About Me

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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.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Rumor Mill in Full Force

The wild rumor mill has swung into action. I have received a few comments and emails from people who have heard that I am going to fire city workers or my personal favorite I will default on City Bonds. These are of course ridiculous rumors. I have laid my agenda out in great detail at www.georgewimmer.com.

If you hear such rumors please let me know. If you are not sure, call or write me. I believe my record speaks for itself. Do not believe these crazy rumors. People do weird things when they are scared of change. This is I am sure only the beginning. In 2004 there were wild rumors spread about me including that I supported the then city Administrator. I of course was the one that made the motion to not renew his contract.

Together we will make Isanti the City we all want it to be. This is just the last gasp of the good'ole boy network.

Planning Commission Issues

My industrial/Business reform request went before the Planning Commission. There was unanimous support for the idea but that is were agreement fell apart. This process is following the same pattern as my Development Impact List. The idea is great but it appears that no one wants me to get credit for it being my idea or doing the work. I had hoped the Planning Commission was not going to be ruled by petty politics but it seems to be following suit with the Council.

The other issue raised was staff time. This excuse is raised every time ordinance enforcement or reform is discussed. Planning Commission Members and City Council Members have never raised the issue when it comes to allowing developers expand the City. The idea that developers come before the residents of Isanti is asinine.

If we as a City can not spend the time correcting our current issues why would we want to compound them by further rapid residential growth.

I will continue to fight to reform Isanti regardless of what petty political obstacles are placed in my way.

Commissioner Duff raised private ownership of storm water ponding. I again stated the reason this was a bad idea as follows:

1. Residents may be able to claim greater ownership of land, they will however have no uses of this land as it is designated as a holding pond. This may give a false feeling of ownership.

2. The resident is to maintain their section of the holding pond. This is an unfunded mandate. Holding ponds gather water from a larger area than just the immediate neighborhood. The cost of its maintenance should not be on those that simple abut the pond. What do we

3. If the land is owned by the resident they will be taxed on the land. These will set-up the owner of the land paying a significantly higher tax bill with no benefit.

4. I am hard pressed to see how the City would lose liability for a structure it is mandating be built. Resident ownership may lead to having liability in case of a lawsuit.

The full discussion is at: http://georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2006/04/response-to-commissioner-duffs-letter.html

Monday, May 08, 2006

Humbled

I am humbled by all the amazing e-mails, phone calls and comments on my blog of support for my Mayoral race. I will work as hard as I can for the Citizens of Isanti.

A common theme centers on how you can best help in the campaign. I have set-up a page on my website to answer this question, http://georgewimmer.com/Involved.html . I will be looking for any and all kinds of help. Those that wish to have a lawn sign, they can not be placed until after August 1st.

Isanti has grown and so has the need for help in spreading information. Anyone who wishes to help please e-mail me george.wimmer@genesiswireles.us. Those that have already signed up I will send you special updates on campaign activities. I can only do this with your support.

Together we will make Isanti a City we can be proud of for generations to come.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Announcement for Mayor of Isanti

I here by announce my candidacy for Mayor of the City of Isanti. The City we know is quickly changing. Land is being acquired in a manner that will double or triple the population of Isanti. Our city needs to make the right decisions today to properly plan for this rapid residential growth and our future.

Our city's infrastructure will quickly be overburdened in the next five years, if we do not take thoughtful, measured, and responsible action today. As Mayor, I will prepare and plan for this growth and ensure we have the tax base to support these changes. While preparing for the future, it is essential to maintain the safety and small-town feel that makes our city great. I have already examined the challenges Isanti faces. The list includes:

Property Taxes & City Fees
Economic Development
Road Construction & Maintenance Costs
Traffic Impact
Sewer & Water Capacity
Police & Fire Protection
City Staff Priorities
Park & Trail Maintenance Cost

We need a clear picture of the impact of Isanti's growth. Whether you plan to live in Isanti the rest of your life or just a few years, we must plan now to control how growth will affect our property values, taxes, and City fees. These are issues for every citizen. Our City will grow tremendously over the next five years. Isanti needs a leader with a plan and ability to implement it. With that in mind, I have laid out an aggressive agenda for 2006. My plan centers around three guiding principles:

Citizen Safety
Economic Reform
Responsible City Government

Now is the time to make a choice for the future of Isanti. I ask for your support in my efforts to lead Isanti. To learn more about my 2006 Agenda, please visit http://www.georgewimmer.com/

Together we must preserve Isanti’s Traditions while planning for the future.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Subsidy Vote

I am going to make a quick follow up to tonight's Council meeting and will write a more detailed account later today.

The Mayor, Council Members' Johnson and Larson voted to approve waiving the subsidy requirement for Lexington Textile. The requirement is one $8/hr employee. The total subsidy paid to this company is $81,000.

It is not fair to all the businesses in Isanti that receive no subsidy to not hold the line. City taxpayers have to pay their tax bill no matter what type of year they are having.

If Lexington had a legitimate reason for not fulfilling their obligation they should present these facts to the Council. The Owner did not even show-up to make the argument. Tonight's 3-2 vote saved Lexington $41,000 in penalties. This should be worth a few moments of their time.

