Topic: I nominate Liberal for Mayor!
started by: Paul Harvey
Posted by Paul Harvey on Dec. 05 2004,4:32 pm
Are you with me?
Posted by magter on Dec. 05 2004,4:47 pm
Posted by DrBombay on Dec. 05 2004,4:48 pm
I'm with you alright. If there would be an up-coming special election, like if Krusty is forced to resign by kicking and screaming citizens that refuse to accept her being sworn in on Dec. 27th. Would Liberal accept the nomination?? That is the question.
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Dec. 05 2004,5:49 pm
I wrote him in during the election, and I'd vote for him again if he accepted the nomination.
Posted by Montyman on Dec. 05 2004,6:02 pm
Whoa Now... 
Posted by DrBombay on Dec. 05 2004,6:06 pm
Will Roger ask for the Mayors resignation at the council meeting tomorrow night?
Posted by Liberal on Dec. 05 2004,7:33 pm
Thanks guys, but, in reality I would make a terrible mayor. I'm not very friendly, I tend to get angry, and when I do get angry I usually say things that I shouldn't say. And sometimes I even do that when I'm not angry. Also I really doubt that anyone thinks a mayor with a pierced eyebrow is a good idea. Besides, I'd probably get such swollen head that I'd have to buy a new tuque and it's really hard to find a good tuque these days.I have to admit, it would be fun though, I'd love to be able to start and end every meeting asking for a motion to get rid of Paul Sparks, Pam Bishop and the ALEDC. (or whatever they decided to call it after somebody bought their domain names out from under them
)
Posted by DrBombay on Dec. 05 2004,8:16 pm
oops!
Posted by DrBombay on Dec. 05 2004,8:18 pm
Liberal, just think about this before saying no. This is only a 2 year gig, so if you really hated it you could bow out in only 2 yrs. Think of the ass that could be kicked, and the secrets you could ferret out. No more getting away with secret business deals with there friends. Secret stuff at these silly pre-agenda meetings would be done. You could make the Council meetings a source of public input again, and not just a dog and pony show where they have previously decided how they will vote, and don't give a crap about people's input. This could very well be the step that could get this towns government back to what it should be. "By the people". If nothing else you could make a lot of people uncomfortably accountable for 2 years.
So what, you get angry. So do I, and so does anyone who's human. Do you think it's normal to have a "stepford" mayor. (who now claims she's angry because she got caught stealing). I think we need some anger, with the crap these criminals have been pulling for years.
So please don't say no, until you ponder it for awhile.
Posted by DrBombay on Dec. 05 2004,8:35 pm
| Quote |
| Also I really doubt that anyone thinks a mayor with a pierced eyebrow is a good idea. |
Please take a good look at ICU812's avatar. Do you really think anyone would notice your eyebrow ring?
Posted by Madd Max on Dec. 05 2004,11:00 pm
I like the idea of Liberal being our next Mayor; we need someone in there that will shake City Hall to its foundation. Some one that believes that government is to be, buy the people, of the people and for the people. Not just a few dictating their will on upon the masses.
Posted by Expatriate on Dec. 06 2004,9:33 am
Well Lib at least your honest enough to admit you have faults, that puts you a rung above most government officials.
Posted by Montyman on Dec. 08 2004,8:48 pm
I say OK if Lib professes conservatism---after all, we must cut that budget folksMM
:cool:
Posted by MrTarzan on Dec. 20 2004,12:06 am
I would vote for you Liberal. I would vote for you even if there was someone other than Jean to vote for too. Your arguments are usually well thought out, showing your intellegence, and well written, speaking well of your education. You would make a good mayor because of your passion, and though I disagree with you on many national political thoughts, you have been on the money locally more often than not. It would take quite an opponent to win my vote away from you, like maybe JimHanson 
Posted by Truth on Dec. 20 2004,4:34 am
I un nominatehim.
Posted by pete on Dec. 20 2004,9:56 pm
Has anyone heard about Fjelsted being part of a deal to buy the city land on Pickeral Lake?
Posted by Nose for News on Dec. 20 2004,10:18 pm
| Quote (pete @ Dec. 20 2004,9:56,pm) |
| Has anyone heard about Fjelsted being part of a deal to buy the city land on Pickeral Lake? |
Group: Moderator
Posts: 977
Joined: Aug. 2003 Posted: Nov. 09 2004,4:07,pm
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Last week the Tribune ran a story about the port authority property out on Pickerel lake.
