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| Post Number: 61
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Think it Through
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:05 pm |
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Before you go bashing Fjelsted lets think about a few things. First of all, maybe he too sees the Think Tank for what many here do. Possibly he has decided that they could become a power and he does not want that. Shouldn't he ask for the Mayor to resign if she is being influenced by the Think Tank?
Secondly, maybe once Fjelstad got involved on a more direct level of the City Government (more involved and seeing more than we outsiders could ever see) he saw that Sparks was not the root of the problems. Maybe he sees that just waiting a few years for him to retire is a better alternative than possible law suits and going without any City Manager for a period of time.
Maybe it is a combination of the two. The one thing I know about Fjelstad is that since he has been on the council he has spoke his mind and not been influenced by outside sources.
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| Post Number: 62
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The Advocate
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:22 pm |
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Think it through, why don't you? You are exactly whom I was referring to in my above article. I think you write on this site to insite controversy where ever you can because that is exactly what divides people. United we stand and are strong. But you don't really want that. You throw in an innuendo here and an innuendo there, just enought to throw off the balance. Don't you. You are an insider, part of the current establishment. And by the way, Sparks has a snowballs chance in hell to win any discrimination suit and he knows it. Play honest or don't play at all.
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| Post Number: 63
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To A Tee
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:26 pm |
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Doesn't Albert lLea have an Assistant City Manager? Can't he readily step into the Managers position if needed?
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| Post Number: 64
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Think it Through
Unregistered
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:31 pm |
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Well Advocate you and your Think Tank buddies have a great time finishing running this town into the ground. I did not realize that you were a lawyer and know for certain that Sparks would not have a chance at winning. I did not know you could just fire a public employee just because you did not like them or thought they did a bad job. Does the council (or more appropriately the think tank since they are the ones pushing it) have a written set of goals or work expectations that Sparks is suppose to meet? In your job can your boss just come up to you and say “well you’ve been here too long and some of us think industries should be breaking down our doors to come here. It has to be all your fault, your fired.” If that how it works being a lawyer then I am glad I am not one.
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| Post Number: 65
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Think it Through
Unregistered
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:33 pm |
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To A Tee - the assistant City Manager has been here longer than Sparks and is older. When the former mayor tried to fire Sparks the Assistant said he would retire rather than be the City Manager under those circumstances.
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| Post Number: 66
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hoosier 
Group: Members
Posts: 1476
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:37 pm |
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Think it through, I agree with you about the possibility that he has seen the think tank for what it is. I also agree about the next part of your post about Fjelsted seeing things that others cant. But the fact is, he made a promise, plain and simple. He was stupid for making that promise in the first place. He realy has no control to get rid of Sparks unless he has help from the other councilmen. He does have the control to do what he said he would do if he failed, and that is to resign. Sorry, but anyway you slice it, if he stays on despite his promise, he has lied to us all. My bet is, he would do it again. Whats more important to him? Keeping his word, putting the spotlight on the situation we have here by showing his contempt with the whole process. Or is he just like all the others that his only concern is staying on the council.
Sorry, but I think most people have had it with politicians that say things just to get elected. If he didnt know anymore about Sparks and the job he does before he made that promise, then he should have kept his mouth shut and not made that promise. I understand Fjelsted, I am a big mouthed @sshole myself, but in this case, his big mouth has gotten him in trouble. Now he either has to put up or shut up. He either does the right thing and quits, or he is labled as the lier that he is, plain and simple. No more lying to the people, I would rather someone not be qualified for the job, than to have someone that cant tell the truth.
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The power of accurate obsvervation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw
The devil begins with froth on the lips of an angel entering into battle for a holy and just cause. Grigory Pomerants
We have crossed the boundary that lies between Republic and Empire. Garet Garrett
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| Post Number: 67
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The Advocate
Unregistered
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,2:56 pm |
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I am not an attorney. I have never personally met anyone or spoken to anyone on the "think tank" roster. I tell it like I see it. I am one of the totally independent people I know. I am beholden to no one as my income is derived from sources that could care less about any politics I choose to become involved in or verbalize about. I am a long time resident of Freeborn County, in fact, born here. I am not a "Johnny Come Lately" to our fair city (county), so I do remember a very different place growing up. After saying that let me just add that I am sick to death of what has happened to Albert Lea over the past 25 to 30 years. I stayed here and made it my home because I have always loved it, and was fortunate enough to obtain gameful employment in this area. I have been called negative by the best of them and probably will continue to be called negative. My suggestions, however, have been out of the love for this area and the need for preservation of our heritage. There are many long time residents that feel as I do. We are sick of being lied to , manipulated, treated like second class citizens, by the very people that came long after we were here. Our town is dying and no amount of "spin" will change that fact. Do not tell me to run for public office because I already have and I lost. But I will continue to write and to be heard through my writing.
