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Poor behavior
As a student at Forest Lake High School, I attended the school board meeting on Feb. 7 and have decided to share my frustrations with the actions of board member Eric Langness.
During the meeting it was brought up that members Langness and David Gay would be censured for their actions at the Jan. 3 meeting. Langness responded inappropriately by saying “This is bulls--t.” There was absolutely no need for the use of profanity. The meetings are televised and open to the public. Is this the image we want our community to have of our schools?
When voting on the censure, Langness gave a lengthy “Nooooooo” while leaning way back in his chair looking to the ceiling and shaking his head side to side and pounding on the table like drums. It was very childish behavior.
If that wasn’t enough; as the regular meeting was getting ready to go into closed session, Langness stormed over to the gentleman sitting behind me and said loudly “These f-----g board members are delusional.” This made me even angrier. Everyone around me was shocked.
Member Langness acted without regard to anyone else. He at one point during the censure discussions said something about what this would look like for his political career. I thought being on the school board would be more about improving the schools for students and not about benefiting your own political career?
As an elected official, he should have been mature enough to realize this was not the appropriate time to express anger.
To see Langness, who is representing our schools and students like myself in making our schools proud and a place to be respected by all, behave like this was more than disappointing. There was nothing proud or respectful about his actions on Feb. 7.
Sam Carlson
Stacy
Great People!
The purpose of this letter is to make a public “thank you” to members of the greater Forest Lake community!
Our 9th grade Social Studies classes, as a part of their curriculum, study educational opportunities available to them both during and after high school. In addition to that, they also look at careers that might be of interest to them.
As a part of that, they had a chance to visit with members of our community that took time out of their day to visit our classrooms. The guests told kids about their careers and what it took to get to where they are today.
We just can’t express to all the people who came in how grateful we are to them for finding the time to come in and talk with us. It was very gracious of them!
And a special thank you to Elise d’Entremont for making so many arrangements for us in contacting and scheduling our guests. This community is jam-packed with great people - thank you all so very much!
Jim Stromberg
Sonya Loven
9th grade Social Studies
Southwest Junior High
Forest Lake
Needs Moral fiber
I hope that District 52A Rep. Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake) somehow finds the moral fiber to support the legislature’s ‘pay as you go’ transportation bill in the face of Gov. Pawlenty’s veto.
The governor’s plan to borrow the money for today’s roads from future generations allows him to dodge the difficult but necessary conversation he should be having with Minnesota’s voters that fixing our crumbling transportation system won’t be free. Instead, he hides behind his ‘no new taxes pledge’ and says, “just charge it,” leaving the bill for our kids.
Somehow it just doesn’t seem fair that in thirty years our children will be hit with the double whammy of paying for worn out roads that were new in 2008, and also paying to replace them.
It may take a bit of fortitude to face up to a governor with national aspirations, but I hope Mr. Dettmer recognizes that he is responsible not only to today’s voters, but tomorrow’s taxpayers.
Gene Janicke
Forest Lake
Justified Fuss?
Is all the fuss about the school board censure justified?
The majority of the school board and the superintendent are willing to spend time and resources to make a statement... for what? Two board members, Eric Langness and David Gay, wanted to discuss why their superintendent chooses to leave our children at risk when he had full ability in policy to protect them.
I have a child in elementary school, and I certainly hope that the safety of my child, and all children, would be a priority of the public schools board.
I hope that the posturing will end and the real issues will be addressed. We elected these school board members to do what’s best for our juveniles, not to act like them!
Tara Buckbee
Forest Lake
Lead the way
Opportunists or leaders? I see some of the tired leadership of old is trying for a comeback by putting their names on a so called amendment to the annexation fiasco asking for new elections and for the entire city council to resign. If this proposal came from a more inspiring bunch at an earlier stage perhaps it could be taken more seriously.
Aside from the several of this group who have been soundly defeated in recent elections and turned from office or not re-appointed to boards, a couple of these signers are currently holding appointed office. Mr. Raduenz is chair of the city of Wyoming EDA board and Mr. Boniface sits on the county EDA board for our district. If these two are serious about their amendment and think it is fair to wipe the slate clean and start with newly elected officials, they should show leadership in this process by showing some personal sacrifice. If it is fair to start with new elected people the same can be said for appointed people.
This could be done by both Raduenz and Boniface immediately resigning their respective positions. This would give the newly elected leaders the chance to appoint people from the newly formed community to these important offices. The resignations would be a sign of real leadership and show the community they are serious, if they really are.
Also all the signers of this amendment should also pledge to not run for office, if they fail to make this pledge it only looks like they are playing politics and trying to set up a run for office by eliminating the competition and opening up a couple more positions. We all know they would never try to take political advantage of the situation, would they? They could prove it by signing the pledge to not run for elected office in 2008.
