FLT Non-Snowplow Policy?

In the past, Fish Lake Township (FLT) was very responsive and reliable to promptly plow snowfalls and salt/sand roadways in a logical, efficient manner. However; in more recent years, Fish Lake Township’s snow removal work performance has suffered and digressed to the point of negligence. In fact, Fish Lake Township has not only provided decreased and diminished snow removal services over recent years, but attempted to justify and support their reduction of service as well.

Perhaps motivated by complaints, Fish Lake Township took the rare step to document its “Snow Removal Policy” in December 2003 when Supervisors Cupit and Larkin served on the town board. The policy documented the change in township procedures to plow snowfalls exceeding 3 inches instead of 2 inches as per previous practice. On April 13, 2009, the policy was “ammended” by Supervisors Carter, Cupit and Larkin to change township procedures once again to plow snowfalls exceeding 4 inches instead of 3 inches as previously documented in 2003. While the change in procedure may sound insignificant, 4 inches of blowing, drifting snow on winding country roads can and does cause winter travel safety issues especially for emergency vehicles such as ambulances or fire trucks. Although Fish Lake Township routinely leaves gravel roads unplowed for snowfalls up to 4 inches, it preferentially plows paved roads under the same circumstances. Perhaps the residents who live in the small developments with paved roads deserve better service than those who live on gravel roads. Current town board supervisors, Carter, Cupit and Larkin, are quick to point out to complainers that they all live on gravel roads and are receiving the same (poor) service levels as the majority of residents. However; Carter, Cupit and Larkin each live a stone’s throw away from a well-maintained, paved county road or state highway which is plowed during or immediately following any measurable snowfall. They have no need to navigate treacherous, snow-drifted township roads which turn to glare ice with the compaction caused by constant traffic.

Each year after the first measurable snowfall, Fish Lake Township publicizes its “Snow Removal Policy” on the township website. This year, Fish Lake Township received about 8-9 inches of wet, heavy snowfall in the season’s first major snow event occurring on Saturday, November 13th. Although the township recently purchased a new, high-tech Caterpillar road grader to the tune of $246,025 to plow such snowfalls, no gravel roads were plowed after the record-breaking snowfall. Apparently, Supervisors Carter, Cupit and Larkin ignored their own “Snow Removal Policy” and instead subscribed to the “Meltdown Theory” of winter snowfall “management” in Minnesota. With November overnight temperatures dropping into the twenties, the 8-9 inches of wet, heavy snow froze upon the gravel roadways into icy piles and treacherous ridges.

Managing and maintaining safe township roads is the single, most important responsibility of a town board and the primary reason a town board exists. Considering the current level of non-service, what will the next snowfall bring for Fish Lake Township residents?

Welcome to Fish Lake Township?

Fish Lake Township recently installed a custom-made sign near the corner of North Pine Lake Road and Little Pine Lake Trail. The hand painted sign reads, “Welcome to Fish Lake Township.”

On the surface, the message appears to welcome newcomers to a kind and neighborly way of life in Fish Lake Township. However; the three town board supervisors who erected the sign, Carter, Cupit and Larkin, are well-known for their anti-development reputations and fierce opposition to residential growth.

The “Welcome” sign is erected at the original “battlefield” site of Prairie Fields, a contentious development which Supervisor Cupit publically vowed that Fish Lake Township was not going to set a precedence to allow. However; a lengthy court deliberation and landmark opinion published by the Minnesota State Court of Appeals eventually cleared the way for the Prairie Fields development to be established and exist as a residential neighborhood today.

When the first residential group home proposal was brought before the Fish Lake town board, Supervisor Larkin vehemently opposed the operation. Her main concern appeared to be focused on the nearby proximity of the proposed facility to her home. By the time another residential group home proposal was under consideration, new Minnesota State laws had removed local government control over group home operations and Fish Lake Township no longer had input. Ironically, the second residential group home was established in Prairie Fields, right next door to Supervisor Larkin’s home. Not even the obtrusive, bully tactics of Supervisor Carter audaciously knocking on the group home door could thwart the new facility from opening.

So next time you drive by the “Welcome” sign, will you be fooled by the township facade which stands in stark contrast to the truth?

Independence Day?

