7/31/12
Yes, Lizee and her band of friends need your help to figure out what to do with the Smithtown Crossing planning project. What help is needed you might ask.
Simply stated, one of you needs to tell them what to do.
For at least two years, the Planning Commission has been discussing the future of the Smithtown Crossing area, meeting several times in joint session with the council, holding information meetings and public hearings. For the last year, this activity appears to have been no more than re-chewing the same ideas and information, getting no closer to a conclusion. There was one attempt to get the council to make a decision and the council tossed it back to the Commission for more chewing.
It's time to stop and for Lizee and her friends to take a position on the long-range vision for the area. Of course, they're having trouble because no special interest group has come forward to tell them what to think and decide.
Real leadership often requires making decisions in light of less than complete information. Lizee and her friends on council don't have leadership capabilities and it is showing.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Shorrewood Needs Candidates
7/30/12
The City needs you and your neighbors to get involved! It needs thoughtful residents that share a passion for keeping Shorewood a great place to live to run for mayor and council seats this fall. Key candidate attributes are common sense and an ability to think for yourself rather than be a tool for special interest groups.
File to run for office starting tomorrow, Tuesday the 31st at City Hall. It's simple, takes less than five minutes and costs $2.
If you think you can do better than what has been done for the past two years, get to City Hall!
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The City needs you and your neighbors to get involved! It needs thoughtful residents that share a passion for keeping Shorewood a great place to live to run for mayor and council seats this fall. Key candidate attributes are common sense and an ability to think for yourself rather than be a tool for special interest groups.
File to run for office starting tomorrow, Tuesday the 31st at City Hall. It's simple, takes less than five minutes and costs $2.
If you think you can do better than what has been done for the past two years, get to City Hall!
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Police Dept. Shooting Range
7/28/12
The Legislature passed and the Governor signed a law this year requiring publicly owned shooting ranges to be opened for youth gun safety training. This is the training required for young people to get a hunting license.
Chief Litsey of South Lake PD has been staunchly against making the SLMPD's indoor range (You did know there's a range in the PD building on Cty 19, didn't you?) open to other than his officers. In the past he's refused to make it available to conceal and carry classes, etc. citing all kinds of reasons.
The Insider recalls the original Planning Commission meetings that discussed the construction of the public safety building and that the shooting range was listed as a facility to be open to the public. Some Commissioners may still hold the opinion that they approved the building plans, in part, because of the open range feature. Yet, once the building was operational, the open range concept was ditched.
Plymouth also has a police range. Interestingly, two weeks ago, the city announced they were closing it just as the new law was to go into effect. The police chief sited lots of reasons including safety and mold for the closure implying the timing of the closure was just a conicidence.
The Insider wonders if Chief Litsey and the SLMPD Coordinating Committee to which he reports (the mayors) will also find reasons to suddenly close the SLMPD range. It would be consistent with past behavior.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The Legislature passed and the Governor signed a law this year requiring publicly owned shooting ranges to be opened for youth gun safety training. This is the training required for young people to get a hunting license.
Chief Litsey of South Lake PD has been staunchly against making the SLMPD's indoor range (You did know there's a range in the PD building on Cty 19, didn't you?) open to other than his officers. In the past he's refused to make it available to conceal and carry classes, etc. citing all kinds of reasons.
The Insider recalls the original Planning Commission meetings that discussed the construction of the public safety building and that the shooting range was listed as a facility to be open to the public. Some Commissioners may still hold the opinion that they approved the building plans, in part, because of the open range feature. Yet, once the building was operational, the open range concept was ditched.
Plymouth also has a police range. Interestingly, two weeks ago, the city announced they were closing it just as the new law was to go into effect. The police chief sited lots of reasons including safety and mold for the closure implying the timing of the closure was just a conicidence.
The Insider wonders if Chief Litsey and the SLMPD Coordinating Committee to which he reports (the mayors) will also find reasons to suddenly close the SLMPD range. It would be consistent with past behavior.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Budget Update
7/26/12
Monday night's council work session resulted in direction to staff to adjust several 2013 revenue assumptions upward, use cellular antenna space rental revenue previously going to the water fund (and not needed there) and then, use reserves (if needed) to balance the 2013 general fund budget. Staff presented an expense budget that continued services at 2012 levels and no changes were made to it.
