Topic: Crazy about Consultants
started by: danbelshan
Posted by danbelshan on Apr. 04 2012,7:15 pm
Crazy about ConsultantsConsultant recommends we build a four-lane down Bridge Ave. Cost Millions and would be happy to consult more in the future about it. They are again at the trough and on the agenda April 17 for another $16,000 to reconsult a 1 mile section.
Actually south half (from Hammer Road North) of the reconsulted section is soccer and baseball fields and houses so not much reconsulting there.
I guess reconsulting the North half mile from the Ball Diamond to I90 is where they will consult. Cost for that half mile is then $16,000 , $18.18/yard, $6.06 a foot or 50.5 cents an inch.
More Consulting
Courthouse Consultant recommend we build new and hire them to design. Cost Millions.
Jail Consultant recommended we build new jail and hire them to design it for 130 local prisoners. (today we average around 30 local prisoners) Cost Millions.
County was asked to contribute to Downtown Renovation. We have been told Consultant recommends Street Scaping downtown with less parking and 20 foot sidewalks. They say will cost Millions.
Consultant on walkability rides bus around town and says we need more walkability. Cost unknown
In my opinion: We need to use our existing staff and resources to solve issues with common sense. Look what Freeborn County and our cities did in the past. I don't believe a consultant was brought in every time a decision had to be made.
Posted by twingroves on Apr. 04 2012,7:43 pm
just proves the city is run by a bunch of dumb ass people and they need to be told what to do
Posted by digger on Apr. 04 2012,8:01 pm
So all of the studies done on Bridge in the past was just to throw money into the wind them studies don't tell us anything? City engineer states last study is over 10 yrs old and we can't use it. Dan, I think at the next meeting you should make a motion to take x number of inmates issue them each a pen and notebook, ankle cuff them to a street sign and tell them to start counting. Do this for a week and I'm sure we will get the same numbers a consultant gets for a lot less and the inmates get some fresh air and sunshine.
Posted by grassman on Apr. 05 2012,5:54 am
That is what America has become. A conglomerate of businesses that sole purpose is." let me help you with that"... for a price.
Posted by This is my real name on Apr. 05 2012,9:37 am
Why don't our elected commissioners and city councilors oh I don't know... SERVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS and spend time out there counting traffic themselves? They could do the work in varying shifts until they got a reliable count. Serving your community means more than having meetings. Get out there and get your hands dirty. You're getting paid to sit anyway, why not count something while you're at it?
Posted by Common Citizen on Apr. 05 2012,4:34 pm
Create a school project for one of the math classes.
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 05 2012,9:51 pm
(Common Citizen @ Apr. 05 2012,4:34 pm)
QUOTE
Create a school project for one of the math classes.
You're kidding, right?
I don't think a good share of them could handle making (a) change (lane) without the cash register. 
Posted by hymiebravo on Apr. 06 2012,7:07 am
What was ascertained after the "last" consultation? What action was taken?
Also: It does seem peculiar that there isn't someone or some entity, already on the tax rolls in some capacity, that could resolve the supposed dire need here.
I'm going to predict that traffic isn't going to change that much there. In spite of the concern about the new Kwik Trip, and Hy-vee "possibly" upgrading their gas & go--and the new owner of the Chevy dealership.
And if there is an insurmountable deluge of "new" traffic. Then have MNDOT, or someone, help put in a light or something somewhere around there.
Who do I send my consulting fee for that, to?
Posted by jimhanson on Apr. 06 2012,5:40 pm
Bridge Street has already been identified as the busiest road in the County. A traffic count won't get anything done. What IS needed is:Find alternative ways to move traffic. Traffic already moves pretty well from the Fairgrounds north. What is needed is alternative ways to get south of the lakes.
Starting at the Freeway, traffic coming or going from the north can use the freeway itself to move to the highway 13 exit.
It can also use Plaza Street to get to the Stables/Shoreland/Old Country Club area. The intersection by the Fairgrounds also serves these areas.
Traffic going to Wal-Mart/Trails/East Side can either take the freeway from I-90 to I-35S, or take Hammer Road past the school. The time is about the same.
NONE of these options are congested. The problem is from the Fairgrounds south.
Fairgrounds to the North side is only a short distance--so that's not a problem.
The biggest problem is getting across the lakes. If the destination is downtown, there really isn't a viable option. If the destination is the South Side, sidestepping to Garfield is a viable option.
THE CHOICES:
1. Do nothing with Bridge--except to control traffic at the Mall with a stop light to allow people to make left turns--and promote the alternatives.
OR
2. Bite the bullet and widen Bridge to the North side. That doesn't really help much, though--once you have the traffic there, you would have to have a way to continue 4-lanes--probably by an interchange to put traffic back on Main Street.
Widening Bridge doesn't do much, except to move the bottleneck to the North Side.