Lead the way Mr. Raduenz and Mr. Boniface and resign immediately. The rest of you so called leaders, please lead the way and sign a pledge to not run for office in the upcoming elections. It will give you some credibility and make the changes you are requesting have some validity. Remember if it is for a better more democratic community, make the sacrifice.
It’s what leaders do.
Max Anderson
Wyoming
Time to act
It’s time for the nearly 2100 military retirees living in the 55025 zip code area, which includes Forest Lake, to contact their state legislators now!
Want to help solve Minnesota’s $739 million revenue downturn through 2009? Get more military retirees to move here to start second careers and spend money on homes, cars, etc., to generate more tax revenues.
How do you get more military retirees to move here? Drop the state tax on military retirement pay, like 42 other states have done, because we are losing millions of dollars annually to Wisconsin and the Dakotas because military retirees don’t come here.
The nearly 17,000 military retirees here now bring in more than $259 million annually. Most of this income is spent on items that have a sales tax. Military retirees bring their own health insurance at no cost to Minnesota. And for a state population our size, we should have 65,000 military retirees.
The Retired Enlisted Association Chapter 115, www.trea115.org, is working with other veterans support groups to get more military retirees to come to Minnesota.
Mark Davidson
Bloomington
Water concerns
Fellow residents in and around Scandia should be aware Tiller Corporation, which operates a mining, asphalt and recycling operation in Scandia, is seeking a conditional use permit from the City of Scandia. A public hearing is scheduled 7:30 p.m, March 5 at the Scandia City Hall.
According to Tiller, its proposed operations will not pose any “significant environmental impact” and should be granted a use permit to excavate into the water table. Tiller plans to excavate 50 feet into the water table which will ultimately result in a lake to replace the excavated gravel.
Tiller now wants to expose the water table from which Scandia and surrounding residents obtain their drinking water. Tiller’s operations include an asphalt plant that will be sitting right on the shores of the newly created lake. Having seen the potential for the spreading of contaminating chemicals from the recent 3M groundwater contamination to distant areas of the Twin Cities, Tiller’s proposal should be thoroughly analyzed by health and environmental agencies most familiar with such issues.
I encourage anyone who cares about the safety of their drinking water to attend the public hearing to support the need for further study and to voice any other concerns.
John Lindell
Scandia
Scandia Fire thanks
In our world of weak economics and the rise of real estate foreclosures it was not evident as Scandia Fire received more gracious support at its 23rd Annual Fire Ball. We at Scandia Fire and Rescue would like to say a big thank you to all the folks of Scandia and the surrounding communities who came to support us for yet another successful benefit.
The support from the local businesses that donated for the raffles and all who attended are not unnoticed and greatly appreciated. Everyone who helps support us are our heroes, helping to fund special projects and purchases for your fire department.
This letter is also to let you know what we’re doing with the funds and what’s been happening over the past year. Some of the proceeds help us acquire equipment. Updating and acquiring specialized equipment is a big focus from the funds raised. These funds have purchased all new air packs for fire fighting protection along with each firefighter having their own mask. Through other donations, we were able to acquire specialty air bags for heavy rescue and extrication.
Education and safety is a large part of our curriculum at Scandia Fire. Throughout the year we have had members attend emergency vehicle driving classes and other fire and rescue courses. Safety and the health of our firefighters is a priority. We are in the process of purchasing reflective coats and vests for all personnel to keep them safe on calls.
The last year has been busy. Scandia Fire and Rescue responded to 186 emergency calls last year. Our biggest event was when we were called to assist at the I-35W bridge collapse. Members of the department are part of the Washington County Fire Dive Rescue Team, which was activated during the incident.
We focus on training. With most of our calls medical related we have made the decision that all new members become Emergency Medical Technicians. This year we had six members become EMT’s and two are taking classes to attain this status. This will give us 23 EMT’s from a full roster of 30 firefighters.
If you are interested in becoming a Firefighter/EMT call 651-433-4383 or talk to any firefighter for information and an application.
We cannot say thank you enough for your support. The citizens of Scandia and our neighbors from other communities have gone above and beyond. We at Scandia Fire and Rescue are honored and all we can do is say thanks.
Erich Kertzscher
Scandia Fire & Rescue
The Pledge
The Transportation Pledge of Our Elected Representatives in Senate District 52.
Sen. Ray Vandeveer (R) District 52.
State Rep. Bob Dettmer (R) District 52A.
State Rep. Matt Dean (R) District 52B.
I pledge a political philosophy of taking the easy way out; I am an “I want my cake and eat it too” elected representative who believes the solution to everything is to borrow and spend.
I pledge (to Grover Norquist and Phil Krinkie) not to raise taxes and to pass the cost of building roads, bridges and infrastructure on to future generations.