This leads to the greater problem of having bare minimum requirements for tens of thousands of dollars of City subsidies that have no apparent return. If a business ask for taxpayer money we must demand a higher standard than $8 an hour jobs. We owe our current businesses and City Taxpayers nothing less.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Website Attack

I just got through fixing an "attack" on my website, georgewimmer.com. It should be up and running fine now. If you run across any problems please let me know.

Monday, May 01, 2006

May 2nd Council Meeting.

The City Council has a full agenda Tuesday night. We will be discussing the placement of a community compost facility and hearing an update on the Emergency Management Plan.

The 2005 City audit will be presented. The Audit shows a trend that has been troubling to me. The City increased its debt load by 35%. The trend is highlighted by the fact that in 2002 the net debt per capita was $498, today it is $1,904. A 382% increase in debt per person is a trend that must be turned back.

Isanti is looking at further increasing its debt load for more industrial land. Adding land to the Industrial Park could be a good investment so long as the businesses that receive the land are an asset. I do not think that the process to continue to subsidize businesses that pay low wages is right for our future. If a business ask for City Money they have a higher standard than a business that can operate on their own.

Lexington Textile which is receiving a business subsidy is asking for a waiver on its requirement to add one more job. This requirement would bring the total to three employees making $8 to $10 dollars an hour. I can not support waiving this requirement. This is not fair to the majority of business in Isanti that do not receive a City subsidy. If a business is going to receive tens of thousands of dollars from Isanti it needs to fulfill its obligations.

We have a partial victory in the City Fee schedule. There will be no increase in the permit fees that each of us as Citizens pay. The issue is still the dedication fees by developers. I adamantly believe that these must increases to the area standard. It is incredibly cheap to develop in Isanti. We must make sure developers pay their fair share so we are not left holding the bag after they leave town.

We will be discussing the Minnesota Community Capital Fund. If any business desires this fund to be provided I hope you will make this known at the City Council meeting.

The 2006 Street Improvement Project bids are in. The low bid is 4.25% lower than the original estimate. The Council will be granting the bid at Tuesday’s meeting.

The Council will vote on approving a picnic shelter for Blue Bird Park. The shelter will be 20’x40’ with electricity. Park and Recreation fees, paid by developers, fund this project. The labor is being donated by Encomm at a savings of $11,500. This is the third major project for Park and Recreation that has used free labor. Two community parks build and this shelter will have saved the City roughly $100,000 in labor cost. I am very proud of our frugal approach in safe guarding City assets.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

City Planner Resigns

Isanti's City Planner, Ms. Barker, has resigned effective May 12th. The position will be posted immediately. I will put a link to the job description on my blog as soon as it is posted on the City Website. We will be moving quickly to replace this critical position. If you have any input into the selection process or have any questions, please let me know.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Sign Ordinance

New Sign Ordinance is now on the City Website. I want to thank those businesses that helped work on this issue. I hope this process will be a road map to future solutions.


http:/www.ci.isanti.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={E2DC2493-5EA8-4C4C-AD15-8DCC0A18D172}

Friday, April 21, 2006

Meth-- Townhall Meeting

There will be a Meth Townhall Meeting Monday May 22nd, 7pm to 9pm. This meeting is free. The meeting will be held at the Richard G. Hardy Performing Arts Center at Cambridge-Isanti High School. Please call the Community Education Office at 763-689-6189 to register. Walk-ins are also welcome.

I will be there. Meth and other drug use is a scourge to all of us, especially in Isanti County. I urge you to attend.

Post Card Mailings

I have been receiving tremendous response from my post card mailing. I will respond to each of you individually but wanted to let you know it may be a few days to answer all the e-mails. I also ensure you that I will be working on the issues raised. This once again proves the value of open communications. Thank you for all the kind responses to my 2006 agenda.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Email List

If you would like to be on my News and Notes update list please e-mail me and let me know.

The list is confidential.

george.wimmer@genesiswireless.us

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

2006 Agenda

Open communication is the corner stone of Democracy. Citizens need to be able to easily access the governmental process. I am trying to change the dynamic of Isanti City Government. I believe that we must have a free flow of two way communication.

The city we know is quickly changing. Land is being acquired in a manner that will double or triple the population of Isanti. Our city needs to make the right decisions today to properly plan for this rapid growth and our future.

Our city's infrastructure will quickly be overburdened in the next five years, if we do not take thoughtful, measured, and responsible action today. While preparing for the future, it is essential to still retain and maintain the safety and small-town feel that makes our city great. I have already examined the possible challenges Isanti faces. The list includes:

Road Construction and Maintenance Costs
Traffic Impact
Water Capacity
Sewer Capacity
Police Protection
Fire Protection
City Staff Time
Park and Trail Maintenance Cost

We need a clear picture of the impact of Isanti's growth. Whether you plan to live in Isanti the rest of your life, or just a few years, we must plan now to control how growth will affect our property values, taxes and City fees. Isanti will grow tremendously over the next five years. With that in mind, I have laid out an aggressive agenda for 2006. This plan centers around three guiding principles:

Citizen Safety

Traffic Mitigation
Improved Policing
Mosquito Control

Economic Reform

Tax and Fee Reductions
Growing Isanti's Business Districts

Responsible City Government

Development Impact List
City Ordnance Reform
Residential Handbook
New Comprehensive Plan
Safe Guarding Distinct Isanti Neighborhoods
Board and Commission Reform

It is time to make a choice for the future of Isanti. To learn more about my 2005 Record and 2006 Agenda, please go to www.georgewimmer.com. I welcome your support in working together to preserve Isanti's traditions while planning our future.