The one thing that WOULD help would be a traffic light at the Northbridge intersection to allow left turns. It would be easily accessible for traffic coming from all businesses both east and west of Bridge. There are enough parallel roads on both sides to allow traffic to reach that intersection and utilize the light.
The light would be the fastest and cheapest solution to implement.
Posted by danbelshan on Apr. 06 2012,6:54 pm
Interesting consultant driven project on Streets in Mason City< http://www.northiowatoday.com/?p=7474 >
Editorial: Another business flees the streetscape
by Matt Marquardt -
MASON CITY – Another business has left downtown Mason City.
Lillian’s, formerly located at 16 South Federal Avenue, has packed up and moved to Clear Lake.
“I would have gladly stayed in Mason City, it’s my hometown,” owner Twyla Steenblock told NorthIowaToday.com.
With all that has been made of the new streetscape area of downtown Mason City, the sign in the window at her former location stands out. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer has spoken of the “cultural crescent,” some kind of personal IMAX movie he described where sidewalks are paved in gold, customers are steadily coming and going at all hours, a type of utopian “river city renaissance.” Apparently the mayor’s dream skipped Lillian’s, and it is not reaching other businesses as well, NorthIowaToday.com has discovered.
Steenblock said she never envisioned driving all the way to Clear Lake everyday to run her store, but she had no choice. ”Mason City did absolutely nothing to help me stay in business,” she explained. “I was totally excluded from the ping pong ball drop over the holidays. I made some calls about that, and then I was yelled at. The streetscape project was terrible. Then by August things just got worse. Finally I found a great location in Clear Lake (419 Main Avenue), and they welcomed me with open arms. We just had our grand opening and it was a huge success.”
The misery for downtown streetscape area businesses doesn’t stop there. Another small business owner on North Federal Avenue described the streetscape project as “a nightmare” and said his business has not recovered. ”This is the slowest we have ever been,” said the owner, who wishes to remain unknown for fear of reprisal. ”It got worse in August if you can believe that.”
Another long-time business on North Federal that will not be named also informed me that “we are barely hanging on.”
The owner of Butcher’s, also on North Federal Avenue, told me a couple months ago that they will be moving their business about a mile north, well away from the streetscape area.
Add to that other businesses that left recently are a vacuum store, The Scooter Shop, Visit Mason City, and a martial arts shop, among others.
This is not to say that there are not success stories in the streetscape area; obviously new businesses have sprung up here and there. Most notably the Historic Park Inn, State Street Deli, and Chop Restaurant as well as Oak Leaf Comics, just to name a few. But to gloss over or outright leave out the fact that there are still businesses experiencing difficulty downtown is a fabrication. Only when the full story is known can downtown truly succeed. I for one am hoping the city and its partners like Main Street Mason City are finding new and creative ways to spur success for all businesses in Mason City, not just those located in a very small geographic area.
Posted by hymiebravo on Apr. 07 2012,8:16 am
QUOTE
2. Bite the bullet and widen Bridge to the North side. That doesn't really help much, though--once you have the traffic there, you would have to have a way to continue 4-lanes--probably by an interchange to put traffic back on Main Street.
I would say you're pretty much right on in your assessment about this entire matter. When I think of visible congestion: I think of the lights at Security Bank and beyond heading for anywhere west and the downtown area.
Maybe if Cabela's built a 3rd Minnesota store, somewhere on Bridge, a massive throughway would be in order.
But until that happens: I would vote for a more modest set of improvements that are based on common sense---that is just a little bit more "down to earth" based.
For a change. lol
Posted by hymiebravo on Apr. 07 2012,8:41 am
(danbelshan @ Apr. 06 2012,6:54 pm)
QUOTE
Interesting consultant driven project on Streets in Mason City
< http://www.northiowatoday.com/?p=7474 >
Editorial: Another business flees the streetscape
by Matt Marquardt -
MASON CITY – Another business has left downtown Mason City.
Lillian’s, formerly located at 16 South Federal Avenue, has packed up and moved to Clear Lake.
“I would have gladly stayed in Mason City, it’s my hometown,” owner Twyla Steenblock told NorthIowaToday.com.
With all that has been made of the new streetscape area of downtown Mason City, the sign in the window at her former location stands out. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer has spoken of the “cultural crescent,” some kind of personal IMAX movie he described where sidewalks are paved in gold, customers are steadily coming and going at all hours, a type of utopian “river city renaissance.” Apparently the mayor’s dream skipped Lillian’s, and it is not reaching other businesses as well, NorthIowaToday.com has discovered.
Steenblock said she never envisioned driving all the way to Clear Lake everyday to run her store, but she had no choice. ”Mason City did absolutely nothing to help me stay in business,” she explained. “I was totally excluded from the ping pong ball drop over the holidays. I made some calls about that, and then I was yelled at. The streetscape project was terrible. Then by August things just got worse. Finally I found a great location in Clear Lake (419 Main Avenue), and they welcomed me with open arms. We just had our grand opening and it was a huge success.”
