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.