had not voted to be part of the county EDA. The only remotely close statement I have ever made about this issue is a study Isanti and Cambridge commissioned was passed on to the County without City approval. I think a County EDA is a great idea so long as we are all represented fairly. I was not at this meeting.

I and only I speak for me. If you do not see it in writing from me or hear it from me then it is not from me.

Closed Session/Previous Act and Process Questions Answered

I received numerous questions about this evenings meeting regarding the closed session meeting minutes and the waiving of client/attorney confidentiality. The closed session meeting minutes were approved with a few additions and clarifications. The waiving of client/attorney confidentiality was pertaining to a memo the City Attorney wrote last year about the misuse of a City of Isanti Credit Card for personnel expenses by Council Member Larson. This memo and the closed meeting minutes are now open to the public. The Memo speaks for itself. It was part of the closed session disciplinary discussion because it showed a prior fiscal issue.

I read a letter from an Isanti citizen asking why we have not ordered an audit of city records or handed this over to the county attorney. I received numerous requests to have the Council discuss CM Larson’s new statements in an article in the Isanti County News. The concerns center on her unwillingness to accept what she did was wrong, the statement she will continue to do what she does, and the new issue of her interpretation of what a conflict of interests is. Her stated belief that she can get around a conflict with a person by giving a gift to the person’s wife and/or children has also been questioned.

I understand these concerns but stated that in order to place an item on the City Council agenda it needs to be received by the Wednesday the week before the Council Meeting. The article appeared after this deadline. If a request is made and procedure followed, then the issue will be discussed. A Council Member or member of the public may request to have anything discussed.

I do believe that the written questions to the Council do deserve an answer and will be answered. I am also gravely concerned with the conflict of interest issue. It is in black and white in Isanti’s conflict of interest policy, the league of Minnesota handout given to each council member every year by the City Attorney; CM Larson is starting her 9th year and 3rd 4 year term.

I want these issues resolved as soon as possible. I do not want to have this be an issue every Council Meeting.

If you have any questions please let me know. George@georgewimmer.com or 444-7158

Two Council Actions With Long Term Impact

The Council voted tonight to delay the abatement process till May on the property at 441 and 444 Dual Blvd. I was disappointed that the Council on a vote of 4-1, I voted against, decided not to enforce City Ordinance. I believe this will lead to many more issues in the future. If we are not going to enforce our ordinance on a site that has dozens of junked boat trailers, boats and other junk since November of 2006 what message are we sending? The property owner is going to try to auction these items in April. I stated that the property owner knowingly violated ordinance by bringing this junk into the city, he did it several years ago causing the City to take legal action at that time. The question this leaves is what will the Council do in future cases and what message does this send to staff about enforcing future violations.

The other item I wanted to follow-up on tonight is the $200,000 in “excess” revenue. I wanted this to be used for tax reduction and debt reduction. The Council on another 4-1 vote, again I was against, voted to use $125,000 for tax reduction…which is great… but to put the remaining $75,000 into another fund to be spent. $55,000 of this amount was designated for warning siren and crossing arms on rail road tracks. Great use of money except these items should be placed in the budget. The Crossing Arms will not be placed till 2008 and 2009. Plenty of time for the 2008 budget process that will be completed this year.

The warning siren is again a good project but why is it only a needed item when extra dollars are available but not 3 months ago when we finalized this year’s budget? Again this could be budget for. I did say that if there was a matching fund amount or grant that could in the long run save us money then it might make sense to consider the expense. This is not the case to spending this money this year.

This process will create $75,000 in new spending beyond the 6% increase already approved for this year. $75,000 is about 2 ½% of our property tax levy. We need fiscal discipline to drive taxes lower and to stay on budget. These items need to go through the budget process so the Council will have to make the tough decisions on where to spend our taxes.

When I was asking for a special election to fill the vacant council seat the argument was made that the $600 to $2,000 would cause taxes to go up. Well $75,000 more was spent tonight than was budgeted…..and yet there was no concern about increased taxes. When there is “extra” money lying around government will spend it. Remember this when we go into budget talks this summer.

Two more Plunge Shots

Flying High Feels Good

Arctic Plunge Pictures

Kenny Englund and the Englund Family cutting the ice on long Lake

Isanti County Ice Cubes

Just before the Jump

Taking the Plunge

Climbing out

It was cold but fun. All proceeds going to Isanti County Safety and Rescue. When I get the final dollar amount raised I will share it with you.