The misery for downtown streetscape area businesses doesn’t stop there. Another small business owner on North Federal Avenue described the streetscape project as “a nightmare” and said his business has not recovered. ”This is the slowest we have ever been,” said the owner, who wishes to remain unknown for fear of reprisal. ”It got worse in August if you can believe that.”
Another long-time business on North Federal that will not be named also informed me that “we are barely hanging on.”
The owner of Butcher’s, also on North Federal Avenue, told me a couple months ago that they will be moving their business about a mile north, well away from the streetscape area.
Add to that other businesses that left recently are a vacuum store, The Scooter Shop, Visit Mason City, and a martial arts shop, among others.
This is not to say that there are not success stories in the streetscape area; obviously new businesses have sprung up here and there. Most notably the Historic Park Inn, State Street Deli, and Chop Restaurant as well as Oak Leaf Comics, just to name a few. But to gloss over or outright leave out the fact that there are still businesses experiencing difficulty downtown is a fabrication. Only when the full story is known can downtown truly succeed. I for one am hoping the city and its partners like Main Street Mason City are finding new and creative ways to spur success for all businesses in Mason City, not just those located in a very small geographic area.
< http://www.northiowatoday.com/?p=7474 >
Editorial: Another business flees the streetscape
by Matt Marquardt -
MASON CITY – Another business has left downtown Mason City.
Lillian’s, formerly located at 16 South Federal Avenue, has packed up and moved to Clear Lake.
“I would have gladly stayed in Mason City, it’s my hometown,” owner Twyla Steenblock told NorthIowaToday.com.
With all that has been made of the new streetscape area of downtown Mason City, the sign in the window at her former location stands out. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer has spoken of the “cultural crescent,” some kind of personal IMAX movie he described where sidewalks are paved in gold, customers are steadily coming and going at all hours, a type of utopian “river city renaissance.” Apparently the mayor’s dream skipped Lillian’s, and it is not reaching other businesses as well, NorthIowaToday.com has discovered.
Steenblock said she never envisioned driving all the way to Clear Lake everyday to run her store, but she had no choice. ”Mason City did absolutely nothing to help me stay in business,” she explained. “I was totally excluded from the ping pong ball drop over the holidays. I made some calls about that, and then I was yelled at. The streetscape project was terrible. Then by August things just got worse. Finally I found a great location in Clear Lake (419 Main Avenue), and they welcomed me with open arms. We just had our grand opening and it was a huge success.”
The misery for downtown streetscape area businesses doesn’t stop there. Another small business owner on North Federal Avenue described the streetscape project as “a nightmare” and said his business has not recovered. ”This is the slowest we have ever been,” said the owner, who wishes to remain unknown for fear of reprisal. ”It got worse in August if you can believe that.”
Another long-time business on North Federal that will not be named also informed me that “we are barely hanging on.”
The owner of Butcher’s, also on North Federal Avenue, told me a couple months ago that they will be moving their business about a mile north, well away from the streetscape area.
Add to that other businesses that left recently are a vacuum store, The Scooter Shop, Visit Mason City, and a martial arts shop, among others.
This is not to say that there are not success stories in the streetscape area; obviously new businesses have sprung up here and there. Most notably the Historic Park Inn, State Street Deli, and Chop Restaurant as well as Oak Leaf Comics, just to name a few. But to gloss over or outright leave out the fact that there are still businesses experiencing difficulty downtown is a fabrication. Only when the full story is known can downtown truly succeed. I for one am hoping the city and its partners like Main Street Mason City are finding new and creative ways to spur success for all businesses in Mason City, not just those located in a very small geographic area.
Austin did some maintenance to their downtown. There have been some modest improvements made to that area as well. A great deal of them where made by the businesses already there. For instance upgrading their facades and that sort of thing.
It just seems inherently wrong to excessively spend money and over-hype something that should be something a little more pedestrian and down to earth.
I suppose in Chicago you could try and rehabilitate a blighted area by excessively propping it up.
But last time I checked Albert Lea was just a little shy of the population there.
Does Owatonna have streetscape? Maybe that's what they need to be successful.
Posted by jimhanson on Apr. 07 2012,2:21 pm
The reality is that coming or going from north Bridge to any other area of town--there is less than a minute's difference, no matter whether you go direct or use an alternate route.Example: North Bridge to the Elbow Room on the south side--go direct via Bridge/Broadway--go via Bridge/Garfield/Broadway, no difference.
North Bridge to Southwest School--using Bridge to North side/Main Street/Hwy. 69--or I-90 to Hwy. 13--or Plaza to County 20 and transition to Hwy. 13--no difference.
North Bridge to Wal-mart--using I-90 to I-35--or Hammer Road to old Hwy. 65--no difference.
