McCloud St Curb and Gutter, will council pass it?

At the recent Ortonville City Council Meeting I saw firsthand the councils disrespect for the people. There were over 50 people in attendance and none of them were in favor of the proposed project but that had no effect on the council. See Highlights of the Meeting

For months now I have been attending city council meetings and no one came in to argue the McCloud project. I wonder why it is that the council would go so far to promote this project before getting support of the people. They were told that someone complained about the runoff of rain on their property. Only one? All this has been done because of only one complaint? The person who complained was not identified. Why doesn't the council identify the complaint. Isn't that supposed to be public knowledge?

So far most issues I have seen in the city council always come back to the golf course. Does this have anything to do with the golf course?

After all the people have a right to know

The Council Chamber again was packed and Mayor Johnson attempting to convince the council that this project needed to pass. The Mayor was forceful and direct in putting pressure on Councilmen Dorry and Meyer who opposed the project.

Councilmen Dorry in a soft but direct approach pointed out that the Motion for Reconsideration was improper because it had been rejected last week because the council failed to approve the measure by a required 4/5's vote.

In fact, the Mayor was so forceful in attempting to cram the project through that he violated proper decorum on a Motion for Reconsideration. Councilmen Dorry pointed out that only he, Councilmen Dorry could bring the motion because he was the prevailing party and advised the council that he had consulted with the League and the League had advised him that Mayor Johnson was incorrect in the motion.

Mayor Johnson pretended that he did not hear the objection of Councilmen Dorry. The Mayor refused to let citizens speak which demonstrated that he was trying to railroad the project through without the support of the public.

After the first motion failed Councilmen Berkner attempted to find a compromise and pointed out some positive things about the project but Mayor Johnson, Craig Randleman and Nick Anderson refused to compromise and did not second the Berkner motion.

The hall filled with citizens were satisfied that at least a few of the councilmen heard them. The citizens took control of their destiny despite the attempts of Mayor Johnson to cram the project through.

So where were Mr. Lang and City Attorney Craig Ash during this meeting? They were nowhere to be found. Mayor Blair Johnson came in late and sat down and forthwith started the meeting. He gave no reason for the absence of the City Administrator and City Attorney. When Mr. Dorry interjected that Mayor Johnson wasn't following the rules the mayor took it upon himself to give himself legal advise and said that he was doing it correctly.

Steve Berkner said that he was for the project but not necessarily the assessments and he thought they should be looked into. Bob Meyer said he thought with money being tight they should perhaps wait a few years and see if the money situation improves.

The people who came to watch were very pleased that the council did not pass the vote.

Valid point about waiting to do the project.

It's unfortunate that citizens were not heard during the meeting.

Do a few council members need a refresher course in conducting proper meetings?


nascargirl

Here we are a few weeks after the city council voted down the project to put in curb and gutter now it is being resurected. The Ortonville City Council met on Monday 6/15/09 and voted to put out the bids for the project for "consideration only."

One of the things about this meeting is that it was not posted at the city office. Mr. Lang stated that it was a regular meeting so it didn't need to be posted. I wasn't aware that you posted the meeting to only inform the public that there was a meeting but to also let them know what was going to be discussed at the meeting. By not posting the meeting then people don't know what is going to be discussed. How many people knew that the curb and gutter was going to be voted on again? After the last meeting when they voted down the curb and gutter to now bring it back and not properly inform the public is questionable.

Some people might even think that it was deliberate.

During the meeting When the mayor called for a motion Councilman Steve Berkener made the motion. Someone from the audience stated that Steve Berkner had a conflict of interest and shouldn't be doing that. The mayor jumped right in (with a potted plant at his heels) and stated that it wasn't a conflict of interest.

Really? Steve Berkner owns a house that will receive the new curb and gutter which will increase his property value and the cost will be spread to other peoples taxes and that is not a conflict of interest to Mayor Johnson?

Like my momma used to say, "It takes one to know one."

The mayor said that they all pay taxes and if they had to vote to increase taxes they couldn't do it because they pay taxes too. Did the mayor and city clerk take the same logic class? We are not talking about raising taxes. Which is something you would have to "pay." We are talking about Steve Berkners "personal property valu increasing" due to a vote by the city council.

Why does it seem like there is a constant effort to circumvent public awareness, public scrutiny and public will by this council? If these projects have merit, hearing the argument FOR them will gain support. The fact that there never seems to be a discussion laying out the logic and benefits, while also acknowledging the pitfalls and down side, tells me this council (or members thereof) isn't serving the people but CERTAIN people.
There's money for this project, of questionable value, and there's no money for things that really matter and really make a difference?
Pray tell, what is the grand strategy here?