This is my second year and hope for many more. I want to thank the Arctic Plunge Committee and the Englund Family for all their hard work. The hundreds of hours put into this event is all voluntary. Great events like this makes living in Isanti County a privilege. Again thank you for all your efforts.

Council Agenda March 6th 2007

The main topics of interest are:

• Approving the closed session meeting minutes for the disciplinary action against Council Member Larson
• Nuisance Abatement public hearing for addresses 441 and 444 Dual Boulevard
• Making Appointment to Planning Commission
• Consider action on $200,000 in excess revenue over budget
• Appointing new Mayor Pro-Tem and Finance Committee Member

The first item is the approval of the closed session meeting minutes. This item is even more difficult because there is no audio of the meeting. Staff informed Council this week that the cord from the mics was not plugged into the recorder. The Council vote to either go back into closed session to review and revise the minutes or do it in an open process. I will be asking that it is done in an open setting. After the minutes are approved then they will be available to the public. See http://georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2007/02/council-action.html for more details.
The next item deals with the junk yard that has appeared along Dual Blvd. The owner of the property has stacked dozens of rusted out boat trailers, damaged boats and other miscellaneous junk. This occurred late last fall. We can not allow this type of violation of our City Ordinances and community standards. It hurts all of us.
The Council will be interviewing three candidates for Planning Commission. I will be asking each Candidate identical questions. As one is being interviewed by the Council the other two will be asked to wait outside the Chamber.
The next item is the $200,000 in excess revenues There is a proposal to spend half this amount on capital projects. I could not disagree more. The items requested are items that should be budgeted. The requested items are needed items and are good items but they should be in the budget. My concern is the past and proposed continued off budget spending. This practice leads to higher property taxes and lax fiscal discipline.
Due to council Member Larson's actions and the ensuing Council discipline the position of Mayor Pro-tem and Finance Committee positions are open. I will be making my appointments at the meeting.

Memo on Snow Plowing

To: Mayor Wimmer and City Council Members
From: Irene Bauer, City Clerk/Assistant City Administrator
Date: March 1, 2007
Re: Snow and Snow Emergency Routes

With the current snow storm that is in progress, the Isanti City Public Works Department are addressing the situation as follows:

Plow crews will be winging back existing snow banks to allow for snow storage for ongoing clearing of the streets.

Streets will be continued to be plowed as weather permits.

Based on the duration of the storm; as man power and equipment are available the city will strive to keep the snow emergency routes open and passable.


Notice: As city crews work to keep streets passable, there may ongoing plugging of driveways. City residents are responsible for clearing out the snow plow that occurs at the ends of their driveways. The city recognizes the inconvenience this may cause; however is necessary to allow for passable roads.

EDA

The EDA last night took the next step in the process to making Isanti's economic development goals a reality. The EDA appointed Council Member Duff EDA Board Member Miller and myself to a sub-committee along with three members to be named by the Chamber.

This group will be responsible for developing everything from the scope of services for a city Marketing Plan to helping recruit new businesses to our City. I am very excited about this process and look forward to working with the Chamber. Any questions please let me know.

george@georgewimmer.com or 763-444-7158

Repost of Arctic Plunge

My 2006 Plunge

I am again jumping at the Arctic Plunge. March 3rd 2007 at Long Lake. This is a great event and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for communty services.
Events:
9:00 am Helicopter Rides
*
10:00 am Vintage Snowmobile Races
Sponsored by the Long Lake Improvement Association
*
1:00 pm Old Fashioned Ice Cutting
by the Englund Family
*
2:00 pm Arctic Plunge

Two sets of bleachers are provided for plunge spectators. Isanti County Safety and Rescue is this years beneficiary.

For more information go to http://www.arcticplunge.com/index.htm

Federated Co-op Open House

Federated Co-op is holding an Open house February 28th at 3pm to 7pm. The new building on the corner of Highway 5 and Dahlin is an anchor of our Central Business District.

Main Street Closings

Two long term fixtures of Main Street are closing their doors. Mr. Pete's will be closing soon and Isanti Drug announced today that they will be closing their doors March 1st. I am personally sadden by these changes and the loss of services for our residents.