Making Bridge 4-lane until the North Side doesn't solve any problems--it just moves the congestion further down the road--unless you include a way to get onto Main.
The most cost-effective thing we can do is simply control traffic with a light on Bridge to provide access, and let people find their own best way.
Posted by usmcr on Apr. 07 2012,4:53 pm
the reality of the traffic congestion is overblown. this is not the twin cities or rochester! yes, there is congestion during certain periods but it is brief & manageable, imho. considering the history of the population decline it does not seem probable that the city or county will have a surge of population any time soon. regarding consultants, what type of action has ever materialized from these on north bridge ave? the original platting was or is the culprit of the situation now. service roads imho should have been incorporated into the overall -plan at the time. this in turn would have limited the access onto bridge ave which could have been further enhanced by the use of signals. plaza street should be rerouted to possible hitech st as it is to close to the I-90 exit & on ramps. the cross traffic between hy vee & the hy vee gas station is not a good situation as well. perhaps barriers down the center line could limit the access & exits. if i am not mistaken we are paying a person to be a city planner, why is the city hiring consultants? if this person can not or will not preform the bidding of the city council then eliminate the planners job & use the savings to hire consultants that have the expertise!
Posted by hymiebravo on Apr. 09 2012,8:09 am
How is the consultant driven project that Freeborn County is involved in concerning DHS going? I thought I read at the paper site a few weeks ago: That the county was poised to save $20-30 million---if the measures that the think tank and the consultants came up with were put into place.
It seems that part of the plan involves sharing centralized facilities of some sort.
I have to admit just glancing over it: It seemed like quite a nice thing. Mostly in that it was talking about saving $30 million.
As opposed to everything else that a person reads concerning tax fueled entities always being short of money and looking for more.
Posted by danbelshan on Apr. 09 2012,5:16 pm
QUOTE
How is the consultant driven project that Freeborn County is involved in concerning DHS going?
12 County Human Services Redesign Plan
Goal: Save Money by sharing and working together.
1st thing that happened
Consultant firm hired from New York for $750,000 (guess no one closer could do it or the 12 counties couldn't do it with existing staff) .
My suggestion was to have all the Counties' Human Services directors and County Administrators do the job and come back with a plan.
Back to the consultant
They recommended we implement the plan they designed and they be contracted to do an 11 million dollar piece of the 19 milion dollar cost to implement.
(remember the jail consultant recommended we build and they design it?)
Cost savings initially helped just a few counties. We were one of them. Why? Because we are the highest budget and cost per capita of all similar counties
see below.
County human services operations
County 2010 population 2012 annual budget Local tax levy Employees
Dodge 20,087 $4,602,264 $2,403,415 34
Fillmore 20,866 $3,673,344 $1,154,266 25
Freeborn 31,255 $10,600,000 $5,300,000 82
Goodhue 46,183 $10,213,053 $3,909,980 69
Houston 19,027 $4,401,480 $1,209,970 31
Mower 39,163 $8,455,043 $2,858,775 59
Olmsted 144,248 $54,701,663 $27,818,021 337
Rice 64,142 $10,550,366 $3,929,695 88
Steele 36,576 $8,082,583 $2,834,447 61
Waseca 19,136 $4,397,166 $1,048,409 26
Wabasha 21,676 $4,761,151 $2,133,579 34
Winona 51,461 $10,002,819 $2,963,047 74
Opinion Looking at the numbers above we appear to be out of line with other counties and I am working to solve this.
Posted by hymiebravo on Apr. 10 2012,7:35 am
Have you ever noticed when you see somebody on TV get interviewed and they ask the person what they do: And they tell the interviewer they are involved in consulting. They always chuckle a bit, and say it like they are legally ripping people off. Then the interviewer always sort of nods and agrees.
The difference between a crook (Or who is perceived as being one), and everybody else, many times---just boils down to social acceptance and public relations.
It seems like integrating entities is nothing new. And has been talked about and put into place in various ways all over the country.
It does seem like folks already on the tax rolls in the state: Should be able to emulate what has already been done successfully elsewhere.
An example might be the so called Street Scape rage.
Go down to Mason City have a look around and copy it.
Or use that along with other places to come up with your own version of it.
No consultant needed.
Posted by SlapMyMonkey on Apr. 11 2012,12:22 pm
problem is....A.L. keeps on voting in the same old crooks or same ignorant people who waste money like this.
Posted by digger on May 02 2012,4:22 pm
Heard a rumor that the new Kwik Trip can't proced with construction because they need to wait on the findings of the study. Any truth to that, can anyone confirm or deny?
Posted by Self-Banished on May 02 2012,6:45 pm
^Oh oh, somebodies wheels need to be greased! Or a grant is in order. It's all fixed with money.
Posted by Ajax on May 02 2012,7:06 pm
(digger @ May 02 2012,4:22 pm)
QUOTE
Heard a rumor that the new Kwik Trip can't proced with construction because they need to wait on the findings of the study. Any truth to that, can anyone confirm or deny?