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| Post Number: 68
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The Advocate
Unregistered
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,3:00 pm |
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I am not an attorney. I have never personally met anyone or spoken to anyone on the "think tank" roster. I tell it like I see it. I am one of the totally independent people I know. I am beholden to no one as my income is derived from sources that could care less about any politics I choose to become involved in or verbalize about. I am a long time resident of Freeborn County, in fact, born here. I am not a "Johnny Come Lately" to our fair city (county), so I do remember a very different place growing up. After saying that let me just add that I am sick to death of what has happened to Albert Lea over the past 25 to 30 years. I stayed here and made it my home because I have always loved it, and was fortunate enough to obtain gameful employment in this area. I have been called negative by the best of them and probably will continue to be called negative. My suggestions, however, have been out of the love for this area and the need for preservation of our heritage. There are many long time residents that feel as I do. We are sick of being lied to , manipulated, treated like second class citizens, by the very people that came long after we were here. Our town is dying and no amount of "spin" will change that fact. Do not tell me to run for public office because I already have and I lost. But I will continue to write and to be heard through my writing.
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| Post Number: 69
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hoosier
Group: Members
Posts: 1476
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,3:13 pm |
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Advocate, nice post. I feel the same way, although I may be considered what you call a Johnny Come Lately, I have only lived here going on 10 years. I have lived in some larger cities, approaching 100,000 in population, sorry, but that is large in my opinion. But in that time, I have never seen anything that compares to the crap that goes on in this town, buy the people we elect. I just didnt realize it could get so bad in a small town.
As far as being negative, I dont see it. To me it just means you want better than we got now. Whats wrong with that people? We deserve better, we should all demand better.
There is a big difference between complaining about your government and loving where you live. I complain about our government because I love it here.
I agree with you, I am beholden to know one either, thats the way it should be. Politics is black and white for me, you either work for the people or you dont. If you do, that also means it really doesnt matter if its you or not that is serving. Its not about any one person serving, its about the people being served. Any politician that thinks he is the only one that can get things done, is just the kind of guy you dont want in office, he is there for the power.
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The power of accurate obsvervation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw
The devil begins with froth on the lips of an angel entering into battle for a holy and just cause. Grigory Pomerants
We have crossed the boundary that lies between Republic and Empire. Garet Garrett
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| Post Number: 70
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Think it Through
Unregistered
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Posted on: Oct. 07 2003,5:24 pm |
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Advocate -You say you've been here a long time. I will admit I have not. I will ask you then what I have asked others in a different stream on this forum, questions which no one would answer. What would have happened to this town and community if Farmland/Wilson’s/Etc. would have burned down and left town 20 to 30 years ago? What other businesses were in this city 20 to 30 years ago that made the city that much better? What businesses/industries were all set to come here and then pulled out solely because of Sparks? I would truly like to learn more on these issues. Not a single poster has ever responded to these questions. Like I said, I have posted these questions on a different stream on this forum and also on the old Tribune forum. When no one responds to these questions with any real answers it tells me that most people complaining are just blowing smoke, they have no facts or information to back their argument.
I will also again ask you this “Does the council (or more appropriately the think tank since they are the ones pushing it) have a written set of goals or work expectations that Sparks is suppose to meet?” You remind me of minnow – you don’t answer direct questions when asked.
I have said it many times and will say it again. If everyone would channel this energy and hatred they have towards Sparks to something more positive maybe they could get things to change. How would you perform at your job if you were constantly being doubted, questioned, and threatened to be fired? I am sure no one would perform their job to the best of their abilities.
You also say you ran for office and lost. If you think everyone else feels the same as you, why did you lose? Maybe you should run again. You want to hear my theory why Eaton won the Mayoral race? Because she oozes positivity, she could even convince minnow that Albert Lea is the greatest place to live and that big things are coming.
If everyone would be more positive, try and make a difference themselves and not constantly muddying the waters, then maybe you would see some changes. Just look at all the positive things that have happened for this town the last few years. Home Depot, Super Wal-Mart, other new retail shops, Applebee’s, Green Mill, Farmer’s Market new location and additional activities. There are many more. Everyone should go to bed early tomorrow morning, get up, take a deep breath, and think about how lucky you are and how good you have it. You could be waking up somewhere much worse, or not at all.
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