I pledge to continue to obstruct the legislative process even when a vast majority of the elective body that I am part of is in favor of a bill and how to fund it.
I take this pledge with the hope that the voters in my district don’t realize by doing nothing I am part of the problem and have no real long term solutions to problems Minnesotans face.
Michael LaFave
Forest Lake
Dettmer thanked
On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Rep. Bob Dettmer for standing up for families with his vote to uphold Gov. Pawlenty’s veto. Unlike his DFL counterparts and eight misguided “Republicans,” he realizes that families are taxed enough.
Those who argue for this egregious confiscation by our government cite that it is time we “properly fund transportation in MN”...I thought that it was the job of our government to be funding this all along. Prior to August 1, 2007, there was very little chatter coming from the state legislature about infrastructure.
Following the collapse of the I-35W bridge, the DFL led legislature has used this tragedy in an attempt to fleece Minnesotans for funds that have been grievously misallocated. It is the government’s responsibility to assure these things don’t happen.
We have a $35 billion budget in this state. The breaks down to approximately $1 billion dollars every 10 days. I find it hard to believe the government can’t find the funds in a budget this size.
They are shirking their responsibility raising taxes after they already spent the budget so frivolously.
This type of irresponsible behavior opens “Pandora’s box by allowing government to raise taxes instead of prioritizing the existing budget. Per capita, Minnesota is the 6th highest taxed state in the U.S. (Census 2005). Enough is enough.
Brad Ziernicki
Linwood
Strikes a chord
I read your editorial “Citizens deserve much more from Bachmann” in the Star News, my local newspaper of record (I am currently overseas). It strikes a chord with me.
Despite having been involved politically at the local level, I seldom met one of my elected representatives. I certainly did not have the feeling that they were particularly interested in my perspective – except, for forms sake, during an endorsement battle.
Here in Sierra Leone, despite the fact that I am not a Sierra Leonean, it seems that public officials are more accessible. When I was a journalist I could interview the president or vice president and had access to virtually everyone.
Now that I am a (mid-level) official, I can call government officials on their cell phones. Some of them have my name saved in their phone directories.
Representatives of the people have an obligation to listen to the people, and to communicate with their constituents. Thank you for making the point, and making it publicly.
Peter C. Andersen
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Censure questions
Hearing the school board’s reasons for censuring David Gay and Eric Langness left me with many questions. Therefore, I obtained a copy of the censure resolution, meeting minutes, the DVDs of both the Jan. 3 and Feb. 7 meetings, and the audio tape from the Jan. 3 meeting. I found a number of inaccuracies.
The resolution states that the background check policy was amended at the June 6, 2007 meeting. According to the minutes, this was a special meeting at which Q-Comp was discussed. The subject of background checks never came up.
The Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. 13.34 is cited both in the resolution and at the meeting by Joe Grafft as the applicable statute which Members Gay and Langness allegedly violated. This section deals only with “data consisting solely of testing or examination materials.”
The resolution also states that “at a meeting on January 3, 2008, School Board member David Gay moved and Member Eric Langness seconded a motion to take disciplinary action against Superintendent Steenblock.”
That is how the motion appears in the minutes, in various newspaper articles, and in several board members’ recollections. Unfortunately, it is a misstatement of the actual motion. In both the DVD and the audio tape of the Jan. 3 meeting, Dr. Gay moves to “explore options for a discussion about disciplinary action against the Superintendent.”
Exploring options for a discussion is simply deciding whether or not an issue needs to be talked about and what the ground rules for that conversation should be. No reasonable person would confuse a simple request for discussion with an outright demand for disciplinary action, unless relationships were so strained that people heard only what they wanted to hear.
In light of these errors, the school board must correct the minutes of the Jan. 3, 2008 meeting to accurately report Gay’s motion, withdraw the censure resolution, and issue a public apology to both Gay and Langness. If these actions are not taken, I would urge these gentlemen to explore the option of litigation against the district.
Alan W. Gay
Wyoming
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer is David Gay’s brother)
Action Justified
The majority of the School Board reasonably exercised its authority to censure members Gay and Langness for three reasons:
1. Violating Superintendent Steenblock’s privacy rights under Minnesota law by making a complaint about his job performance at a public meeting;
2. Failing to follow the appropriate chain of command by not bringing their concerns or complaints about Superintendent Steenblock to the personnel committee; and
3. Criticizing Superintendent Steenblock for not requiring criminal history background checks for individuals not covered by the School Board Policy 438.
This decision was not made in haste or anger. Any inaccuracies in the introductory part of the resolution were not incorporated in the resolution approved by the school board.
In light of recent events, the ISD 831 School Board has recognized that the background check policy should be reviewed. The policy has been referred to the policy committee to consider possible revisions which would require background checks for independent contractors and other individuals who have contact with students through a school-sponsored activity, such as transportation or community education classes.