I bet HyVee is doing all they can to keep this store from happening. HyVee was part of the reason the old gas station was closed down.
Posted by Botto 82 on Jun. 05 2012,10:34 am
QUOTE
Consultant recommends building new fire station
A report released Monday by a consultant firm studying the Albert Lea Fire Department has recommended that a new fire station be built.
The study, by Florida-based Almont Associates, looked at the existing fire station — along with four other possible locations — to evaluate response times, costs and other factors.
The evaluation comes as city leaders are studying the efficiency of the department while steering the city through tight budget times. The firm was hired to get an outside viewpoint.
According to the report, the existing station at City Hall, 221 E. Clark St., has become too small and creates a response risk with the vehicle and pedestrian traffic caused by City Hall. There is not enough storage or bay space for required equipment.
Fire trucks have to back into the station, and there’s no space for training. There is also problem with diesel exhaust, which can reportedly be smelled throughout City Hall.
The report stated firefighters can respond from the existing station to the core center of the city within four minutes and to the entire city within eight minutes.
Alternate locations explored were 400 E. Clark St., 201 W. Main St., 700 E. Main St. and the former Farmland Foods site on East Front Street.
The report stated while each location slightly modified the response times, the overall times changed very little.
The firm recommended the property of 700 E. Main St., the current location of the Albert Lea Township fire station, as the best site and said it would allow for both a station and training area. Fire smoke training would be OK there.
The report suggested a joint city and township facility be constructed because both fire stations are in need of replacement and each station is less than a half mile of each other.
It should also be built for multiple uses, and allow for sharing by the community for meetings or other public access. It should serve as an Emergency Operations Center during times of disaster, the report adds.
The firm also recommended the former Farmland site, though it noted fire smoke training would be an issue if retail establishments are built there. Pros to this site would be that the land is owned by the city and the station could be incorporated into a combination of retail and entertainment with recreational facilities.
The location of 400 E. Clark St., which would have required the purchase of some occupied houses, was not recommended by the firm.
Though the site of 201 W. Main St., the former Snyder drug location, could house the fire station with a training facility, it was found to be not conducive to fire smoke training.
The report stated a committee should be formed to address the options and plan for a new building.
< FishWrap Article >
A report released Monday by a consultant firm studying the Albert Lea Fire Department has recommended that a new fire station be built.
The study, by Florida-based Almont Associates, looked at the existing fire station — along with four other possible locations — to evaluate response times, costs and other factors.
The evaluation comes as city leaders are studying the efficiency of the department while steering the city through tight budget times. The firm was hired to get an outside viewpoint.
According to the report, the existing station at City Hall, 221 E. Clark St., has become too small and creates a response risk with the vehicle and pedestrian traffic caused by City Hall. There is not enough storage or bay space for required equipment.
Fire trucks have to back into the station, and there’s no space for training. There is also problem with diesel exhaust, which can reportedly be smelled throughout City Hall.
The report stated firefighters can respond from the existing station to the core center of the city within four minutes and to the entire city within eight minutes.
Alternate locations explored were 400 E. Clark St., 201 W. Main St., 700 E. Main St. and the former Farmland Foods site on East Front Street.
The report stated while each location slightly modified the response times, the overall times changed very little.
The firm recommended the property of 700 E. Main St., the current location of the Albert Lea Township fire station, as the best site and said it would allow for both a station and training area. Fire smoke training would be OK there.
The report suggested a joint city and township facility be constructed because both fire stations are in need of replacement and each station is less than a half mile of each other.
It should also be built for multiple uses, and allow for sharing by the community for meetings or other public access. It should serve as an Emergency Operations Center during times of disaster, the report adds.
The firm also recommended the former Farmland site, though it noted fire smoke training would be an issue if retail establishments are built there. Pros to this site would be that the land is owned by the city and the station could be incorporated into a combination of retail and entertainment with recreational facilities.
The location of 400 E. Clark St., which would have required the purchase of some occupied houses, was not recommended by the firm.
Though the site of 201 W. Main St., the former Snyder drug location, could house the fire station with a training facility, it was found to be not conducive to fire smoke training.
The report stated a committee should be formed to address the options and plan for a new building.
< FishWrap Article >
1. Don't ALL fire engines have to back into their respective stations, so they can leave quickly when dispatched?
2. If it doesn't change response times, why bother?
3. I have never heard of a fire station large enough to provide training space, have you?
4. In a city with an already distressed economy, don't you think this consulting money could have been better spent?
Posted by ICU812 on Jun. 05 2012,3:39 pm
C'mon Botto, they are consultants from Florida, THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF!!! It is what they do, TRUST THEM!!! If they say we need it, by God, WE NEED IT!!As is sits now, our property taxes are not high enough. We are ONLY paying off a new high school (12 years old), that thing on the hill across from the old Aragon and an operating levy referendum.