A positive is that a new book store will be opening in place of Mr. Pete's and I wish them well. As we get closer to their grand opening I will update you again.

With these losses and many others along Main Street, we are given even greater urgency to create a Main Street Strategic Plan. We must dedicate ourselves to succeeding in these difficult times.

Preschool Reading

I had the privilege of reading to a couple preschool classes this past week. I choose to read Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss. It is an excellent story and highly suggest everyone read it. One of the great works of political thought in Dr. Seuss style.

Senator Klobuchar Visit

We just had the privilege of hosting Senator Klobuchar at Isanti City Hall this afternoon. She spent time answering citizen questions and explaining what she has been doing the last few months.

I presented her with a City pin and cup and as Park and Recreation Chair I gave her a Frisbee to remember us by and invited her to come back again. I hope that we will be able to host all our elected leaders so they too may interact with our Citizens.

Council Action

I have received numerous questions about tonight's disciplinary action. I thought it best to answer the questions here by simply stating the facts of the meeting. Only a few members of the audience were left but word does seem to spread fast in Isanti.

Tonight’s meeting dealt with one of the toughest issues a Council faces, disciplining one of its own members. I thought it best to relay the events and the process that brought us to tonight’s closed session then open session and the actions that were taken.

As Mayor, one of my duties is to sign off on all checks issued by the city. I take these responsibilities very seriously and have asked to receive more detailed information on each expense request than has historical been done.

On February 1st I was going through this process and came upon a mileage reimbursement request from Council Member Larson. The mileage was for League of Minnesota training at Sugar Lake Lodge just south of Grand Rapids. I knew she did not actually drive and therefore did not incur this mileage cost. I asked staff to pull the written request to verify there was no mistake. The mileage for a round trip to Sugar Lake Lodge and back was indeed requested. Council Member Larson actually only drove to Cambridge and rode with a Cambridge Council Member to Sugar Lake and back again.

I denied the requested reimbursement and contacted the City Attorney and referred the matter to the Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee recommended that the full City Council take this matter up and by state law this has to start in a closed session. We discussed the matter at length in close session and then opened back up into open session. Council Member Larson requested the full amount as if she drove. There was no cost savings to the city by her sharing a ride. She also asked for the reimbursement to be paid to her...no one else. I stated the finding of fact that an erroneous reimbursement request was requested by Council Member Larson for mileage she did not drive and disciplinary action was needed. This finding of fact was the basis for the next two actions.

Council Member Larson was admonished for this behavior and she was removed from her position on the City’s Finance Committee and she was removed from her position as Mayor Pro-tem. The Mayor Pro-tem fulfills all the duties of the Mayor including signing of documents if for some reason I was not available, this could include signing checks. The belief was to remove Council Member Larson from these direct financial responsibilities. Taking Council assignments away is the most severe action the Council can take. A Council can not remove one of its members except for very specific offenses or felony convictions.

The disciplinary actions taken tonight were unanimous. Public trust is paramount at any level of government. We must guarantee this never happens again and that the public trust is vigorously protected. I hope that the actions taken tonight will ensure the highest standard of conduct.

Any questions please let me know..... george@georgewimmer.com or 444-7158

Working Together

I have been working on ways to improve the communication lines between Isanti County, surrounding townships and our City. As a first step in this process I sent a letter inviting each County Commissioner, County Planning Commission Chair and the Townships of Isanti and Athens to participate in the City of Isanti's Comprehensive Plan process. I have met with a few of the County Commisioners and hope to meet with all five. I am also looking forward to meeting with township leaders as we map out our future.

We are all part of the same community. As the municipalities grow and put pressure on the individual townships we need to have a plan that allows for proper growth but also protects the interest of our neighbors. The only way to succeed is through intergovernmental cooperation.

The issues of the past must be left in the past. I pledge to always be open to the comments and concerns of my friends and neighbors no matter what side of the City line they live on. We are on the verge of an exciting new era. The decisions we make today will last for generations to come. Lets us work together to create an Isanti County that has Cities and Townships that work together and live in harmony.

Arctic Plunge

My 2006 Plunge

I am again jumping at the Arctic Plunge. March 3rd 2007 at Long Lake. This is a great event and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for communty services.

