Expected reduction in local government aid

All Ortonville taxpayers should watch closely over the next one or two city council meetings to see how our council will deal with the expected decrease in local government aid. It's been said that it will be somewhere in the area of $55,000. That's quite a reduction, and some positive actions are needed to cope with it. Such things as Miscellaneous costs of $85,000 in the Community Development Fund, $300,000 for building improvements to the City Shop, an increase of $27,000 in Economic Development, and $320,000 for Lakeside Park improvements look like they would be likely candidates. Yes, it's going to be interesting to see what the mayor and his council will do.

It is time to recognize now is the time to make unnecessary cutbacks.

I agree with your analysis. The role of government is to protect its citizens and the cutbacks you name should definitely be considered.

You are well versed and logical in your approach.

Ortonville City Council needs to make cutbacks.

There will continue to be a budget crisis at a state level that will permeate down to the local communities.

The $35,000.00 improvement to the golf course now seems like a very poor decision. The city clerk makes recommendations to the council and this recommendation is passed on to the council.

The city clerk has increased his labor costs by not performing his duties and hiring an additional employee. The additional employee is so busy on other websites that she still has not provided the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

If government is going to be held accountable then the public needs to know what is going to be discussed.

The last time this criticism was launched the employee protected the city clerk. What is their excuse this time?

It is obvious we can kill two birds with one stone by eliminating both of these employees. It is obvious we are top heavy with administrators in Ortonville and we need to eliminate waste in government.

So far I see no reductions. According to the Ortonville City Council minutes there is no restraint.

The city is purchasing the Clinic and they don't even tell people how much it costs.

First they take money out of the sewer fund to pay for the golf course and now are putting money in the airport. They are making more improvements to the airport. Why do we have an airport? There is one five miles away. Perhaps they will say that they need it for the hospital. Well, it makes more sense to build a helicopter pad on top of the roof of the hospital they are building. That way they can transport patients directly from the hospital. They are building a new hospital right now, why not put in a helicopter pad on the roof.

The golf course and airport appear to me to be hobbies for the affluent. Our children have to ice skate in subzero temperatures because the hockey association didn't care to support a project that would have built an indoor rink in Big Stone City.

We don't have an indoor pool here. They have an indoor pool in Milbank and in other towns but our children have to wait till summer for a few months availability of the local pool. What condition is Ortonville's swimming pool in? Does it need improvements?

As an ex-councilmember who used to question each and every expense that came our way for the airport, I must point out that that facility is a big asset for our community. Contrary to one of the responses, it is not for the exclusive of the "affluent." Also, if you look closely at the airport funding, I think you'll find that a great portion of the funding comes from the government. I, too, want to ensure that expenditures by our local government are well thought and necessary.However, we musn't be so quick to criticize, unless we have the full picture.

City admits may have been a mistake on $35,000 Golf Course Expenditure

As Mustang and myself have advocated for a number of months, the cities moving of money may be creating a recipe for financial disaster. It was also interesting to note that Cunningham could not get the support from the Big Stone Area Growth claiming this was now a county organization and he could not get the support. Perhaps this is a fall out from the past years attempts to stick the county with the law enforcement for the city? Another reason the city needs to learn to get along instead of the constant fighting with neighbors.

It was interesting to continue to note that the agenda is not placed on the Internet like Big Stone City so you have to get out in the cold and find out what is on the agenda. It is truly time to hold the council and local government accountable for failing to post the agenda. Perhaps the organization of the city clerk is lacking.

It was also interesting to note that the state government said that there would be no program left unturned to see if cutbacks could be made, yet this city made no attempts to reduce it's printing costs, attorney fees costs and even the airport.

As every private business is looking for ways to cut costs this council tends to think that the cutbacks will not happen to Ortonville. With the exception of one councilmen.

On the other side note, this continues to be a very limited public input council. The only time outsiders are allowed to speak is when the Mayor allows the Citizens to be Heard and in the agenda he encourages the public to be short.

This leads one to believe that the council is really not interested in hearing opposing views and only give lip service to the people who voted them in.

Frankly the past city clerk costs less, was more organized and was more user friendly. One place the council needs to look at for cutbacks is in the city clerks office and EDA.

Mustang, you have my attention. As a past city councilmember you have more information as to the benefits of supporting the airport than the adverage citizen does. Would you explain why the airport is an asset.

Are we top heavy in administration

As I reviewed a number of threads it dawned on me that a number of us on this site had been sending warning signals to the city council and we were scoffed at.

The role of the press is not to provide a media to promote government but it is to serve as a check and balance to insure good government. Mr. Lang wants to control what is printed but we are currently investigating claims that may determine the real reason the city administrator is so defensive.

It is interesting that the "official " newspaper has not even printed anything about the courthouse.

A review of this thread gave warnings long before our city council or city administrator even acknowledged there was a problem. Interestingly enough, our concerns turned out to be accurate.