So, unless something changes between now and early September, there will not be a tax levy increase in 2013. Good news for Shorewood taxpayers who will get the services they expect, but not pay more.
See: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=621 and click on the budget work session at the end of the agenda list.
Of interest to the Insider is that, once more, Lizee had nothing useful to contribute to the budget discussion. She had no requests for new programs, no suggestions for revenue increases, no comments on what staff wants to spend, nothing useful at all. As a leader, she is a failure.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Monday night's council work session resulted in direction to staff to adjust several 2013 revenue assumptions upward, use cellular antenna space rental revenue previously going to the water fund (and not needed there) and then, use reserves (if needed) to balance the 2013 general fund budget. Staff presented an expense budget that continued services at 2012 levels and no changes were made to it.
So, unless something changes between now and early September, there will not be a tax levy increase in 2013. Good news for Shorewood taxpayers who will get the services they expect, but not pay more.
See: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=621 and click on the budget work session at the end of the agenda list.
Of interest to the Insider is that, once more, Lizee had nothing useful to contribute to the budget discussion. She had no requests for new programs, no suggestions for revenue increases, no comments on what staff wants to spend, nothing useful at all. As a leader, she is a failure.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
"Social Host" - Do We Need A Law?
7/26/12
During Monday night's council meeting, the topic of a law called "Social Host" was raised. For those not familiar or not recalling that this was discussed in the past, read on.
Social Host is a law that Chief Litsey of South Lake PD and the Mtka school district tried to get passed in 2009. The jist is that Litsey wants a law he can use to punish of-age persons who host a gathering where alcohol is consumed by under-age persons. There's a state law punishing someone who provides alcohol to minors, but this proposed law would punish those who host a gathering, without actually providing the alcohol. The City of Minnetonka adopted the law in 2009.
Shorewood's Council, in 2009, decided not to pass this law. Now, it's back three years later for Lizee and her cronies to pass. From the Insider's perspective, the 2009 council did the right thing and what was presented Monday night gives no new reasons for passage now. See the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=621 and click on the social host topic in the agenda.
Of course, Lizee mentioned that this is yet another chance for Shorewood to take a leadership position by passing the law. Translated, this means that she has promised some people who can deliver votes that she will get it passed this year.
It was odd that one person who was supporting the law and the Chief were unavailable to be at the council meeting to explain why the law needed immediate reconsideration. Yet, Lizee kept the discussion on the agenda for Monday night. The Insider wonders why this law is so time critical. Especially since it's not been passed by Greenwood, Excelsior or Tonka Bay for more than three years and doesn't seem to be on their to-do lists now.
Looks like another law we don't need.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
During Monday night's council meeting, the topic of a law called "Social Host" was raised. For those not familiar or not recalling that this was discussed in the past, read on.
Social Host is a law that Chief Litsey of South Lake PD and the Mtka school district tried to get passed in 2009. The jist is that Litsey wants a law he can use to punish of-age persons who host a gathering where alcohol is consumed by under-age persons. There's a state law punishing someone who provides alcohol to minors, but this proposed law would punish those who host a gathering, without actually providing the alcohol. The City of Minnetonka adopted the law in 2009.
Shorewood's Council, in 2009, decided not to pass this law. Now, it's back three years later for Lizee and her cronies to pass. From the Insider's perspective, the 2009 council did the right thing and what was presented Monday night gives no new reasons for passage now. See the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=621 and click on the social host topic in the agenda.
Of course, Lizee mentioned that this is yet another chance for Shorewood to take a leadership position by passing the law. Translated, this means that she has promised some people who can deliver votes that she will get it passed this year.
It was odd that one person who was supporting the law and the Chief were unavailable to be at the council meeting to explain why the law needed immediate reconsideration. Yet, Lizee kept the discussion on the agenda for Monday night. The Insider wonders why this law is so time critical. Especially since it's not been passed by Greenwood, Excelsior or Tonka Bay for more than three years and doesn't seem to be on their to-do lists now.