NOW IS THE TIME!! If we wait babies will burn, seniors too, and we don't want that. A new station would prevent that for sure.
Posted by hymiebravo on Jun. 06 2012,8:08 am
QUOTE
4. In a city with an already distressed economy, don't you think this consulting money could have been better spent?
Yea that seems pretty silly to have to pay somebody to figure out a location, for something like that IMO Also you have quite an extensive availability of vacant buildings and empty lots around the city. I think a 5th grader could figure out a site that would suffice.
Or at least give you that list of options they paid for. lol
The consulting firm looks like a bunch of retired public dole people. Apparently they wanted some more time at the public pig trough. And they figured out that they can gorge off of troughs all over the country, instead of just one at a time.
I'm sorry about those comments. But it gets to a point where it is just sickening.
But the city council people don't make very much money. So maybe that is how they exact revenge on the public. lol
Posted by This is my real name on Jun. 06 2012,9:39 am
It seems like a local consultant could be sitting on a goldmine!Attention forum members: If any of you are gradutating high school this year, you may want to consider such a degree. Our local leaders have made it obvious they are willing to repeatedly spend tens of thousands of dollars on studies to have someone help them make decisions. You would probably be a more heavily favored job candidate if this was your hometown and you had a knowledge of the area. And if you have a relative or family friend employed by our local government, you are absolutely a shoo-in!
Posted by White Pride on Jun. 06 2012,11:57 am
Wouldn't it be great if the city "consulted" with it's constituents, instead? What would happen if they took the public opinion into consideration before hired consultants? OH MY GOD this city would actually turn around!
Posted by This is my real name on Jun. 06 2012,11:59 am
(White Pride @ Jun. 06 2012,11:57 am)
QUOTE
Wouldn't it be great if the city "consulted" with it's constituents, instead? What would happen if they took the public opinion into consideration before hired consultants? OH MY GOD this city would actually turn around!
You mean instead of paying consultants to agree with what they've already decided to do?
Posted by twingroves on Jun. 06 2012,1:23 pm
nobody on the council wants to make a call on somthing and take the blame if it does not workout
Posted by countryboy on Jun. 06 2012,9:49 pm
I bet the guys from Florida have some great ideas about winter solutions for Albert Lea too 
Posted by hairhertz on Jun. 06 2012,10:28 pm
yup, probably could give us pointers on green grooming for winter golf
Posted by hymiebravo on Jun. 14 2012,8:21 am
How many of these hesitant stories have been published? It seems like I have read that headline and a variant of this same story quite a bit over the past few months. Is this some sort of campaign to warm people up to idea that it isn't going to happen?
QUOTE
County hesitant over regional collaborative
A decision about a proposed regional human services redesign is expected to take place later this month after Freeborn County commissioners continue to discuss the potential collaboration.
Raising concerns about transition costs and how each county’s role would be weighted, the board voted last week to table a decision about whether to join in with the collaboration. Commissioners will take up the issue again Tuesday at the Freeborn County Human Services board meeting.
“I have some real reservations,” said board Chairman Dan Belshan last week.
The action comes as 12 counties, including Freeborn County, are considering whether to join in the collaboration to deliver services. Other counties considering the redesign are Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona.
At least a half dozen of the counties are expected to vote this week whether to participate.
Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said Tuesday afternoon he had not heard back from any of the counties that that had been slated to vote Tuesday.
Costs will be reconfigured if other counties drop out of discussions.
Locally, commissioners have pointed out concerns with taking away local control of services and asked whether it would be better to cluster with two or three other counties instead of having a dozen-county redesign. Belshan also pointed out concerns with the costs of transitioning to the collaborative model — particularly a proposed $11 million that is slated to go toward the consultant firm that has been working on developing the project.
“There’s a lot of questions and a lot of things that haven’t played out yet with other counties,” he said.
The proposal has been in the works for more than two years and came about because of continuous cuts in state and federal funding. This has led to reduced funding in most of the region’s counties. At the same time, more people are turning to county government for help with human services because of a lagging economy and the aging of the population.
Decisions for services would be made through a governance board consisting of representatives from each county, with the number of votes determined by the number of people served.
First District Commissioner Glen Mathiason and the other commissioners asked about Olmsted County’s role in the collaboration and noted that under the current proposal, it would account for 48 out of 100 votes. He asked how many votes it would take to approve items, and voiced support for needing at least three to five other counties on board in addition to Olmsted before an item can pass.
Kluever said it has not yet been determined how many votes will be needed to pass items.
The commissioners stated they had additional questions that needed to be answered, and said they did not want to take the decision lightly.
Kluever said under the current plan Freeborn County would avoid $25 million in costs after the first five years, $5.5 million after the first 10 years and $8.4 million after the first 15 years.
