We the PEOPLE

Letter to the Editor;

During the week of December 14 the good citizens of Lent Township got to witness and experience the BEST and the WORST of Representative Government.

Monday, December 14 saw over 200 citizens of Lent Township and nearly 100 citizens of nearby communities gather at the Lent Town Hall for a Special Town Meeting. The meeting was called by a petition signed by 132 Township electors, who wanted their first REAL opportunity to hear, discuss and vote on the proposed 726 megawatt Sunrise River Energy Station. That Meeting was moderated by a citizen selected by the electors attending and was conducted in a courteous and professional manner. All sides of the issue were presented and discussed. At the close of the meeting 80% of the electors voting (163 souls) said NO to the Town Board signing and approving a Development Agreement that would allow Sunrise River Energy, LLC a 90% reduction in their personal property taxes for the proposed power plant. The meeting seemed a triumph for “grass roots government”.

The very next night, December 15, the 3-wise men serving on the Lent Town Board met to vote on the fate and well-being of the good citizens of Lent Township. Two pre-prepared resolutions were presented to the Board by their special attorney, whose fees were being paid by LS Power/Sunrise River Energy, LLC, whether or not the Town Board approved the Development Agreement. The draft resolution approving the Agreement was lengthy and convoluted. It declared that the good citizens of Lent Township had been given 2 separate and adequate opportunities to publicly hear and discuss their concerns. The first was held on July 22 at a meeting totally under the control of the special attorney whose fees were being paid by LS Power/Sunrise River Energy, LLC. The second was conducted on October 19 at a meeting hosted by the Chisago County Board of Commissioners. The hundreds of citizens from Lent Township and greater Chisago County that attended those meetings surely came away with a different understanding of “adequate opportunity” than the special attorney for the Township.

The resolution seeking approval of the Development Agreement went on to state that the Special Town Meeting called by the petition of 132 electors of Lent Township was unnecessary and illegal… since they had already been given adequate opportunity to hear, discuss and voice their concerns and desires. Following a motion by Supervisor Lyle Johnson and a second by Supervisor Mike Olson, the resolution to adopt and approve a Development Agreement and a Host Agreement was passed by a 3 to 0 vote by the Board.

Following the Board’s action, Supervisor Lyle Johnson then offered a motion to individually charge the person who delivered the petition signed by 132 electors of Lent Township to call a Special Town Meeting a total of $742.85 to cover the Township’s expenses and fees for allowing an unnecessary and illegal meeting to be held in the Town Hall. Supervisor Mike Olson quickly seconded the motion. However, Chairman Gene Olson wisely suggested that the Board should discuss this matter further at a later date. It remains to be seen if that messenger will be charged for delivering the message.

There is ONE paramount question that needs to be asked and answered… Is this the kind of government the good citizens of Lent Township deserve and expect? Do “We the People” give just 3 elected representatives the sole authority, discretion and power to decide our collective fate? That’s exactly what the Township’s special attorney alleges in his printed “opinion” to the Board… and remember, his fees were being paid by LS Power/Sunrise River Energy, LLC, whether or not the Town Board approved the Development Agreement.

The good citizens of Lent Township will have THREE opportunities to answer this question in the next 3-years: Tuesday, March 9, 2010; Tuesday, March 8, 2011; and Tuesday, March 13, 2012. These are the dates for the next 3 annual Township elections and Town Meetings. Will “We the People” choose to keep these 3 individuals or will we choose 3 new individuals with more consideration, courage, vision and wisdom? This time, the choice will be ours… NOT THEIRS.

David Milles
A proud citizen of Lent Township for over 35-years