4/11/12
Here's an update to the Insider's predictions (see blog from 1/12/12).
- Heck did "resign". No replacement plan has been announced. So, former Administrator Dawson still could be in the running. He was recently hired by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to project manage its AIS programs. Also rumored is that Larry Brown, Interim Administrator and Public Works Director, is on the short list along with an administrator from one of the other lake communities.
- Shorewood is doing financial work for Excelsior, but was not chosen to do work for Tonka Bay. Is it possible Mayor Lizee and her council buddies have a much larger desire to "partner" with neighboring cities than do these cities to partner with Shorewood?
- The city-wide water move is underway, but the $29 million price tag may be too much for even Lizee and Zerby to swallow.
- One attempt to "lead" in AIS management was aborted when the DNR would not participate in a new Joint Powers organization with Shorewood (cooked up by City Attorney Keane and Mayor Lizee) and the MCWD. But, the MCWD, Shorewood and the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association are in process of signing agreements (with the DNR's blessing) for AIS inspections at the Christmas Lake. launch. Shorewood's council approved the deals on 4/9. So far, Shorewood's financial exposure seems very limited as the MCWD and the CLHA are supposed to pay for almost everything. Cost for 2012: close to $50,000!
- The trail plan implementation is underway for the approximately 1200 feet along County Rd. 19. However, staff estimated the cost at $72,000, there is no agreement with Excel for power pole movement, the bus company has not yet agreed to allow encroachment and there is no agreement on how wide the trail should be. Lizee has tossed this hot potato to the Planning Commission to worry all the pesky details.
- And something new: Rumor has it that most of City staff have their resumes on the street following the Heck departure. Seems many are wondering if they too have a target on their back.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Interesting interview with Dawson in the Sun-Sailor today. He was city at one time for both Excelsior and Shorewood, and was heavily involved in the "South Lake" public safety mega-building in Shorewood. He breezily refers to the Excelsior-Shorewood area as "South Lake" as if a merger is already a done deal.
ReplyDeleteI would respect Lizee more if she were up front with what she wants, so the community could have an open debate on the issue.
A "SouthLake" community has been a vision of team LizZerby(Love) since 2000. And,in preparation should a merger happen, they established voting wards to make it a much more seamless process. Wards are gone, but the dream lives on.
DeleteMy service with Shorewood ended in 2008, and with Shorewood in 2000. I am serving the MCWD, and have not been contacted about nor have any interest in returning to serve either city as its executive. I served the South Lake community in two cities, and it's up to their city councils about the future relationships among the several cities.
DeleteI am serving the MCWD. I served in the South Lake community by serving two cities over 11 years: the City of Excelsior from 1997 to 2000, and the City of Shorewood from 2001-2008. I have not been contacted about nor have any interest in serving either city now or in the future; my service there is history. How the realtionships among the cities may evolve into something that may be different from what exists today will ultimately be decided by the residents of each city through referendum. The city councils (not the city managers or administrators) are the ones who must approve such questions to be put to the voters; by statute, they cannot do so otherwise. The city managers and administrators serve at the direction of their city councils; they are not the ones who are responsible for putting such matters to a vote of the people, other than the ministerial duty of running elections. I wish only the best for all of the residents of all of the cities in whatever they decide to do within their individual cities, and however they choose to relate to their neighboring cities.
DeleteHotvet supported Lizee's vision of a $15m trail on CR19 to Orono because it was big picture and for the greater community - so these pesky details and a $72k price tag should be a cake-walk for her.
ReplyDeleteI am serving and will continue to serve the MCWD. I served the South Lake community in two cities for 11 years: the City of Excelsior from 1997 to 2000, and the City of Shorewood from 2001 to 2008. I have not been contacted about nor have any interest in serving either city; my service there is history. How the relationships among the cities may evolve into anything different that what exists today lies with the decisions of the city councils. They may put such questions to the voters to decide by referendum; statutes prevent them from doing otherwise. City managers and administrators can not do so, other than the ministerial duty of putting the question on the ballot and conducting the election. City managers and administrators serve the direction of their city councils; they are not the ones who will have responsibility whether there may be any mergers or consolidations of existing local governments.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote that Shorewood's financial exposure seemed limited.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Cooperative Agreement between Shwd & MCWD
“…Shorewood will bear all costs incurred in implementing the Program, including but not limited to the costs of employing and/or contracting with inspectors and all expenses for equipment necessary for the program."
I see no limit to our exposure.
Our checkbook is always open.
ReplyDelete