Estimates at one point called for $19 million in startup costs among all the counties.
A decision about a proposed regional human services redesign is expected to take place later this month after Freeborn County commissioners continue to discuss the potential collaboration.
Raising concerns about transition costs and how each county’s role would be weighted, the board voted last week to table a decision about whether to join in with the collaboration. Commissioners will take up the issue again Tuesday at the Freeborn County Human Services board meeting.
“I have some real reservations,” said board Chairman Dan Belshan last week.
The action comes as 12 counties, including Freeborn County, are considering whether to join in the collaboration to deliver services. Other counties considering the redesign are Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona.
At least a half dozen of the counties are expected to vote this week whether to participate.
Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said Tuesday afternoon he had not heard back from any of the counties that that had been slated to vote Tuesday.
Costs will be reconfigured if other counties drop out of discussions.
Locally, commissioners have pointed out concerns with taking away local control of services and asked whether it would be better to cluster with two or three other counties instead of having a dozen-county redesign. Belshan also pointed out concerns with the costs of transitioning to the collaborative model — particularly a proposed $11 million that is slated to go toward the consultant firm that has been working on developing the project.
“There’s a lot of questions and a lot of things that haven’t played out yet with other counties,” he said.
The proposal has been in the works for more than two years and came about because of continuous cuts in state and federal funding. This has led to reduced funding in most of the region’s counties. At the same time, more people are turning to county government for help with human services because of a lagging economy and the aging of the population.
Decisions for services would be made through a governance board consisting of representatives from each county, with the number of votes determined by the number of people served.
First District Commissioner Glen Mathiason and the other commissioners asked about Olmsted County’s role in the collaboration and noted that under the current proposal, it would account for 48 out of 100 votes. He asked how many votes it would take to approve items, and voiced support for needing at least three to five other counties on board in addition to Olmsted before an item can pass.
Kluever said it has not yet been determined how many votes will be needed to pass items.
The commissioners stated they had additional questions that needed to be answered, and said they did not want to take the decision lightly.
Kluever said under the current plan Freeborn County would avoid $25 million in costs after the first five years, $5.5 million after the first 10 years and $8.4 million after the first 15 years.
Estimates at one point called for $19 million in startup costs among all the counties.
Posted by Botto 82 on Jun. 14 2012,10:50 am
QUOTE
Belshan also pointed out concerns with the costs of transitioning to the collaborative model — particularly a proposed $11 million that is slated to go toward the consultant firm that has been working on developing the project.
Eleven million dollars? To a consulting firm?
Are these the same eggheads that suggested the new Government Center?
Posted by danbelshan on Jun. 14 2012,11:58 am
(Botto 82 @ Jun. 14 2012,10:50 am)
QUOTE
Eleven million dollars? To a consulting firm?
Are these the same eggheads that suggested the new Government Center?
Are these the same eggheads that suggested the new Government Center?
No
These consultants circled then swooped in from New York picking clean to the bone any money unsuspecting counties put the table to solve a problem that didn't exist.
All that needed to be done was to direct staff to work with surrounding counties and cut budgets by a certain percentage and share some services.
I voted no on hiring the vult... I mean consultants when this fiasco started.
Besides that, the future savings are projected on future increases that may or may not happen, not based on cost savings in today's budget.
But don't worry we'd only be locked in for 15 years if we join. And also married to the vult... oops I mean consultant.
Posted by Botto 82 on Jun. 14 2012,2:11 pm
Jesus wept...I hope you're not the only one that thinks this is a bad idea...
How many more county roads will have to lose maintenance to make up for the
Posted by danbelshan on Jun. 14 2012,3:39 pm
And then there was 10.Common sense is bubbling to the surface.
Winona, Fillmore counties walk away from regional human services plan
June 13, 2012 12:00 am • By Adam Voge adam.voge@winonadailynews.com
Winona and Fillmore counties each backed away Tuesday from a 12-county plan to regionalize human services programming that once appeared promising but has begun to fray in recent months.
The Winona County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday pulling out of the project, with plans to instead consider regional collaboration on a smaller scale. The Fillmore County Board of Commissioners passed a similar measure later in the day.
“It just alters things for us to the point where it would be difficult to do it on the regional level,” said commissioner Jim Pomeroy....
< http://www.winonadailynews.com/news...7a.html >
Posted by hairhertz on Jun. 14 2012,4:21 pm
next the county will want to hire an admin who will coordinate a committe on consulting[something like the vo-tech's committee on committees]
Posted by hymiebravo on Jun. 19 2012,6:46 am
I think the point about using people already on the government payroll, to implement some sort of cost saving measures, is the crux of the matter. Although the government certainly has a bad reputation in that regard. You do read about integration at state and local levels. So it isn't that far fetched of a concept.
When I read about something like this. It makes it sort of look like consultants run the local and state governments. And all the elected people are just brokers for them.