An ongoing lawsuit by a former township supervisor accuses Fish Lake Township supervisors of acting in excess of their authority and violating Minnesota State Statutes. The lawsuit (Chisago County case #13-CV-09-737) seeks to remove current Fish Lake Township supervisors Carter and Cupit from office.

A new lawsuit filed on 6/30/10 by a local, non-profit environmental group and a private party accuses Lent Township supervisors and Chisago County commissioners of acting in excess of their authority (ultra vires acts) and violating local ordinances and Minnesota State Statutes. The lawsuit (Chisago County case #13-CV-10-761) seeks to reverse and nullify Development Agreements between Sunrise River Energy, LLC and Lent Township and Chisago County.

Both the Fish Lake Township and Lent Township / Chisago County lawsuits seek to hold local governments accountable to abide by the same laws that govern all others.

On this 4th of July, the question begs to be asked;
Is the above-the-law “leadership” of Chisago County and its townships destined to be the targets of future lawsuits seeking independence from governance that is not by the people, for the people and of the people?

FLT Gambling with Taxpayer Dollars?

“FDIC hits Cambridge bank with consent order” read the headlines in the 6/3/10 County Star newspaper. The story described how the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has taken drastic legal measures through a court order to bring the Cambridge State Bank into financial compliance before it fails.

At the Fish Lake Township (FLT) re-organizational meeting in April 2009, Supervisors Carter, Cupit and Larkin voted unanimously to designate the Cambridge State Bank in Isanti County as the official depository for the township. They made no changes to the designated township bank at the FLT re-organizational meeting in April 2010.

As of March 2010, FLT records show that more than $345,000 taxpayer dollars are presumably held by Cambridge State Bank for Fish Lake Township. Are these taxpayer monies adequately protected by the FDIC if the Cambridge State Bank fails? Current FDIC regulations provide for a standard maximum deposit insurance amount (SMDIA) of $250,000 per depositor per bank. Monies held in excess of $250,000 by a failed Cambridge State Bank would be lost to Fish Lake Township taxpayers. Recent FDIC regulation changes in the SMDIA will also reduce the current $250,000 per depositor figure to $100,000 effective January 1, 2014.

Given current warning signs and persistent economic instability, why would Fish Lake Township continue its risky business relationship with the financially unstable Cambridge State Bank?

Let Them Eat Cake?

Amid an economic crisis of national proportions, Fish Lake Township residents are losing their jobs, losing their homes and losing hope. Despite the worsening depression, Fish Lake Township supervisors not only voted to raise property taxes again, but to purchase a new road grader, too.

What “urgent” need has driven Fish Lake Township Supervisors Carter, Cupit and Larkin to sign a recent agreement with Ziegler Caterpillar to purchase a brand new 140M road grader at a cost of $246,025 to the taxpayers? Why has the township’s 2001 140H Cat road grader suddenly become unusable? Could the answer lie in part in the inability of the township’s self-proclaimed “Grader Operator” to change even a light bulb in a road grader which is no longer under factory warranty……a “Grader Operator” who is a 14 year employee earning in excess of $44,000 plus benefits each year?

Has the self-absorbed town board become oblivious to the plight of their fiefdom?

Clandestine Public Hearing at FLT?

Once again Fish Lake Township’s website has failed to inform the public of a public hearing to be held on May 10 at 7:10 p.m. at the town hall. In fact, the Fish Lake Township website currently shows; “May 10, 2010 Monthly Meeting Agenda” as “None at this time.” For a township whose website purports to be “created as a public service for the residents of Fish Lake Township,” why has the public hearing notice to vacate a township road not been posted for the public? Neighboring townships such as Lent and Sunrise provide excellent website service to their residents by routinely posting public notices in advance of any actions. So why not Fish Lake Township whose clerk is paid in excess of $750 per month? Why the secrecy about informing the public of an upcoming public hearing to give away a portion of Cedarcrest Court to David Baker and Sherry Hropko? Perhaps Fish Lake Township should instead proclaim their website was “created as a public service for some residents of Fish Lake Township.”

No Shame in Their Game?

A front page news article published in the Chisago County Press on 4-8-10 has left many questioning the motivation and timing of “Court date set next month for Fish Lake Twp. civil lawsuit” (www.chisagocountypress.com). The sketchy article provides inaccurate and selective information regarding a civil lawsuit filed nearly one year ago on 6-18-09. For instance; if Chisago County Press Managing Editor, Denise Martin, had merely verified the title of the article before publication, she would have found that the May court trial date had been cancelled.

