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MADDOG 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 12 2003,5:44 pm |
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Seems like Mr. Gabrielson has seen litigation before.
Price County
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Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
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Ole1kanobe
Group: Members
Posts: 1360
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 12 2003,9:28 pm |
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Nice find.
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The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
-Albert Einstein-
Some of what is said here (myself included) is about as tolerable as listening to someone vacuum a cat.
-nphilbro-
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 13 2003,9:51 am |
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Thousands of dollars in Attorney's fees, fight it all the way to a hearing (which he lost)--all to avoid paying 15 minutes of overtime to a jailer that assisted in rendering first aid to an accident victim in front of the courthouse on the jailers way into work. The jailer wasn't punched in yet, and left after the on-duty deputies took over. Oddly enough, the two sheriffs deputies that also rendered assistance on the way to punch in WERE paid overtime, as well as the deputies that were paid extra for assisting when their shift would normally be done.
This is indicative of the kind of stubborn behavior of the County Administrator--spending thousands of dollars in legal fees to avoid paying 15 minutes of overtime--even when the jailer was rendering first aid? (Gabrielson contended that the jailer was acting as a private citizen, as he had no power or duties outside the jail. The Union for the peace officers prevailed, on the basis that, while a private citizen COULD ignore the need for assistance, a uniformed officer does not have that option).
Side note--on a recent tour of the new Courthouse, courtesy of Commissioner Mullenbach and Gabrielson, one of the participants, familiar with the background, asked the jailer conducting the tour "are you trained and proficient in First Aid"? (a reference to the Wisconsin incident) The jailer replied that he was proficient, receiving 30 hours of instruction per year. Gabrielson was unaware of the joke being played. 
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 18 2003,2:09 pm |
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Seems like Ron has had other county issues in Price County. In June, 2001, Ron, then Human Resource Director, sent out letters to Sheriff employees asking them to meet with him in closed meeting and anonymously share comments about their workplace conditions. When nothing happened, members of the department, in Jan. 2002, asked the committe if the work issues they brought up in the report would be addressed. Now Ron is in Freeborn County, the Price County Committee doesn't know what Ron did with the reports. Here's the full article: report
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Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 18 2003,2:24 pm |
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"Refuse to pay for 15 minutes of overtime for the jailer rendering first aid to an accident victim, contest it all the way to a state hearing (lost), take employees gripes and suggestions, and LOSE them (no action taken)--and this is the HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR? How do you suppose those employees feel?
Sounds like a Mel Brooks movie--"Sire, the peasants are revolting!" Nobleman--"Yes, they are!"
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 20 2003,9:53 am |
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Seems that Ron has a different attitude about outsourcing lawyers then he had when he was in Price County:
County legal work continues to be sent out
Personnel Committee says savings not significant to add a new position
Patti Wenzel
THE-BEE
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 12th, 2000 03:59:37 PM
Price County Personnel Committee made no decision on creating a county corporate counsel position at their monthly meeting last Friday.
Ron Gabrielson, Human Resources Co-ordinator presented the committee with a cost analysis. A typical year has approximately $75,000 in legal fees for the county. In 1999, Price County is projected to spend $110,750 on legal fees to area law firms. Gabrielson said approximately $36,000 of those were unforeseen expenses for a human services hearing, union negotiations, and Guardian ad Litem hearings.
A newly created position would cost the county $89,800 for a 40-hour week, and $74,000 for a 32-hour week in wages, benefits and expenses. Gabrielson also figured $17,000 would be needed for part-time clerical help to the corporate counsel.
"A corporate counsel would provide on-site legal services to the county and eliminate the high volume of calls made to outside lawyers," said Gabrielson. However, he noted that no one lawyer has expertise in all fields and some work would still need to be hired out.
The committee was asked by the Executive/Finance Committee to explore the amount of money the county spent with private lawyers for legal work, and to determine if creating a county position would be cost effective.
Committee member William Teeters asked that the issue be sent back to the Executive/Finance Committee. "There just isn't the dollar savings to change what we're currently doing for legal services," said Teeters.
Committee member Joanne Mabie suggested that the corporate counsel position be made part-time and share responsibilities with the current assistant corporate counsel to the Human Services Department. Sue Gunderson, Assistant Corporate Counsel for Human Services said her position was highly specialized and it would be very difficult to find someone who could practice all areas of the law well.
Area law firms that have performed legal work for the county and their fees:
-Slaby, Deda, Marshall, Reinhardt, and Fuhr received $33,742 during 1999.
-Ruder, Ware and Michler received $20,982 for representing the county during the Kay Confer employment hearing.
-Janet Marvin received $10,858.
-Terry Nussberger received $6,887.
-Willett and Klein received $2,689.
-Klein Law Office received $2,256.
-Daniel Snyder received $1,265.
In other committee business:
-- County employees may receive a new benefit. The committee will ask employees if they would like to invest in a Roth IRA. Gabrielson said the costs would be minimal, but the committee wants to know if there is significant interest before adding to the personnel assistant's workload.
-- Zoning Administrator Stacey Dahne was given permanent employee status, following her one-year probationary review.
-- Andrew Clark, Veterans Service Officer, offered his resignation to the committee. Clark will be moving to Washington state to return to school.
-- The committee denied a request by Mike Neumann to rescind his resignation as county emergency management coordinator. A new coordinator will be appointed.(See accompanying story)
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Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 20 2003,3:08 pm |
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"Gabrielson said approximately $36,000 of those were unforeseen expenses for a human services hearing, union negotiations, and Guardian ad Litem hearings." Human Services hearing--like fighting against the 15 minutes of overtime for the jailer, listed above? Union negtiations--like the "gripe" sessions--later lost? It seems that wherever RG goes, it is a real boone for the legal profession!
In Wisconsin, he fought to GET a full-time County Attorney--here, he has one, and doesn't use him--he goes OUTSIDE for legal advice. Which one is it, Ron? Oh, I forgot, that is the question that tripped his trigger when Belshan asked it!
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 20 2003,3:20 pm |
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LOL,Jim. Good thing he doesn't read these forum, he'd be able to see all this! 
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Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
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| Post Number: 9
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MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 23 2003,1:41 pm |
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Seems like everytime I turn around, I find Ron in litigation. Here he's involved in a sexual discrimination suit filed by Price County human services director, Karen A. Confer and reasons for dismissal.
Here's an exerpt from 5/11/01
Gabrielsen concluded from his investigation that, "Confer's management style, professional behavior and outspokenness gave employees cause to be concerned." He also noted that Confer's lack of senior management skills and unfamiliarity had significantly contributed to the issues raised by employees.
full story
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Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
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rosebudinal
Group: Members
Posts: 303
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 23 2003,6:27 pm |
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Guess if our local newspaper doesn't want to print this story or the Pam Bishop one.....we need to get these stories out and educate our community. It's no wonder Prizing used the yellow board. Man, I cannot believe the stench all around us.
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