Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

On March 14, Linwood residents will elect two supervisors for the town board and a town clerk.

All candidates were contacted in writing and asked to provide a (1) brief biography and photo, and (2) to identify work or volunteer experience which qualifies them for the office.

Each was also asked to (3) identify an important issue or problem in the township and to suggest a solution. All were invited to (4) add other information or comments for voter consideration. Candidates are listed alphabetically and summaries of their responses follow.

Seat B

Seat B is currently held by Rudi McCurdy. His opponent is Philip Osterhus.

McCurdy (1) and his family have lived in Linwood 15 years. His wife Karen is an administrative assistant at Forest Lake High School. Their daughter Alison is studying in Spain for a semester and has nearly completed a criminal justice degree. Their son Joe is evaluating options for his future.

Since retiring from the graphic arts industry in 1995, McCurdy has held several volunteer positions in Linwood, including the planning and zoning commission. He was a driver for the Linwood Senior Traveler.

McCurdy writes, ìWhen an opening for someone with computer knowledge occurred in the township office I applied for and was granted that position. I have held that position for over six years.î When a supervisor resigned, he applied for and was appointed to fill the position for the remainder of the term. In 2003 he was elected to the same position for a three-year term.

McCurdy says he is running for supervisor again, (2) ìbecause there are several things I would like to see further enhanced, among them the Linwood codebook. The codebook in existence at the time had been codified to accept the first forty-five enacted ordinances. However, an additional 65 ordinances had been enacted since that time, making it very difficult to accurately interpret our by-laws.î He was authorized by the board to update the codebook. This involved many hours of meetings with the township attorney, input from the supervisors and commission members. In 2005, the update was approved. ìWe now have a codebook which includes every ordinance ever passed to date numbered from 1 to 125. This codebook requires constant updating as new ordinances are passed.î

ìAdditionally, I feel I was instrumental in establishing an e-mail account linwoodtownship@citlink.net for the township, up-dating the communityís access channel (Channel 10) to something more then a simple character generator, as well as establishing a website for our residents. A website that is providing more and more information on a monthly basis and is often complimented. With your vote I will be able to continue to enhance these and other township services.î

McCurdy (3) writes that ìProviding properly constructed roads to all township residents continues to be a very expensive undertaking. There are still many roads in Linwood that were originally just a trail to a cabin or hunting facility. Over the years most of these trails were simply enhanced by adding class-5 gravel to their surface. In actuality some of these roads have improper drainage and are often not even located within the correct rights-of-way.

ìThe town board should continue to put emphasis on bringing these roads up to minimum class-5 standards on an orderly basis with township funds. However, individuals wishing blacktop roads installed adjacent to their properties should not expect the township to cover these costs as they should be borne by those benefiting from the improvement.î

He acknowledges the expense, but believes ìhaving our own representative from the Anoka County Sheriffís office has been a huge benefit to Linwood. Our suspected meth lab sites have definitely dwindled and our warrant arrests have increased, making Linwood a safer community in which to reside.î

Finally, (4) ìassessing a fair tax burden is always a delicate balancing act. Taxes set at an extremely low level result in a situation where township services must be curtailed and regular maintenance of buildings and roads become non-existent.

Eventually these neglected services become emergency situations, which must be dealt with. This was the case in 2004 when your town board was inundated with complaints of stuck vehicles, especially school buses, and found it necessary to present an expensive budget proposal for 2005. Several neglected road and maintenance items were brought up to date last year. If elected, I pledge to put the interests of the township first and foremost while keeping taxes and operating costs at a minimal but reasonable level.î

Osterhus is the other candidate for Seat B.

(1) Married more than 40 years he and his wife Ruth moved to Linwood 11 years ago. They have three children and 10 grandchildren. His education includes a year of junior college education, three years at Crown College, and two years at the University of Minnesota. He has four years of service with the Army and National Guard. Work experience includes more than 30 years of police service, including 12 years as a crime scene investigator, nine with a homicide unit. Osterhus was also a small business owner for more than 25 years. He is retired.

He is running for supervisor because (2) ìI recall the 2004 Linwood Township budget that increased the township portion of our property taxes by 95 percent and this town board stonewalled against using any of the $1.6 million surplus from the year before to soften the impact.î Voters lowered the tax levy from $1.5 million to $1.2 million in 2005.