Quote
| Quote |
The Albert Lea Port Authority discussed selling land to the north of Pickerel Lake to developers during its meeting Tuesday. The land, spanning approximately 165 acres, was previously owned by Bertha Weiks and was purchased by the city for $328,000 in 1998. Since the purchase, the land has been rented out for cropland. It is now estimated to be worth $525,000 to $600,000. With their purchase of the acreage, the city intended to sell it for residential purposes. The board is exploring six purchase options, as offered by potential buyers: |
The story went on to list the options but but never said anything about who rents the farm land now or how much they pay for it. That got me wondering if that wasn't the land that Roger Bok is always asking about. So after asking around I found out that the person that rents the land is County Commissioner Mark Behrends and he pays $80 an acre for it.
Right after that story the Tribune ran the story about Springborg's resignation but never mentioned that he resigned as a county commissioner to take a job as a jailer in the jail he voted to build.
That's two stories in just over a weeks time where the Tribune has left out parts of the story out that would have shed a bad light on local government and if that wasn't bad enough they run an editorial on Sunday that says
| Quote |
| My message here - which is about the same as moms the world over might say - is if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all, at least to strangers. |
In that one sentence she summed up the entire problem with the Albert Lea Tribune. They need to quit trying to decide what's "nice" news and just print the whole story let the people decide for themselves otherwise we'll continue to have problems no matter how optimistic we are.
Posted by ICU812 on Dec. 21 2004,7:57 am
| Quote |
| Has anyone heard about Fjelsted being part of a deal to buy the city land on Pickeral Lake? |
I know one of the guys involved in developing the land out there, dont know if Fjelstad is involved or not. Would it matter if he was? If he abstained from voting, and was not getting a cheaper price on it because of being on the "inside", would it be wrong for him to participate? Just asking, I dont support or oppose. I would be against it if it were illegal for him to be involved, but dont know that either. I am however all for getting more developments going in this town.
You could also go to freeborncounty.com and ask him directly, I bet he would answer promptly too.
Posted by MrTarzan on Dec. 21 2004,9:16 am
When will the scandals end? The commissioner cannot rent property from the same government he is serving with. What is going on around here? Is this whole town asleep at the wheel? I think that this should be a whole new thread. Nose for News, I don't know who you are, but it is nice to have you out there digging. You find amazing things that the Tribune should be finding. Do you know if Behrends was renting the same land when it was purchased, or only after? Was he all ready in office?
Posted by pete on Dec. 21 2004,10:17 pm
Not sure he should be excluded, but it does raise questions. If he is involved, or will be, he should be exempting himself from votes and should stay off the port board. Behrends should be held to the same standard.
Posted by Nose for News on Dec. 22 2004,12:06 am
Behrends forsees winds of changeBy Ann Austin, Tribune staff writer 5/23/04
Having survived making difficult decisions for the county during his first term as District 5 Freeborn County commissioner, Mark Behrends now wants to work through the opportunities created by those earlier decisions. He announced Friday he will run for a second term on the county board.
"I've enjoyed the last three and a half years and would enjoy another term," he said.
Behrends, who farms soybeans and corn on a fourth-generation farm, initially became a commissioner to be more involved in the community. He's excited about the growth of Albert Lea, he said, siting businesses moving to Albert Lea because of benefits available through Gov. Tim Pawlenty's JOBZ program.
"There's great things that could happen with that," he said.
Behrends prides himself in having an open mind when presented with issues and being able to make difficult decisions.
"I'm willing to make the tough decisions when they have to be made," he said.
Some of the issues creating the biggest challenge for Behrends during his first term included the new courthouse, budget cuts and the development of the watershed board.
Job creation is one of the biggest concerns now, Behrends said, but programs like the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency can help job growth.
"There are a lot of different entities working to make this city and county grow," he said.
Behrends has been involved with various boards including Planning and Zoning, the Extension Committee, Semcac, Greater Jobs, Port Authority, Solid Waste and the Agriculture Task Force, to name a few.
His first term has given him background in many areas considered by the county board, which is an asset for making future decisions, he said.
Behrends was on Port Authority Board while that board was renting land to him.
Did the Port Authority offer that land to the public for rent and accept highest bids or did they rent only to an insider?
Ave rent 2002 Freeborn County $106.31/acre
Ave rent 2002 Pickerel Lake Township (where port Authority land lies) $127.76/acre
< http://www.extension.umn.edu/county....nd' >