3/29/12
Readers are invited to watch the 3/26council meeting and Item 6A (Osgood Milfoil Report) at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=475
Listen carefully as council member Siakel uses her version of fair math to allocate funding for 2012 milfoil treatment on Phelps and Gideons Bays.
The LMA and the Enchanted Island Bay Captain asked fot $6000 for Phelps. Siakel moved to approve and the motion was seconded. Council member Woodruff then asked Mr.Osgood how the $6000 provided by Shorewood in 2011 was allocated between Phelps and Gideons to which he replied it was split $3000/$3000. Woodruff then went on to say he could possibly support $6000 for Phelps, but would Siakel accept an amendment to her motion providing some funds for Gideons even if this meant spending more than the 2012 total milfoil budget of $6000.
Siakel refused to amend her motion going on to speak about there being only 15 Shorewood properties on Gideons and implying that Tonka Bay and Excelsior should be providing all the funds. The Insider is baffled by Siakel's math reasoning. She says 15 properties equal $0. The Insider checked, and there are 30 properties with homes in Shorewood in the treatment zone on Phelps. So, by Siakel's math in one case 15 equals $0 while 30 equals $6000 in another.
After somne additional discussion, a light bulb seems to come on over council member Zerby's head and he suggests providing $1000 for Gideons. Siakel immediately accepts. Apparently it dawned on Zerby that he and his council buddies could never explain to Timber Lane residents why they were unworthy of receiving any funds for Gideons and, once the suggestion for funds came from someone other than Woodruff, it was OK with Siakel.
In conclusion, Phelps gets twice the 2011 funding for 2012 and Gideons gets one third. Must make perfect sense to Siakel.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Osgood asks for a check, doesn't have actual treatment costs for the two bays last year, but admits there were excess funds. Councilor Woodruff believes it is the duty of the council to ask for accounting to see how $$ were spent - Siakel states she "doesn't need that level of detail". What the heck? Oh, never mind, Mr. Heck and common sense have left the building.
ReplyDeleteI watched. MOre interesting than this strange conversation though was the Mayor's great plug of the INSIDER BLOG on the public airwaves. You go girl!
ReplyDeleteInsider, keep it up!
This weak practice of Shorewood donating to causes that should be managed by other entities--in this case the deep pockets of the DNR and LMCD--started years ago. It was poor policy then and it continues to be made worse by lack of accountability and no respect for details.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know why some residents get my tax dollars to essentially remove weeds from their back yards. I could use a couple of hundred dollars to improve my yard! Where does the pandering to small special interests stop? I also find it disturbing that Dick Woodruff votes for weed removal that benefits his property. Maybe a conflict of interest?
ReplyDeleteYou do a good job of articulating why donating to these special causes is a dangerous black hole. Thank you.
DeleteLet's not lose sight of the fact that the Council of Water Quality is approving the dumping of POISON in the lake.
DeleteSiakel's partisonship is concerning.
ReplyDeleteHow about some help with the buckthorn removal as long as we are getting help with invasive species?
ReplyDelete