At the end of 2004 cash reserves were $1.1 million and were $1.6 million at the end of 2005. Osterhus said ìwe do need some reserves to carry on operations until the next levy payout from Anoka County, but I do not see the need to carry reserves in excess of the whole yearís budget.î

Osterhus has attended many of the 2007 budget planning meetings. Final budget figures and proposed levy for 2007 have not been finalized, but Osterhus says, ìIt appears the 2007 levy for township operations is going to be about $500,000 more than 2006.î Department requests and recommendations are forwarded to supervisors who review them and may or may not make changes. ìSupervisor (Mike) Parker appears to be the lone voice attempting to reduce some of the budget requests.î

Potential township tax increases are a large concern for Osterhus. (3) There will be another ìbig increase for next year if Linwood taxpayers do not show up en massî at the annual meeting March 14. Spending last year was reduced by $276,000 from what was requested because voters were concerned.

ìNow the board says we need to increase spending by about $500,000 over what was authorized by the Linwood voters at the annual meeting. If their recommendations are not overridden by the voters in attendance at the meeting on March 14, we will see our taxes increase to what they were the year of the big increase.î

Finally, (4) Osterhus is concerned about Township Ordinance 125, approved January 2006, which in part says a ìmotor vehicle must be operable with all component parts and current license or else be stored in a fully enclosed building or behind an opaque privacy-type fence to hide it from viewî from the street and neighbors property. He believes the ìordinance is so broadly written that it invites cherry picking the enforcementî because it could be applied to even yard equipment.

Seat E

There are three candidates for Supervisor Seat E: Scott Bailey, Marie Holm (incumbent) and Kevin Ryan.

Bailey (1) has lived in Linwood 16 years. His work experience includes road construction, heavy hauling, and snowplowing. Bailey says he is ìan outdoorsman, fisherman, nature-loving, simple kind of guy.î

About his decision to run for supervisor, Bailey says (2) ìI think this job would be a good learning experience and a way for me to give Linwood residents a fair shake, an honest ear, and considerate look at any issues, big or small. Knowing that, if elected I will be a green horn, but I will work fairly for all.î

About township issues (3) Bailey ìwould like to see things slow down, the reckless spending of tax dollars, and over-building. This is Linwood, not ëLinatonka.í (4) He concludes, ìLook for follow-up in the Forest Lake Times.î

Holm (1) and her husband Howard have lived in Linwood for eight years. Their five children are grown and they have seven grandchildren. She writes ìI have always been active in my community ó whether in the local school system, community activities, local government, or our local church.î

She has worked for Medtronic Inc. for the past six years and before that was employed by the VA Medical Center for close to 30 years.

(2) ìI got into the local government process almost immediately upon moving to Linwood. I served on the planning and zoning commission for two years and have been on the town board for the past six years. I have also served on the school board for my childrenís school in Bloomington and served on various boards at our local church.î

ìIím running for supervisor because I have a real interest in making Linwood a better place to live and retire in. As a town board supervisor it takes a while to gain the experience necessary to truly understand the workings of township government, and I feel that I have reached that point. Linwood is growing and will continue to grow into the future; it takes dedicated forward-looking people who are truly interested in making this community one that can better serve everyoneís needs.î

ìThings will change as more land is developed and younger families move out, but this change can be done with an eye to the future and what Linwood will be like in 20 or 30 years. I was fortunate to become a town board supervisor when the first comprehensive plan was being finalized, and I would like to be part of the next phase as we renew our comprehensive plan over the next year.î

Holm (3) identifies development as one of the most important issues the township must consider. This is ìan issue where everyone has different ideas ó some want the community to stay the same with minimal development or change, landowners want to develop and receive the most from their investments, and new families moving in are looking for a community that will serve their needs of young families or commuters to the city for work.î

Past boards have diligently worked to establish ordinances that are fair and reasonable. However, these ìneed to be continually reviewed, updated and changed as necessary.î A planning task force was recently created ìto look at some of these issues and help Linwood develop a long range plan for the future. I look forward to serving on this task force.î

ìI have faithfully done my best to serve the Linwood Community. One of the hardest tasks of a supervisor is fair enforcement of the ordinances and established policies. I have always strived to be fair with everyone that has come before the board, knowing that you can not always please everyone. I wish to continue in this service as I believe exciting things are happening with the planning task force and comprehensive plan revisions and would appreciate your vote and support.î

Ryan, (1) a long-time township resident, says he is ìstill working, the family is fine.î He did not provide a picture.

As a candidate for supervisor (2) Ryan says, ìI promise to do nothing, follow the status quo.î He wants to go ìback to basic government and promote the quality of life for Linwood.î

About the township, (3) Ryan says Linwood has always invited new members to the township. The challenge is to max-out the special skills and insight they bring with them. He believes they ought to be able to enjoy the results of their hard work.

ìI have always felt the people of Linwood to be trusted, loyal and faith-driven community and look forward to their support.î

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