Looks like another law we don't need.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Monday, July 23, 2012
One Week Until City Election Filing Starts
7/23/12
The filing period for mayor and two Shorewood council seats starts the 31st.
If you've been following this blog, you're already more involved in City government that most in Shorewood. Turn that involvement up a notch and file to run for office. Encourage your friends to file. It's easy. Just come to City Hall with $2 and spend five minutes filling out a form.
Let's have a good choice of candidates this year!
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The filing period for mayor and two Shorewood council seats starts the 31st.
If you've been following this blog, you're already more involved in City government that most in Shorewood. Turn that involvement up a notch and file to run for office. Encourage your friends to file. It's easy. Just come to City Hall with $2 and spend five minutes filling out a form.
Let's have a good choice of candidates this year!
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thoughts on Excelsior's Business Stragegy
7/20/12
Sure, Excelsior is trying to enhance its image and attraction. It should and it needs to. It's a small town playing in a big town area with a small town population trying to deal with a large commercial district that's struggling.
So what does this have to do with Shorewood? For one, Excelsior can have a major cost impact on Shorewood. Take the cost of operating the South Lake PD for example.
The PD seems to have its focus on busting DUI's. This is probably necessary and a public service. But why such a large part of its work? Maybe because the PD's coverage area generates an inordinate number of them?
Tonka Bay has one liquor establishment. Green wood has zero. Shorewood has two stores and two on-sale licensees (both basically private membership). Excelsior has at least six on-sale licenses almost all of which attract customers from near and far. Stands to reason that Excelsior's ability to generate drunk drivers is substantially larger than any of the other South Lake cities. Yet, the cost of getting these drunks off the street is not a factor in how the funding for the PD is calculated. What a deal!
The next time Lizee or Zerby talk about Excelsior being Shorewood's downtown, stop and think about what it's costing Shorewood for this "benefit."
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Sure, Excelsior is trying to enhance its image and attraction. It should and it needs to. It's a small town playing in a big town area with a small town population trying to deal with a large commercial district that's struggling.
So what does this have to do with Shorewood? For one, Excelsior can have a major cost impact on Shorewood. Take the cost of operating the South Lake PD for example.
The PD seems to have its focus on busting DUI's. This is probably necessary and a public service. But why such a large part of its work? Maybe because the PD's coverage area generates an inordinate number of them?
Tonka Bay has one liquor establishment. Green wood has zero. Shorewood has two stores and two on-sale licensees (both basically private membership). Excelsior has at least six on-sale licenses almost all of which attract customers from near and far. Stands to reason that Excelsior's ability to generate drunk drivers is substantially larger than any of the other South Lake cities. Yet, the cost of getting these drunks off the street is not a factor in how the funding for the PD is calculated. What a deal!
The next time Lizee or Zerby talk about Excelsior being Shorewood's downtown, stop and think about what it's costing Shorewood for this "benefit."
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Let The Budgeting Begin!
7/12/12
Shorewood's Council held the first 2013 budgeting work session on Monday, the 9th. Staff was looking for direction on overall budgeting, the tax levy amount and any projects council members wanted to be included. Blog readers can view the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=603. See the end of the agenda for the work session video.
The Insider noted:
- Lizee, in reaction to staff saying there are no levy limits from the State, said there is an opportunity to raise the property tax levy. She stood alone in this opinion. She seemed to indicate that the state legislature has green-lighted cities to raise taxes. Of course this is not the legislature's intention. Of note is that there were no levy limits last year and the City did not raise taxes. What is Lizee thinking?
- The rest of the council members expressed a desire not to raise the tax levy. This seemed to quiet Mayor Lizee.
- Hotvet brought up the topic of the South Shore Center and the increased expense being borne by Shorewood to operate it. Lizee said that this needs more work and other cities need to step up in finanical support in 2013. The Insider wonders where this change of view came from. Lizee and friends have been soft pedaling the Center cost to Shorewood, even to the point of wanting to hide the costs in the overall costs of the parks operation. Maybe Lizee doesn't care about or need the votes from the seniors this upcoming election. Also, what makes Lizee think the other cities (Excelsior, Deephaven, Greenwood and Tonka Bay) will pitch in on the expenses? They haven't done so for the past three years, getting the benefits of the Center being open to their residents for zero cost. What a deal for them!
