5/27/12
Last council meeting a "sub-committee" was named to work on the administrator replacement. In tomorrow's council agenda is an item suggesting changing the name to a "working group." (see: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/159681/Page1.aspx) So why is this important?
Seems that a sub-committee must follow the MN open meeting laws, post meeting notices, be open to the public and produce minutes of meetings. Working groups don't need to do these things. Lizee, Siakel and Hotvet ran on a platform calling for openness and transparency. One can only assume that them wanting a name change is to keep the public from knowing what is happening.
By the way, in January of 2011, Lizee and Siakel were appointed to the "Personnel Committee." Since then, they have met numerous times and with staff doing performance appraisals, revising job descriptions, etc., but never have posted a meeting notice, invited the public or produced minutes of their actions.
It's time for Mayor Lizee to realize she is not exempt from the rules.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Council and Mayor elections Coming!
5/25/12
It's election season, again, in Shorewood.
The position of mayor and two council seats (Lizee's seat and Zerby's and Woodruff's, respectively) are up for election in November. The mayor's term is two years and the council seats are four years.
It's your chance to get involved in how the City of Shorewood is operated. City government relies on interested, concerned and capable individuals being elected to the council. If you read this blog, you're interested and concerned.
The amount of time required varies from something like three or four meetings per month to as much as one wants to spend. The pay is $300/month for mayor and $250/month for council members, not enough, but does cover gas for travel to meetings, etc.
Getting on the ballot is simple. Go to City Hall anytime from July 31st through August 14th and fill out an application. It'll cost you $2. That's it other than what you do to campaign.
Get involved. Encourage your neighbors to get involved involved. The City needs competition for the open positions and fresh perspectives on council.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
It's election season, again, in Shorewood.
The position of mayor and two council seats (Lizee's seat and Zerby's and Woodruff's, respectively) are up for election in November. The mayor's term is two years and the council seats are four years.
It's your chance to get involved in how the City of Shorewood is operated. City government relies on interested, concerned and capable individuals being elected to the council. If you read this blog, you're interested and concerned.
The amount of time required varies from something like three or four meetings per month to as much as one wants to spend. The pay is $300/month for mayor and $250/month for council members, not enough, but does cover gas for travel to meetings, etc.
Getting on the ballot is simple. Go to City Hall anytime from July 31st through August 14th and fill out an application. It'll cost you $2. That's it other than what you do to campaign.
Get involved. Encourage your neighbors to get involved involved. The City needs competition for the open positions and fresh perspectives on council.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, May 24, 2012
City Water Worksession - Postponed
5/24/12
The council work session covering city-wide water has been postponed to a yet-to-be scheduled later date. It was supposed to happen Tuesday evening at 600 PM. Apparently, staff and the consultant council hired to develop a plan and funding alternatives are just not ready.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The council work session covering city-wide water has been postponed to a yet-to-be scheduled later date. It was supposed to happen Tuesday evening at 600 PM. Apparently, staff and the consultant council hired to develop a plan and funding alternatives are just not ready.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Sunday, May 20, 2012
City Administrator - Meeting Scheduled
5/20/12
The first meeting of the subcommittee assigned to look for an interim administrator and to work on requirements for a full-time administrator is posted for Wednesday, 5/23 at 230 PM in City Hall.
This meeting is open to the public, although nobody in the public ever shows up for meetings like these.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The first meeting of the subcommittee assigned to look for an interim administrator and to work on requirements for a full-time administrator is posted for Wednesday, 5/23 at 230 PM in City Hall.
This meeting is open to the public, although nobody in the public ever shows up for meetings like these.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, May 17, 2012
City Administrator Plan - Latest Info
5/17/12
Council met Monday evening in a work session to discuss options for filling the vacant City Administrator position. See the work session video (end of the agenda) at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=536
Zerby, Siakel and Mayor Lizee all spoke advocating hiring an interim administrator with Zerby saying the interim should be in place until after the November election. He wants the new council to pick a permanent administrator. Of course, this would mean no permanent administrator until after the new council is seated in January, 2013!
Zerby also suggested that an intern might be used as interim administrator. Maybe Zerby thinks the Administrator position is unimportant?
Anyway, in the regular council meeting (see item 10A) the council voted to appoint a subcommittee (Sub to what?) to pursue advertising for an interim and working on the requirements for a permanent administrator. Siakel and Woodruff are on the committee with two staff members.
