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| Post Number: 11
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MADDOG 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,9:26 am |
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If we're going to have fun with this thread, we need to have something in here that strikes close to home. From Dan Belshan's newsletter, June 2002, read'em and weep: | Quote | Freeborn County Info
(Back to the Grassroots)
From Dan Belshan, Freeborn County 2nd District
RR1 Box 192 Glenville, MN 56036
507-448-3332
email dbelshan@clear.lakes.com
Volume 4, Issue 1, June, 2002
Facts, Opinions and Info from Dan Belshan, Freeborn County 2nd District Commissioner
BUDGET We need to look carefully at ways to downsize our county budget next year. We bonded $1 million to operate this year. Have any ideas? I welcome them.
Courts/Jail/Law Enforcement Center
OPINION: I believe we need a new judicial center (courts and court services) but that we do not need a new 117 bed jail at this time.
As they used to say on Dragnet “Just the facts;. I can back up these facts with taped meeting transcripts, documents and the media. However, there is lots of;spin; going around.
SPIN: We've been looking at building a jail for 6-1/2? years;let's just do it.
FACT: The county began looking at building a jail only after 3 new members took office in Jan 01.
FACT: Architects Boarman Kroos Vogel were hired to design a new courthouse in 1997. In 2000 after public meetings the former board did not vote to build courthouse Plan 10 from BKV at a cost of $12 million, and the jail was not included. Plan 10 did not leave room for jail expansion, which I had pointed out in Mar 99.
SPIN: 2001 The air quality in the Law Enforcement Center is poor, and to correct it could cost $1 million, says Sheriff Nolander and an architect.
FACT: I suggested that since Alliant Energy had saved us a substantial amount of money on energy saving light bulbs in Human Services, we should look into any other cost saving ideas from Alliant. Alliant did an air quality study and energy audit, and found the air handling system was not energy efficient, but the air was fine. They put in a new energy efficient system (I've been told it's about the same size as the old one) and it is being paid for by energy savings; cost to the county is $0.
FACT: The board voted to have the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) do a study on jail needs, a PONI (Planning of New Institution) Phase I technical assistance. This is a usual step before building. It is an extensive study of how the current courts, law enforcement and jail system is operating in a county, steps that may be taken to solve problems without building, and includes a guide to jail design. The study is at no cost to the county.
FACT: July 01 The board watched a video provided by NIC. It said not to hire an architect until you've looked at the jail needs and the entire judicial and courts system.
FACT: Aug 01 The board voted 3-2 to hire architects BKV to do a jail needs study and upon completion draw up plans for a new judicial/jail facility. Mathiason and I wished to wait for the new administrator Ron Gabrielsen (coming in Sept 01) and the NIC study (supposed to take place in Dec 01).
SPIN: BKV will work side by side with the NIC study.
FACT: The NIC study was never done.
SPIN: It wasn't done because of 9-11 terrorism.
FACT: I have letters from the NIC from Jan, Feb, and April 02 showing they attempted to schedule it with our staff without success, and were later not provided with paperwork needed to continue, even though administrator Ron Gabrielsen said at public meetings in April 02 that he hoped it would be done this spring. On May 02 the board voted 3-2 to rescind the motion to have our NIC study, thereby killing it. Mathiason and I wanted the NIC study done before proceeding with jail plans, wanted more than just architect BKV's study.
FACT: (Feb to Aug 01) I was able to get statistics from the County Attorney on jail population, and used them in a chart to show that our jail overcrowding is caused in part by the large number of minimum security work release inmates (about 40%) Huber Law released to work, sleep dormitory-style, minimal guard. Nearby counties (Olmsted, Scott, LaCrosse) are building, have built, or used existing empty buildings as low cost Huber facilities, but the majority of the board did not choose to look at that cost study option. Sept 01 to Jun 02 I continue to ask for statistics and info to back up statements from law enforcement staff.
SPIN: It would take too much overtime to give one commissioner (guess who) more info.
FACT: I asked for statistics and information from administrator Gabrielsen and received criticism from our sheriff and staff for asking for public information and questions within the realm of commissioner concerns. OPINION: I think I'm being stonewalled.
SPIN: We need a huge jail.
FACT: NIC literature says to use the rule of 10/90, that is, 10% of the cost of a jail is building it. 90% of the cost is the ongoing operation. Using that rule, a new $12 million jail could cost the county $100 million to run over 30 years. Jail staff is 70-80% cost of operation, new jail concept adds $1/2 million in staff wage.
OPINION: Our staff insists it is cheaper to build a big jail and run it than to have a separate Huber facility, use appropriate home monitoring, and rent beds in other counties if needed. I maintain we could do those things and postpone building a jail until we really need it, as other counties have done or are doing. I have asked for facts on the actual costs of those options but have not received them.