But as recent cases in the Robbinsdale, Rockford and other Minnesota school districts have demonstrated, passing a criminal history background check does not guarantee that an individual is safe to work with students.
The school board will continue to work hard to make sure that all students have a safe learning environment. That includes reviewing policies and implementing Anti-bullying programs.
Bill Bresin, president
ISD 831 School Board
Forest Lake
Shameful
The statements that Congresswoman Michele Bachmann made about the heartbreaking bus crash that involved an illegal immigrant and the Minnesota transportation bill Wednesday night on O’Reilly Factor were very misleading and shameful.
Rep. Bachmann said “And just as recently as Monday, Bill, the Minnesota legislature passed a $7 billion tax increase. One amendment was offered that said that driver’s license tests should be in English only. And just think, this is just days after this Cottonwood accident occurred and that amendment wasn’t passed. That amendment failed. It’s an outrage, it’s unthinkable. I don’t know when people are finally going to wake up.”
Bachmann’s comments on a national news program and those who opposed the transportation bill are perfect examples of what is wrong with the state of politics in our country; the bill that passed had nothing to do with illegal immigration. Those opposed to the bill tried to exploit a terrible bus crash that involved an unlicensed illegal immigrant by bringing it into the debate about the transportation bill; not because the bill had anything to do with immigration but simply because they opposed the bill.
Minnesotans should expect action from their elected representatives when a major interstate bridge falls into the Mississippi River; that is exactly what our representatives did.
The bill passed both the Minnesota House and Senate by a two thirds majority and had enough support of both Democrats and Republicans to override the veto of the governor.
Thank goodness a huge majority of our elected officials stayed on task and did their job and shame on Rep. Bachmann and others who tried to exploit a terrible tragedy to poison a transportation bill that was long overdue.
Martha LaFave
Forest Lake
Apology due
After reading a recent letter detailing the errors found in the resolution to censure school board members David Gay and Eric Langness, I decided to research the statutes.
I learned that under MN Stat. 13D.05 Subd. 1(b) non-public data (which would include private personnel data under MN Stat. 13.43) can be discussed at an open meeting without penalty/liability as reasonably needed to conduct the business or agenda item before the public body. Dr. Gay’s motion to “explore options for a discussion about disciplinary action against the Superintendent” clearly falls into that category.
I find it amazing that in light of the research a board member said he did for this resolution, he somehow managed to overlook this particular statute.
Since this statute provides immunity for board members to discuss non-public data, I call upon the school board to withdraw the censure and issue a public apology to Members Gay and Langness. They do not deserve to be censured for doing what they were elected to do, which is to ensure that the school district remains accountable to the community.
Robert Westerlund
Forest Lake
Broken promise
I would like to thank State Rep. Jeremy Kalin for voting for the largest tax increase in Minnesota history, during one of the worst economic environments in recent history. Not long ago Mr. Kalin was at my door telling me he was for lower taxes, and for helping working families. This bill hurts working families the most.
Don’t get me wrong I am for good roads and bridges. But our state is collecting way more than enough taxes from us. Mr.Kalin and the gang should be changing the direction of funding into the state’s basic infrastructure.
Just like working families we cut out the extras during hard times, and state government should do the same.
Ross M. Bucholz
Wyoming
Go Nellie!
It’s been a long road, but the North Metro Harness Initiative has jumped its last hurdle and opens April 11th. Hooray!
I recently toured the facility and it is phenomenal. It will be a great source of entertainment and revenue for us in this area.
The naysayers argued that it would have no value for us and that no one would be interested in its crappy minimum wage jobs. But at the job fair at Century Junior High, the place was paced. Over 1000 applicants turned out in hope of finding employment at Running Aces. People of all ages were there and anxious to be part of this new and exciting business.
Over 600 will be employed in positions ranging from minimum wage and part-time to full-time managers and career positions.
This new and exciting entertainment venue is long overdue and a welcome sight. Columbus will finally have a restaurant facility again and a new place to take the family inexpensively for an afternoon or evening of fun.
Recently, Forest Lake businesses discussed plans for $94 million in expansion and renovations. I’m sure this is no coincidence. They, too, are getting excited about all the new people and revenue that Running Aces will attract.
Track officials have also appeared before state legislators to get bill passed that would allow Running Aces and Canterbury to simulcast all breeds. This means we could go to Running Aces and place bets on thoroughbred races like the Kentucky Derby. This is a win-win situation for everyone, taxpayers included.
Of course Mr. Don Steinke was at each step of the legislative process fighting it as always. Please find another hobby and quit trying to cost us money over and over again.
Let progress prevail.
Peg Hoffman
Columbus
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