April 18th City Council Meeting Update

The City Council discussed several items this evening. Five items I want to discuss include the approval of McDonalds, Sign Ordinance, Exotic Animal Ordinance, Sewer rates and Landmark Bank approval. The Planning Commission items that were on the agenda all passed. I have stated my opinion on some of these at:

www.georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2006/04/planning-commission-update.html

The Council approved the plans for a McDonalds at the corner of 5 and 65. There is still a possible traffic problem with direct access on County 5. The development of a McDonalds will spur further growth between 5 and Main Street. A representative from McDonalds stated they hoped the construction would be completed by the end of this year.

The Sign Ordinance was approved tonight. The two big changes is the 30 day restriction on signage has been expanded and real estate and development signs will now be limited. The goal is to no longer have dozens of signs at intersections.

The Exotic Animal Ordinance was passed tonight. The ordinance focuses on dangerous animals that can create a safety issue for Isanti.

I had asked that the new sewer rates be discussed. I want to make sure that we are tracking the revenues that are being collected. The City is collecting more money than was expected. I am hoping that we can reduce this rate soon. We need starting differentiating between commercial and residential rate structures. Commercial properties are charged the same way that residential properties are charged. I have asked that sewer rates be put on a future work session agenda.

Landmark Bank was approved to start operating out of a bank trailer off of highway 65 until their bank is completed.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Planning Commission Opening

Planning Commission has an open seat. Any interested in helping to guide the future development of Isanti should apply at City Hall. If you have any questions please let me know.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Update on attempt to change Agricultral Zoning

The Isanti County Planning Commission unanimously voted against amending the Agricultural Zoning to allow a Motor Sports facility. I applaud their decision.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

McDonalds Update

I forgot to add that the McDonalds' restaurant was approved by the Planning Commission. This will be at the next City Council meeting Tuesday the 18th. The location is at the intersection of 5 and 65.

There may be an issue with County 5 access. I will keep you updated as this progresses.

Planning Commission Update

The Sign Ordinance and Exotic Animal Ordinance received no public comments at the Public Hearing. These will now move forward to the full City Council. A Petition was received asking the Planning commission to look at parking restriction of commercial vehicles in residential areas of Isanti.

The only contentious issue at the meeting was the Final Plat for Fairway Greens Phase two. This is the property just north and east of the cemetery on County 5 and east of 65. The tough issue is the four apartment buildings. These apartments will be adjacent to the cemetery. I voted in favor of this because there will also be a commercial development to the west and abutting County Highway 5.

I believe with the apartment building is the best use of this land. Very few people would want to own a home that is adjacent to a cemetery, a large commercial district and a major County Highway.

We are at our limit I think of apartment buildings. We need to keep a balance of all housing options and not be to heavily slanted to rental properties. I was also concerned about the added traffic on highway 5. This one of my most difficult decisions on the Planning Commission. I know some will not be happy with this vote but I felt it was the best option under these unique circumstances.

The last item was the request from the Isanti County Planning Commission to give our opinion on the proposed change in agricultural zoning to allow for a motor sport track. My direct quote was it is a terrible-terrible-terrible idea. The Planning commission voted to recommend not allowing this type of use in an agricultural area.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Planning Commission Meeting 4/11/06

The Planning Commission will be reviewing the following Items. First there will be 14 Public Hearings. Yes that is right 14. Most deal with plats in several phases. A request for a McDonald's is one of the Public Hearings. The McDonald's would be constructed near the current BP Gas Station at the intersection of 5 and 65. The Sign Ordinance and the Exotic Animal Ordinance will also receive a Public Hearing. I hope anyone who has concerns for either of these will attend.

We will also be discussing the Parking of larger vehicles on driveways and parking pads. This pertains to many commercial vehicles and RVs. These vehicles are currently prohibited from parking in residential driveways and parking pads. I believe we need to discuss if this is appropriate.

The Planning Commission has been asked to gives its opinion on the proposed change to the County's Agricultural Zoning to allow race tracks. This will become an important topic as Agricultural Zoning comes under attack. I do not think encouraging this type of use is appropriate. The added stress on transportation infrastructure and crime prevention does not get offset by any positives, if any, a race track would bring. Please look at www.ccflu.org for more information. This is the website for Concern Citizens for Land Use.

If you have any questions please do not be afraid to ask.

Library Board

There is an opening on the Library Board. I would like to hear from anyone who may be interested in serving on this board. This is a County appointment.