FACT: 1970 County population 38,064. 2000 census 32,584. Young adults 18-34 have twice the incarceration rates as middle aged 35-49 and 13 times the rates for senior citizens 50 and older. Our county population is aging. Our demographics show this key element in the underlying demand for jail space is less with a low proportion of young adults.
FACT: March 02 Chairman Mullenbach said we do not plan to rent beds to other counties, but are only looking at the needs in Freeborn County. Scott County, MN is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. With approx. 98,000 pop. they are looking at building a jail and are taking many YEARS to do it. Freeborn County, with a shrinking population, is looking at building a 117 bed jail and are doing it in 1.5 years on advice from the architects who get more money on a bigger project.
SPIN: We've looked at all the options.
FACT: After the study done by architect BKV with our staff, BKV says our jail is overcrowded and we should build a new one, designed by them (which coincidentally fits the footprint of the space needed by the courts and court services). They presented only one concept (47 pages). An option I wanted explored was to build a judicial building and use our existing jail with more secure space, adding a large Huber facility below the jail or somewhere offsite, similar to other counties. This concept has never been explored.
SPIN: Mower County didn't want to pursue building jointly with Freeborn County.
FACT: Nov 01 Talks with Mower County to investigate building a joint jail/ judicial center in Freeborn County were terminated in a 3-2 vote by OUR BOARD not to continue to even LOOK at the option. The Mower Co. board, Commissioner Mathiason and I wanted to investigate further to possibly save millions in construction and operation costs.
FACT: March 01 Administrator Gene Smith left to work for Dunn County, WI.
FACT: The Dunn County jail, visited by some commissioners, and used as an example by BKV, made money renting out beds but now has surplus beds and may have to lower the rent. Feb 02 A WI newspaper said the gravy train is about to end. They built large, but have about the same number of Dunn Co. prisoners as before they built. Their former sheriff, who helped design the new jail, is serving time in a neighboring county jail for misuse of Dunn County funds. Many WI counties built jails, and now have surplus beds.
OPINION: I look at the facts and ponder the following.
1. The whole board agrees we need a new courts and court services building. How did a large jail and a push to demolish the 54 building become the focus? If our courthouse is so crowded, why are we currently renting out prime office space in the 54 and considering renting office space in the new building to the State of MN?
2. The job of the county board is to be fiscally responsible, so why aren't we checking out every option before building a huge new jail? (More than doubling the size of the jail without first trying other options to eliminate overcrowding, as nearby counties have done.) How will we bond? Where is money in reserve for building?
3. Two jail breaks in recent years were blamed on overcrowding, but bars on the windows could have prevented escape. We've added bars (cost about $6,000). Proposed new jail design has windows with no bars.
4. Who came up with the spin build it and they will come? When did an expensive new government building ever bring industry and economic growth to a county? Will high taxes attract high tech?
5. The architect has set the timeline (break ground Fall 02), they've done the only paid study, and developed the only concept. The most expensive project the county has ever undertaken is being driven by the sole paid consultant, and the more $ we spend, the more $ they make.
THE CITIZENS OF FREEBORN COUNTY DESERVE BETTER !
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Edited by MADDOG on Jan. 05 2004,9:33 am
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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: 12
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guest
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,9:31 am |
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Did the industries really dump more or is it just that with Farmland gone there was less waste to dilute the molybdenum? I heard that that last year they were right at the limit. Should the City be checking for this and do something about it sooner?
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| Post Number: 13
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,10:40 am |
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Guest--good point.
Similar government goof-up--a small coastal town in Alaska was advised by the EPA that they needed to build an expensive new, cost-prohibitive treatment plant. The EPA advised that there was another way to comply--pump fresh water directly from wells to mix with the effluent, cutting the parts per million. The town now pumps perfectly good fresh water and flushes it through the plant--causing even more effluent--BUT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EPA!
"THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION IS DILUTION!" 
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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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| Post Number: 14
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The Rocket
Group: Members
Posts: 23
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,5:48 pm |
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Sounds like your damned if do or if you don't. Stop all the sump pumps from pumping and now the parts per million are to high. Maybe they shouldn't have required the fairgrounds to plug all the surface drains that are connected to the sanitary system. If the city infastructure can't handle the flow then how about pulling in some upstream water from the Shell Rock right at the plant to increase the flow at the disposal plant and run it at closer to its capacity. I would think the downstream water quality would increase at a minimal cost and they would be able to land spread the sludge again.
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| Post Number: 15
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montyman
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,7:23 pm |
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Good thought Rocket.
'Course these guys probably don't know what BOD and TSS are.
I assume the effluent limits are at 5/5, with a pretty stringent NH3 standard thrown in too.