And using seemingly predatory consultants doesn't seem to be a very sound solution to anything.
Posted by danbelshan on Jun. 24 2012,1:33 pm
All counties will vote by early next month, but six have already made their decision; Fillmore, Winona and Goodhue counties have opted out ...< http://www.austindailyherald.com/2012...-merger >
6/19/2012
Rice County Board Rejects Redesign
Now their are 8
This thing is falling apart faster than State Highway 69 south of Albert Lea.
Posted by scorenix on Jun. 24 2012,2:11 pm
(danbelshan @ Jun. 24 2012,1:33 pm)
QUOTE
Now their are 8
This thing is falling apart faster than State Highway 69 south of Albert Lea.
This thing is falling apart faster than State Highway 69 south of Albert Lea.
And myabe with good reason.
Lost in the cost savings argument is that Olmsted County provides far more services, early-age and preventative programs that Freeborn County does not provide. So cost savings evaporate, and may likely even cost more, if Olmsted County with 48% elects to continue with their programs.
Unless of course, you think Olmsted County, home to Mayo Clinic, would actually reduce these services.
Posted by ICU812 on Aug. 16 2012,10:12 am
< Trib Story >QUOTE
Freeborn County Engineer Sue Miller said Plaza Street in its current location sometimes gets mistaken as an Interstate 90 on-ramp.
Is that for everybody or just the people try to go the wrong way on I-90?
Posted by Pretzel Logic on Aug. 16 2012,11:30 am
It is a simple fix for that. Bump Outs
Posted by hairhertz on Aug. 16 2012,12:17 pm
(Pretzel Logic @ Aug. 16 2012,11:30 am)
QUOTE
It is a simple fix for that. Bump Outs
Let's add round abouts, they're current answer to all traffic problems, there must be a consultant for that.
I still believe they'll add a consultant on consulting before the people say "ENOUGH!"
Posted by amyzone on Aug. 23 2012,11:31 am
Well I am taking bets on the fact that this store will never happen!! Those high paid "consultants" are going to make sure Hy-Vee wins all. Don't get me wrong... love my Hy-Vee but a Kwik Trip out on this side of town would be an awesome addition and I think there is plenty of business to go around for the Kwik Trip and the newly expanded Hy-Vee gas. Come on people!!! Let both businesses thrive!!!!
Posted by Glad I Left on Aug. 24 2012,7:19 pm
(hairhertz @ Aug. 16 2012,12:17 pm)
QUOTE
(Pretzel Logic @ Aug. 16 2012,11:30 am)
QUOTE
It is a simple fix for that. Bump Outs
Let's add round abouts, they're current answer to all traffic problems, there must be a consultant for that.
I still believe they'll add a consultant on consulting before the people say "ENOUGH!"
Mankato is adding one where the old Hwy 14 and 22 meet, right by Snell (old Menard's). Dumbest idea ever!
In my travels I find that roundabouts work good with low traffic area where a stop light would not be necessary but a stop sign would slow traffic needlessly.
In higher traffic areas roundabouts are the absolute worst.
I'd love to see a study that says they are more efficient and/or have less traffic accidents in this case.
Posted by usmcr on Aug. 24 2012,9:31 pm
what is the problem with the right turn lanes? tiger hills has one & for what maybe 20 houses! loves truck & auto station has them as well as trails. getting rid of the service road seems to be going backwards imho! i think that is the main problem with the north bridge situation, the lack of service roads with the limited access to bridge ave. the original layout was flawed. just like the plaza street entry onto bridge st when it was last revised! what this community needs is some comprehensive planning with the future in mind! line up these intersections & be done with the offset ones like at richway & bridge. install some intelligent signals that can tell that no vehicle is in the left turn lane! there has been enough accidents at the intersection out by the skyline mall. why not eliminate them & install a roundabout with stop signs at each intersection. random thoughts! 
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 25 2012,4:27 am
(Glad I Left @ Aug. 24 2012,7:19 pm)
QUOTE
(hairhertz @ Aug. 16 2012,12:17 pm)
QUOTE
(Pretzel Logic @ Aug. 16 2012,11:30 am)
QUOTE
It is a simple fix for that. Bump Outs
Let's add round abouts, they're current answer to all traffic problems, there must be a consultant for that.
I still believe they'll add a consultant on consulting before the people say "ENOUGH!"
Mankato is adding one where the old Hwy 14 and 22 meet, right by Snell (old Menard's). Dumbest idea ever!
In my travels I find that roundabouts work good with low traffic area where a stop light would not be necessary but a stop sign would slow traffic needlessly.
In higher traffic areas roundabouts are the absolute worst.
I'd love to see a study that says they are more efficient and/or have less traffic accidents in this case.
My question is "how much more goes into maintaining these roundabouts as compared to a regular intersection?"
I go around the one at Medford, near the outlet mall from time to time with a semi, what a pain in the arse.