The result of the meeting is that staff is to prepare more detailed budgets, with no tax levy increase, and meet with council on 7/23.
Keep reading as the budget process unfolds.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Shorewood's Council held the first 2013 budgeting work session on Monday, the 9th. Staff was looking for direction on overall budgeting, the tax levy amount and any projects council members wanted to be included. Blog readers can view the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=603. See the end of the agenda for the work session video.
The Insider noted:
- Lizee, in reaction to staff saying there are no levy limits from the State, said there is an opportunity to raise the property tax levy. She stood alone in this opinion. She seemed to indicate that the state legislature has green-lighted cities to raise taxes. Of course this is not the legislature's intention. Of note is that there were no levy limits last year and the City did not raise taxes. What is Lizee thinking?
- The rest of the council members expressed a desire not to raise the tax levy. This seemed to quiet Mayor Lizee.
- Hotvet brought up the topic of the South Shore Center and the increased expense being borne by Shorewood to operate it. Lizee said that this needs more work and other cities need to step up in finanical support in 2013. The Insider wonders where this change of view came from. Lizee and friends have been soft pedaling the Center cost to Shorewood, even to the point of wanting to hide the costs in the overall costs of the parks operation. Maybe Lizee doesn't care about or need the votes from the seniors this upcoming election. Also, what makes Lizee think the other cities (Excelsior, Deephaven, Greenwood and Tonka Bay) will pitch in on the expenses? They haven't done so for the past three years, getting the benefits of the Center being open to their residents for zero cost. What a deal for them!
The result of the meeting is that staff is to prepare more detailed budgets, with no tax levy increase, and meet with council on 7/23.
Keep reading as the budget process unfolds.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Pay For Water Forever
7/8/12
Nobody seems to be mentioning that city water has an ongoing cost even after all the assessments and install costs are paid. The City charges $17.50 per quarter minimum for water usage (up to 5,000 gallons per quarter). After the minimum, the usage charge goes up in tiers and tops out at $4.25 per 1,000 gallons once usage reaches 50,000 gallons per quarter.
So, quarterly water bills easily can total in the $400 per year range. If a property has lots of lawn irrigation in the summer, the cost can be much higher.
The usage cost should be added into the discussion of expanding water city-wide.
Usage cost is forever.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Nobody seems to be mentioning that city water has an ongoing cost even after all the assessments and install costs are paid. The City charges $17.50 per quarter minimum for water usage (up to 5,000 gallons per quarter). After the minimum, the usage charge goes up in tiers and tops out at $4.25 per 1,000 gallons once usage reaches 50,000 gallons per quarter.
So, quarterly water bills easily can total in the $400 per year range. If a property has lots of lawn irrigation in the summer, the cost can be much higher.
The usage cost should be added into the discussion of expanding water city-wide.
Usage cost is forever.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Well water - Arsenic Risk?
7/4/12
Is there arsenic in your well water in Shorewood? The answer is: maybe.
This week's "Lakeshore Weekly News" carried an article about the whole city water plan (see previous blog on this) that implied that one reason for putting city water throughout Shorewood was that there is arsenic in the private wells. Actually, the council has never really discussed arsenic and how to deal with it in context of city-wide water being a solution.
The facts are that arsenic is a naturally occurring element in soils in this area. Private wells might have some arsenic due to leaching this element from the soil. Even if there is arsenic, it might be below dangerous levels. You'll never know unless you have your well water tested periodically. See Shorewood's website at www.ci.shorewood.mn.us, or call City Hall at 952-960-7900 for information on how to get your well tested. It's typically about $100 for testing.
If one private well has arsenic, the wells next door and across the street might not. It all depends on the underground conditions and the depth of the well. So, if someone down the block says they have arsenic problems, it's very possible your well is just fine.