Events:

9:00 am Helicopter Rides

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10:00 am Vintage Snowmobile Races

Sponsored by the Long Lake Improvement Association

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1:00 pm Old Fashioned Ice Cutting

by the Englund Family

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2:00 pm Arctic Plunge

Two sets of bleachers are provided for plunge spectators. Isanti County Safety and Rescue is this years beneficiary.

For more information go to http://www.arcticplunge.com/index.htm

Thank you

I want to thank everyone for the cards and e-mails for my b-day today

Council February 6th Update

A few actions of note by the City Council at the February 6th meeting were: agreed to close a portion of Main Street for Jubilee Days, awarded RFP for Liquor Store improvement, established sidewalk cleaning process, toughened nuisance abatement process, declared a vacancy on the planning commission and started the water treatment plant process.

The Isanti Area Chamber of Commerce which sponsors Jubilee Days has asked that the City close Main Street from 2nd to just short of the rail road tracks. This will allow a fair to set-up in this area. I think this is a great idea. It will bring attention to Main Street. We added the stipulations that public works signs off on the rides not damaging the street and proof of insurance.

The municipal liquor store project will begin its design phase. The intent is to expand the current facility. A note to those not aware what a municipal liquor store is, it is operated by the city. The benefit to the City is that the store profits help offset cost to the taxpayer.

The Council agreed to step up enforcement of current City ordinance pertaining to cleaning sidewalks within 48 hours. This has been given a time delay to allow for publication in the City newsletter, the Isantian, of a City sidewalk map showing what the city clears.

The proposed resolution to toughen the current standard for enforcing nuisance passed as well. This process lays out a 14 day period to clean up a verified nuisance then the police are brought into the process if a ticket is needed to be written. This gives City staff clear direction to enforce current City ordinances and adds teeth to the process if a property owner chooses to violate city ordinances.

The council declared a vacancy on the Planning Commission. This happen since Jeff Kolb and Planning Commission member was appointed to the City Council. If you have an interest in serving, contact City Hall for an application.

We directed the Public Works Committee to work with the City Engineer to start the 4 year water treatment plant process. We will be verifying the type of plant…will likely be a green sand filtration facility, and starting the low interest loan and grant applications process. It is a long process from start to treated water but we need to begin now so we can fulfill this need. The plant will treat for radium, iron and manganese. I will keep you update at each step of the process.

All of these passed with a 5-0 vote.

Abatement Issue

The proposed tougher nuisance abatement will be discussed at tonight's Council meeting. 7pm Isanti City Hall. Please attend if you want your voice heard.

Pedestrian Bridge Project

I will not have office hours on Monday February 5th. I will be representing the City of Isanti at the ECRDC TAC Board (East Central Regional Development Commission Transportation Advisory Committee). I will be presenting the Pedestrian Bridge project along with the City Engineer.

Nuisance Abatement

Announcing another Reform

The City Council will be discussing changes to our current nuisance abatement procedures. The current process takes months and months before we get to the point of ticketing and enforcement of City ordinances. Violators need to know the City is serious about keeping our community clean.

All our property values are at stake when property is allowed to fall into various stages of blight. The basic outline of the proposed change is as follows:

1. nuisance is confirmed
2. letter sent to offender giving 14 days to abate (clean up mess)
3. if no compliance then a ticket is issued and the City will enforce the clean up

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Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns george@georgewimmer.com or 444-7158

Ways and Means Committee

It was an interesting process last night. There was a bit of filibustering during the education testimony. Passions ran high as dedicated education professionals were making their case for more resources.

Time however was running low by the time local elected officials took our seats. I abbreviated my comments to the basic tenant that I want consistency and stability in local government aid. I will follow up with Rep. Eastland and Senator Olseen on the other topics affecting Isanti.

The majority of the 20 plus legislators seemed to be looking for comments that supported their own positions rather than being open to new ideas. It was an interesting process and hopefully it will impact the state legislators process in St. Paul.

Dennis Doran of the Cambridge Medical Center and Bruce Novak of the Cambridge Isanti School District did an excellent job presenting the tough health and educational issues we face.

Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee

Here is the Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee Agenda. To start at 7:30pm.

COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2007
SPECTACULAR EVENTS
ISANTI, MINNESOTA

AGENDA

1. Call to order

2. Announcements

3. Bill Marx, House Fiscal Analyst
Overview of Governor Budget

4. Public Testimony:

Education:
Al Jones, Teacher North Branch
Muffy Henjy, Teacher North Branch
Karla Meemken, Teacher North Branch
Sue Howard, Teacher North Branch
Donna Hubbard, School Board Member, North Branch
Bruce Novak, Superintendent of Isanti

Questions from audience – 15 minutes – re: Education issues

Health, Mental Health Issues
Lori Lillian, National Alliance for Mental Health
Dennis Doran, Cambridge Medical Center Administrator

Questions from audience – 15 minutes re: Health Care Issues

Local Government Officials:

George Wimmer, Mayor of Isanti
Sue Larson, Isanti Council Member
Marlys Palmer, Cambridge Mayor
John Schlagel, Cambridge Council Member
Dr. David Schornstein, Cambridge Council Member
Robert Schogren, Cambridge Council Member
Jaysen Guthmueller, Chamber of Commerce

Questions from audience – 15 minutes re: Local Issues/property taxes etc.

5. General Questions from Audience

6. Adjournment

Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee

I will be speaking to the Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee open meeting at Spectacular Events Monday night. I will be sharing my views on property taxes and how LGA, state timing requirements and the lack of development impact fees affects us all. The event is at 7:30 pm and open to the public. I am thankful to the Committee for taking the time and making the effort to come out of St. Paul to listen the public.

If you have any questions please let me know. george@georgewimmer.com

Goal Setting Update

The Goal Setting Session on Monday went very well. Council Member Johnson did not attend. The 3 Council Members and I had agreement on the top 5 goals for Isanti.

1. Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP)
2. City of Isanti Marketing Plan
3. Increased Commercial Development
4. Downtown/Main Street Marketing Plan
5. Water Treatment Plant

The next phase will be this coming Monday, January 29th when we flesh out these high level goals. The Council will be briefed on the cost, time and return on investment of each of these goals.
The fresh start we have is exemplified by the change in attitude from January 2006 to January 2007. LTFP which I pushed for last year and was not worked on at all is now listed as our top project. LTFP is the tool that will let us understand and control City cost and in turn make better financial decisions that lead to economic growth and lower taxes. I have been extremely happy with the conduct of the Council during this process.
The partial presentation of our current fiscal health and debt load made by City staff has added a level of realism and the urgency to this process. I will update you with further details as they develop.

Goal Setting

Goal setting starts the 22nd and raps up the 29th. I will be holding no office hours these two Mondays.

All Council members will be presenting projects, reforms and ideas for the future of Isanti. The process will create a list that is agreed to by a majority of the Council.

I am taking the approach of presenting projects and reforms that will match the time and growth span of our Comprehensive Plan. The Comp Plan is intended to be viable up to a population of 15,000. We need to plan for each level of growth and each level of service. The major infrastructure projects such as a water treatment plant needs to be planned for today even if its construction may be 5 or ten years in the future. Each of the projects will be folded into the Long Term Financial Planning process.

The Council will also be given a brief overview of the city's financial condition. I have been constantly talking about the difficult situation Isanti is in because of past excessive spending. I believe this will be driven home on Monday. 18% of Isanti's current budget is making debt payments. The current debt load does not reflect all current liabilities yet. We could expect 3% to 8% more of our total budget going to current debt obligations when all the numbers are finalized.

If more projects are added that will increase our debt load only two options are available to pay for it---raise taxes or cut spending.....I will fight any attempt to raise taxes. The goal setting sessions will hopefully start the process of the Council making the hard decisions for our future.

I intend to focus on reforms and projects that will aggressively boost our commercial development. A healthy community has a strong commercial base. Commercial properties pay higher property taxes and often need fewer services. This allows a City to have lower over all property taxes and yet supply needed services.

The second group of my proposed projects will focus on infrastructure needs at each level of future growth. This will allow us to plan and start reserving funds for such items as future sewer plant expansion, new wells and Police and Public Work capital equipment. Only through Long Term Financial Planning can we accomplish our long range goals at the lowest possible cost.

If you have any reforms or projects you would like to be coonsidered please let me know. george@georgewimmer.com or calling 763-444-7158