So, the council who forced out the administrator now have a plan to punt the permanent hiring decision to a new council. The Insider sees this as a way for Lizee and Zerby to keep this hot potato issue away from them as they campaign for re-election. Lizee said she was too busy to be on the subcommittee and Zerby declined Lizee's request to be on it. That's real commitment (not).
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Council met Monday evening in a work session to discuss options for filling the vacant City Administrator position. See the work session video (end of the agenda) at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=536
Zerby, Siakel and Mayor Lizee all spoke advocating hiring an interim administrator with Zerby saying the interim should be in place until after the November election. He wants the new council to pick a permanent administrator. Of course, this would mean no permanent administrator until after the new council is seated in January, 2013!
Zerby also suggested that an intern might be used as interim administrator. Maybe Zerby thinks the Administrator position is unimportant?
Anyway, in the regular council meeting (see item 10A) the council voted to appoint a subcommittee (Sub to what?) to pursue advertising for an interim and working on the requirements for a permanent administrator. Siakel and Woodruff are on the committee with two staff members.
So, the council who forced out the administrator now have a plan to punt the permanent hiring decision to a new council. The Insider sees this as a way for Lizee and Zerby to keep this hot potato issue away from them as they campaign for re-election. Lizee said she was too busy to be on the subcommittee and Zerby declined Lizee's request to be on it. That's real commitment (not).
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Sunday, May 13, 2012
City Administrator - Staff Wants a Plan
5/13/12
Shorewood's Administrator job has been open for two months. Mayor Lizee and her buddies still have not announced a plan to fill the opening. So, the City Staff has scheduled a council work session to discuss how to proceed with this important task. The work session is Monday night, 5/14 at 615PM and open to the public. The agenda and note from Interim Administrator Larry Brown may be viewed at: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/159458/Page1.aspx
Of note is that Mr. Brown has removed his name from the potential candidate list (see his work session memo).
It'll be interesting to find out how Mayor Lizee and her buddies react. The Insider applauds the Staff for having the nerve to force the issue.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Shorewood's Administrator job has been open for two months. Mayor Lizee and her buddies still have not announced a plan to fill the opening. So, the City Staff has scheduled a council work session to discuss how to proceed with this important task. The work session is Monday night, 5/14 at 615PM and open to the public. The agenda and note from Interim Administrator Larry Brown may be viewed at: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/159458/Page1.aspx
Of note is that Mr. Brown has removed his name from the potential candidate list (see his work session memo).
It'll be interesting to find out how Mayor Lizee and her buddies react. The Insider applauds the Staff for having the nerve to force the issue.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Residents Acting Responsibly
5/9/12
All Shorewood residents owe it to themselves and their neighbors to act responsibly. Some examples of irresponsibility are:
- Leaving your car, truck, house, garage, etc. unlocked so anyone casually wandering down your street can steal from you. Just read the local papers and see that such thefts happen weekly. Irresponsible actions cause increase in police activity and increase police cost while reducing police availability to deal with more important matters: like speeding. Get a grip! Lock it up. We live in a city, not on the farm.
- Ever seen a baggie full of dog poop along side the street or the trail? It too is pretty common. Who bags up their dog's mess and leaves it for someone else to pickup? If it's you, shame on you. It's disgusting.
- What about the people who leave junk mail on the ground at their mailbox? This eyesore diminishes the value of our neighborhoods. Yes, junk mail is a pain sometimes, but protesting by throwing it on the ground isn't helping anyone.
What's your favorite irresponsible act? Comment here.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
All Shorewood residents owe it to themselves and their neighbors to act responsibly. Some examples of irresponsibility are:
- Leaving your car, truck, house, garage, etc. unlocked so anyone casually wandering down your street can steal from you. Just read the local papers and see that such thefts happen weekly. Irresponsible actions cause increase in police activity and increase police cost while reducing police availability to deal with more important matters: like speeding. Get a grip! Lock it up. We live in a city, not on the farm.
- Ever seen a baggie full of dog poop along side the street or the trail? It too is pretty common. Who bags up their dog's mess and leaves it for someone else to pickup? If it's you, shame on you. It's disgusting.
- What about the people who leave junk mail on the ground at their mailbox? This eyesore diminishes the value of our neighborhoods. Yes, junk mail is a pain sometimes, but protesting by throwing it on the ground isn't helping anyone.