If there is arsenic at problematic levels in a well, it can be removed by several methods with varying costs. Just remember that the danger is due to drinking the water and you have to drink a lot of water over a long period of time before there is a health problem. Bathing, washing clothes and dishes and brushing teeth are not a problem. The City has a pamphlet about city water and it contains some information on arsenic and references to more information. Stop by City Hall and ask for one.
Want the facts from the MN Dept of Health? Go to: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/waterquality/arsenic.html.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Is there arsenic in your well water in Shorewood? The answer is: maybe.
This week's "Lakeshore Weekly News" carried an article about the whole city water plan (see previous blog on this) that implied that one reason for putting city water throughout Shorewood was that there is arsenic in the private wells. Actually, the council has never really discussed arsenic and how to deal with it in context of city-wide water being a solution.
The facts are that arsenic is a naturally occurring element in soils in this area. Private wells might have some arsenic due to leaching this element from the soil. Even if there is arsenic, it might be below dangerous levels. You'll never know unless you have your well water tested periodically. See Shorewood's website at www.ci.shorewood.mn.us, or call City Hall at 952-960-7900 for information on how to get your well tested. It's typically about $100 for testing.
If one private well has arsenic, the wells next door and across the street might not. It all depends on the underground conditions and the depth of the well. So, if someone down the block says they have arsenic problems, it's very possible your well is just fine.
If there is arsenic at problematic levels in a well, it can be removed by several methods with varying costs. Just remember that the danger is due to drinking the water and you have to drink a lot of water over a long period of time before there is a health problem. Bathing, washing clothes and dishes and brushing teeth are not a problem. The City has a pamphlet about city water and it contains some information on arsenic and references to more information. Stop by City Hall and ask for one.
Want the facts from the MN Dept of Health? Go to: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/waterquality/arsenic.html.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Think You Can Do Better?
7/4/12
If you think you can do a better job than the current city council in Shorewood, it's your chance to act.
July 31st is the beginning of the two-week filing period to run for mayor or one of the two city council seats up for election this November. Filing is simple. Just go to City Hall, fill out a short form and give the clerk $2. The process takes five minutes.
Put the 31st on your calendar!
Happy Fourth!
The Insider
If you think you can do a better job than the current city council in Shorewood, it's your chance to act.
July 31st is the beginning of the two-week filing period to run for mayor or one of the two city council seats up for election this November. Filing is simple. Just go to City Hall, fill out a short form and give the clerk $2. The process takes five minutes.
Put the 31st on your calendar!
Happy Fourth!
The Insider
Monday, July 2, 2012
Organics Recycling - A Bust?
7/2/12
Last week's council meeting included a report on the recently initiated organics recycling program (well, actually the report was in the agenda, but never discussed in the meeting). Readers may recall that recycling was a Lizee, Hotvet and Siakel campaign promise. Hotvet's pet project has been organics recycling.
The City received a county grant to defer most of the City's costs for operating an organics recycling pilot for six months. Now, more than three months into the pilot one of two companies in the pilot reported 12 (yes, twelve) customers and the other company did not report. Approximately 1/3rd of the homes in Shorewood were invited to participate. So, the customer response has been exceptionally poor.
Keep an eye on this program as it reaches the end of the six-month pilot. The Insider suspects that Lizee, Hotvet and council friends will soldier forward with trying to make the pilot permanent and sticking all of Shorewood households with yet another fee for trash collection.
Do you really want this program?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Last week's council meeting included a report on the recently initiated organics recycling program (well, actually the report was in the agenda, but never discussed in the meeting). Readers may recall that recycling was a Lizee, Hotvet and Siakel campaign promise. Hotvet's pet project has been organics recycling.
The City received a county grant to defer most of the City's costs for operating an organics recycling pilot for six months. Now, more than three months into the pilot one of two companies in the pilot reported 12 (yes, twelve) customers and the other company did not report. Approximately 1/3rd of the homes in Shorewood were invited to participate. So, the customer response has been exceptionally poor.
Keep an eye on this program as it reaches the end of the six-month pilot. The Insider suspects that Lizee, Hotvet and council friends will soldier forward with trying to make the pilot permanent and sticking all of Shorewood households with yet another fee for trash collection.
Do you really want this program?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
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