Your idea might work pretty well in the winter...
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| Post Number: 16
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cwolff
Group: Members
Posts: 265
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,7:41 pm |
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I recently attended an informational meeting put on by the MPCA regarding the proposed 2004 Impaired Waters List, which if your waterbody is included, it precludes the MPCA to perform a TMDL Study and TMDL Implementation to clean up the pollutants. I noticed that the Shell Rock River between Albert Lea Lake to Goose Creek was put onto the Impaired Waters List in 1994 for the pollutants/stressors ammonia and fecal coliform, and again in 2002 for turbidity. My organization in Heron Lake was instrumental in getting Heron Lake onto the 2002 list for excess nutrients, which I was told at the informational meeting was what you want to get onto the list for is excess nutrients, and this will push the main button as far as getting your waterbody cleaned up. Phosphorous is everybodies main problem when it comes to excessive algae and green and slimmy lake conditions, and this is one of the main focuses during a TMDL Study for excess nutrients. A 30 day public comment period will run from January 12 - February 12, 2004 through the MPCA contact person of Dr. Howard Markus (651) 296-7295 if you would like to comment about having this stretch of river/stream between Albert Lea Lake and Goose Creek or any other polluted lake or stream within your watershed included onto the list for excess nutrients. Give Dr. Markus a call if you have any questions about the Impaired Waters List and how it can help your situation with cleanup or restoration. Heron Lake was not even on the proposed 2002 impaired waters list, but I sent a letter stating why I thought it should be on the list, and it was included with the final 2002 list. The list gets updated every two years. Good Luck!
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| Post Number: 17
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Montyman
Group: Members
Posts: 421
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 05 2004,8:05 pm |
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Be careful what you ask for, as the old saying goes.
Have seen the impaired waters list e-mails.
Anytime I see the "MPCA" acronym, I get nervous at first glance.
Just look what the agency has recently done with the EPA's NPDES Industrial Phase-In, for example.
cwolff has a great idea if the nutrients can be controlled, but the cost to do so would affect farmers as well as city folks with their lawns, etc.
How about adding Wedges' Creek and Fountain Lake to that list too?
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Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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| Post Number: 18
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hoosier
Group: Members
Posts: 1476
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 06 2004,10:38 am |
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Government goof ups? How about our county board paying almost a half million in interest on a loan this past year alone that they didnt need all at once. They only had to borrow enough for the first year of construction, had they not borrowed the whole amount at once, the county would be a half million richer right now. Mullenbach was the one pushing this, he was the one working with the bonding company. Funny how rumor has it that he was seen getting off a seaplane at a Canadian fly in resort, all expenses paid, by you know who? The same bonding company that benifited from our boards idiotic decision to borrow way more money than we needed at one time. Our county attorney should look into this, Mullenbach is a piece of $hit that needs to get whats coming to him, jail time.
Lets not forget that the fairness committee that our board blackmailed into getting out of county politics actually saved us thousands of dollars by dragging the courthouse out a little longer, the interest rates dropped during this time, saving us money.
You want government goofups? You neednt look any further than Freeborn county, plenty right here in our own backyard. 
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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: 19
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Montyman
Group: Members
Posts: 421
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 06 2004,7:24 pm |
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Yeah, that 'we gotta use prevailing wages because then we'll get a better contractor' problem AND that 'bonding without a vote of the people' problem AND that 'dysfunctional board' problem AND that 'garvel road turnback' problem AND...
Vote 'em out if you don't like it.
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Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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| Post Number: 20
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 09 2004,6:54 pm |
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Here's a link to a follow-up of the initial post on this thread. Almost ANY FEDERAL OFFICIAL--including the Dept. of Education cited in this article--can carry a concealed weapon on board the aircraft--BUT THE PILOT CAN'T!| Quote | | When asked why an agent from the Department of Education might need to carry a concealed weapon, a spokesman from the agency cited the example of an investigator probing a trade school under suspicion of student-loan fraud. |
Link to entire article http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36518
My friend the 757 captain can't carry a gun in the cockpit to protect himself and the passengers in the event the door is breached--but the Department of Education "crimefighting nerd" in the back can--where it can be taken away from him and used on the passengers or crew.
The CO-PILOT on the same aircraft can't be trusted with a gun in the cockpit, but on his days OFF from the airline, he flies a heavily armed F-16 fighter--WHICH MAY BE TASKED WITH SHOOTING DOWN AN AIRLINER THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY TERRORISTS!
For GLARING INCONSISTENCIES, KNEE-JERK REACTIONS, and IGNORING A CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE, I award the TSA this GOVERNMENT GOOF-UP AWARD!
Edited by jimhanson on Jan. 09 2004,6:57 pm
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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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