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Liberal 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 11451
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 04 2003,12:14 am |
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After reading the story in the Tribune I'm really confused. I can't figure out who is making Paul Sparks the director of the port authority. Because, unlike private citizens who have a right to do anything they want as long as no law or ordinance forbids it government has no right to do anything without a law or ordinance giving them the authority to do it.
We had an ordinance that stated "The city manager shall be the executive director of the port authority." So that is what gave Sparks the authority to be the director of the port authority. (Since he was the city manager by ordinance he was also the PA director). But now with ordinance 71, 3d we have struck out the line "The city manager shall be the executive director of the port authority." from ordinance 2-237 and that was it. So they took away the PA directors job but certainly didn't create a new directors position. Everyone knew the reason for that was because Paul would be the director of the new umbrella corporation the ALEDC.
Now here is where I get really confused because the Tribune says Paul will be the director of the port authority now and that he will be paid $97,500. But under what authority? Who hired him and where will the money come from?
Under the ALEDC plan there was never a mention of Paul serving as the director of the port authority at any of the meetings because he was going to be the director of the new ALEDC and his salary was to be decided by the future ALEDC/PA board. Now all of the sudden we hear that Paul is going to be the director of the PA and if that's the case then who will be the director of the ALEDC?
I wonder what would happen if a petition removes ordinance 71,3d and the new city manager becomes the PA director again by ordinance?
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The people are masters of both Congress and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it!
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| Post Number: 2
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ilivehigh
Unregistered
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Posted on: Dec. 04 2003,12:23 am |
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Until Sparks is removed, this area will continue to flounder and be lapped by the likes of Rochester, Mankato, Owatonna and even maybe Austin. Not saying Albert Lea will ever grow as fast as some of those cities but with Sparks at the wheel, it certainly won't even come close. While some cities are progressing, Albert Lea is regressing!!!!!
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| Post Number: 3
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Rynes
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Sep. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 04 2003,7:48 pm |
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It has been stated that Paul SParks wants Albert Lea to become a retirement city,I have heard mant people say we don't need more business or industry,its all comming from our retiries,most who have moved into our nice community.I am Retired,but all for new business and industry.
Now we are going to pay Paul Sparks 90,000.00 and pay Pam Bishop 60,000.00 plus a year plus benifits.
I wonder how many businesses will start up in Albert Lea?
Sincerely,
Rynes
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| Post Number: 4
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wine-o
Unregistered
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Posted on: Dec. 05 2003,12:00 am |
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great, a town even more full of old geezers, that will keep our young people at home. how about this for Albert lea's slogan: Albert lea, come here to die.
while albert lea collects retirees the rest of the state collects businesses and our youth
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| Post Number: 5
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DennisGreen
Group: Members
Posts: 32
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 05 2003,1:06 am |
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Thank you all for the great posts. The Sheriff thinks we need to try harder at keeping our youth here with good jobs. The Sheriff thinks the olde timers are fine but without the kids, the town is pretty much closed up by 6:00PM. The Sheriff thinks Albert Lea will soon become known as the dead city full of olde timers. Thanks for your support on this and remember to look for me on the HIGH road because that is where I will be.
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| Post Number: 6
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GEOKARJO
Google This!!!
Group: Members
Posts: 7799
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 05 2003,10:24 am |
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What you talking bout Willis ?
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| Post Number: 7
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Liberal
Group: Moderator
Posts: 11451
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 11 2003,12:06 pm |
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At the request of a resident who said property taxes have increased but budget cuts will be made for the city's 2004 budget, City Manager Paul Sparks outlined some budget cuts that have been made for next year.
"In general there were cuts in the storm sewer fund, (and) the general public works operations, both streets and utilities."
There will also be cuts to smaller budgets such as the Parks and Recreation and contingency funds. The city budget is about $300,000 less than last year, Sparks said.
Tribune article
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Is anyone really surprised that they cut the budget there? These are both things(storm sewers and street lights) that they're planning to charge user fees for, so of course the budget will be cut because the citizens will be making up the difference. Eventually the puppet council will realize they have to reduce spending and not just the budget no matter how unpopular it is.
Maybe the city should spend some money for a study by an efficiency expert. If we could eliminate just 1 fulltime employee it would more than pay for the study and I'd be willing to bet an efficiency expert could find plenty of jobs that could be combined with others or eliminated all together.
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The people are masters of both Congress and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it!
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| Post Number: 8
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rosebudinal
Group: Members
Posts: 303
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 12 2003,4:25 pm |
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I wholeheartedly agree with you liberal, the "powers that be" certainly wouldn't, because it just makes too much sense.
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| Post Number: 9
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Madd Max
Group: Members
Posts: 1345
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 12 2003,7:30 pm |
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Isn’t a user fee anything more then a politically correct way of saying we are going to create a new tax. What is next a user fee to pay for all the studies this town wants to run?
All that studies do is make the friends of the politicians rich instead of just fixing the problem. Maybe the real reason they always want to do studies is because they (the politicians) are getting a little kick back on the side.
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Heck, if crazy were a pre-existing condition, the GOP wouldn't be able to get insurance. James Carville
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| Post Number: 10
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right on
Unregistered
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Posted on: Dec. 12 2003,9:17 pm |
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i wouldn't doubt it in this town
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