What's your favorite irresponsible act? Comment here.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
City-Wide Water - The Why
5/8/12
One reader of this blog asked for an explanation of the Mayor's push for city-wide water. So, here goes.
The Insider can't explain it!
Mayor Lizee has been an advocate of city-wide water for years, going back to her terms as a council member. There was a water plan done in her council member days, but it went nowhere. She spouts platitudes like it's for the greater good, and nonsense like you'd hear from a grade school kid wanting to go to a party (All the other kids are doing it. But, actually they're not). Another reason espoused is fire safety. The fire department has tanker trucks and plans to use them effectively. Even the insurance industry no longer considers having city water a reason for a lower risk rating.
One thing is clear, Lizee has no sense of cost or the financial impact on residents being forced to pay for a water pipe in their streets they don't want.
One commenter wrote about arsenic risk. Yes, there are areas where private wells have arsenic issues. Contrary to some doom and gloomers, simple reverse osmosis systems can provide safe water for drinking. A do-it-yourselfer can install one to supply drinking water to the kitchen sink and the refrigerator (treating the whole house is not necessary) for less than $200. Commercial systems are readily available to do the same thing and for under $2000, installed. These are far cheaper than $14,000 or more for city water hookup to the house which does not include the quarterly water bills from the City, forever.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
One reader of this blog asked for an explanation of the Mayor's push for city-wide water. So, here goes.
The Insider can't explain it!
Mayor Lizee has been an advocate of city-wide water for years, going back to her terms as a council member. There was a water plan done in her council member days, but it went nowhere. She spouts platitudes like it's for the greater good, and nonsense like you'd hear from a grade school kid wanting to go to a party (All the other kids are doing it. But, actually they're not). Another reason espoused is fire safety. The fire department has tanker trucks and plans to use them effectively. Even the insurance industry no longer considers having city water a reason for a lower risk rating.
One thing is clear, Lizee has no sense of cost or the financial impact on residents being forced to pay for a water pipe in their streets they don't want.
One commenter wrote about arsenic risk. Yes, there are areas where private wells have arsenic issues. Contrary to some doom and gloomers, simple reverse osmosis systems can provide safe water for drinking. A do-it-yourselfer can install one to supply drinking water to the kitchen sink and the refrigerator (treating the whole house is not necessary) for less than $200. Commercial systems are readily available to do the same thing and for under $2000, installed. These are far cheaper than $14,000 or more for city water hookup to the house which does not include the quarterly water bills from the City, forever.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, May 3, 2012
City-Wide Water Discussion to Resume
5/3/12
A council work session on 5/29 (yes, Tuesday as Monday is Memorial day) at 600 PM once again will take up the idea of expanding city water across the entire city. The City has hired a consultant to help the council understand the options and costs (another $7000 spent).
Recall that the staff report showed a cost of about $29 million for city-wide water expansion.
Meanwhile it appears there is an opportunity to retire the old water bonds that are costing the City interest every year. Appears there are un-needed reserves in the water fund and these could be used to buy back all the bonds. Since the reserves are earning almost no interest, buying back the bonds seems a no-brainer and could allow a water rate reduction since the bond principal and interest no longer needs to be paid every year.
But, count on Lizee and friends to want to use the reserves to fund the water expansion. So, current and past water customers would be paying out their paid-in money to bring new users onto the system for no benefit to those who paid the money. Seems like a good deal? The Insider doesn't think it's good or fair.
Watch this blog after the 5/29 meeting. Better yet, come yourself to hear the proceedings and weigh-in.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
A council work session on 5/29 (yes, Tuesday as Monday is Memorial day) at 600 PM once again will take up the idea of expanding city water across the entire city. The City has hired a consultant to help the council understand the options and costs (another $7000 spent).
Recall that the staff report showed a cost of about $29 million for city-wide water expansion.
Meanwhile it appears there is an opportunity to retire the old water bonds that are costing the City interest every year. Appears there are un-needed reserves in the water fund and these could be used to buy back all the bonds. Since the reserves are earning almost no interest, buying back the bonds seems a no-brainer and could allow a water rate reduction since the bond principal and interest no longer needs to be paid every year.
But, count on Lizee and friends to want to use the reserves to fund the water expansion. So, current and past water customers would be paying out their paid-in money to bring new users onto the system for no benefit to those who paid the money. Seems like a good deal? The Insider doesn't think it's good or fair.
Watch this blog after the 5/29 meeting. Better yet, come yourself to hear the proceedings and weigh-in.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
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