Some readers view the newspaper article as a blatant attempt to influence public opinion and taint the jury pool just before the upcoming trial. Others believe the article was politically motivated by Commissioner Ben Montzka because it illustrates another example of his ongoing covert efforts to unseat rival Commissioner Mike Robinson. They argue that Commissioner Montzka intends to insure the viability of his Robinson-opposition candidate, Bob Carter, for the next District 5 commissioner race. Commissioner Montzka’s close political ties to Editor Denise Martin are also widely well-known.

What journalistic Code of Ethics would justify the Chisago County Press to publish such political propaganda? Is there no shame in their game?

Property Tax Amnesty Program?

Chisago County is on the brink of financial disaster. While pages and pages of home foreclosures and delinquent property tax records have been published in the local newspapers, Chisago County continues to discuss and evaluate emergency cost saving measures. Although staff layoffs and down-sizing county departments and public services have been considered, the urgency to implement creative financial solutions becomes more critical with each passing day.

A Property Tax Amnesty Program is one financial strategy which would help improve immediate cash flow into the county coffers. It would also provide taxpayers with a positive incentive to bring current their delinquent property taxes. At a time when many taxpayers are anticipating and receiving state and federal income tax refunds, implementing a Property Tax Amnesty Program could help resolve Chisago County’s urgent financial shortfalls.

More specifically, Chisago County commissioners should act quickly to adopt and implement a resolution whereby any Chisago County taxpayer who is currently delinquent on their property taxes could make a lump sum payment to the county for all past due taxes. The Property Tax Amnesty Program would allow the county to uniformly waive all late fees, interest and penalties in lieu of a lump sum payment which brings the net property taxes current. Once implemented, the Property Tax Amnesty Program could run for a fixed period of time, such as 6 months, 9 months or one year. At or near the end of the amnesty time period, commissioners could evaluate the program success to determine if the amnesty time period should be extended.

Implementing a Property Tax Amnesty Program today will help preserve the future of Chisago County.

Polishing Your Own Apple?

Perhaps inspired by the Fish Lake Karpa, Fish Lake Township has finally posted March 9, 2010, local election results on the township’s website. Fish Lake Township has previously posted election results only once in its website history; when incumbent Bob Carter narrowly defeated newcomer Pat Wortham. At that time, Fish Lake Township posted a large, streaming banner proclaiming Bob Carter’s triumphant victory in a brazen fashion described by some as “polishing your own apple.”

Will the Fish Lake Township website inform the public prior to the next township election who will be appearing on the ballot? Will the public be supplied with a sample election ballot or will the secrecy to inform only the “chosen few” voters continue to control the destiny of Fish Lake Township?

Ignorance is Bliss?

Fish Lake Township local election results are not available on the township’s website, nor have they ever been except once. For a township whose website purports to be “created as a public service for the residents of Fish Lake Township,” why have sample election ballots and local election results not been provided to the public? Neighboring townships such as Lent and Sunrise provide excellent website service to their residents not only by providing sample ballots prior to their local elections, but by promptly posting election results by the end of the next day. So why not Fish Lake Township whose clerk is paid in excess of $750 per month? Why the secrecy about informing the public prior to an election who will be appearing on the ballot? Why the secrecy that incumbent Boob Carter was re-elected to serve yet another term by defeating Tim O’Keefe 78 – 3 on March 9, 2010? Perhaps Fish Lake Township should instead proclaim their website was “created as a public service for some residents of Fish Lake Township.”

March Town Elections: Voter Accountability Day

Tim O’Keefe and Bob Carter have filed for the upcoming Fish Lake Township Supervisor election according to Clerk Andrea Nekowitsch. Incumbent Carter is currently the subject of a lawsuit which alleges his misconduct as a public officer, violation of Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law, and abuse of process. Challenger O’Keefe is campaigning to restore honesty, integrity and accountability to Fish Lake Township governance.

In a township with historically low voter turnout at annual town elections, the open supervisor position may be determined by as little as one vote. Your vote could make the difference in the future of Fish Lake Township.

Dare to make a difference!

Vote on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.