Think globally, act locally
This old chestnut springs to mind today in Cook County, where the militant mindset of Homeland Security seeks to enhance global power by beefing up its jails and detention centers on all borders, even the most peaceful ones such as we share with Canada at the Pigeon River.
As a peace activist (rather than an anti-war activist), I believe that peaceful actions have more power for change than aggression and war, which rains death from the skies on so-called enemies, many of them families, who are then called victims of “collateral damage.” What “regrets” can assuage a mother’s grief for her child? What cowboy rhetoric of evil axes can forge new partnerships with sovereign nations?
But, none of this touched our sleepy little county nestled along Lake Superior’s North Shore, with its small villages, resorts, and loyal tourists. Not until the feds decided we need gun battles on Lake Superior and new “holding facilities” (aka Guantanamo?) and eight-foot fences surrounding 10 acres of helipad, outdoor and indoor parking, as well as a 34,000 square foot building with up to 50 employees. For what? We don’t have any problems with our Canadian friends to speak of. Just as there were no terrorists in Iraq until we attacked with our lies about WMD, there are no terrorists in Cook County until we create war games all around us.
As one who lived for 30 years near the Minneapolis airport, unable to even talk to neighbors in my garden while planes roared overhead, I treasure the silence and peace we enjoy here by the shore. The occasional helicopters are a small price to pay to save the lives of people who need transport to a Duluth hospital. The yuppie small planes to the Devil’s Track airport are so far only the occasional nuisance. Those lucky enough to be born here really don’t understand how thankful they should be for the peace and beauty they enjoy. When Grand Marais has become like Fort Lauderdale, a lovely small town by the sea only 40 years ago, there won’t be any turning back.
Today at the Grand Marais City Council there was a mostly civilized discussion about the proposed (better to say, virtually done deal) Homeland ventures with jails and gunfire. But, people were not really talking to each other, only repeating their viewpoints over and over. Mayor Sandbo I respect for being very clear about his priorities: economic growth and tax base and respect for the Homeland Heroes. But Kay Costello said it best for me: that it’s like we come from Venus and Mars (my analogy). The people who want development don’t believe that our community will really be changed by it, and they also trust the feds. The other people have no trust whatever in government and they fear for the quality of life if the lovely little Cedar Grove Park becomes the site of a gonzo jail while the lake reverberates with gunfire. Also these others want total public accountability. To be perfectly fair, the lack of accountability is mostly coming from the federal level, including our senators and representatives who try to pass the buck to the locals despite the obviously top-town dictates we are looking at.
The astrologers say, “As above, so below.” I would add: as in Grand Marais, so in the world. I am very happy that we can talk to one another in public meetings; I only wish we could truly understand what we are saying.
Nancye Belding
True North correspondent
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
We are WHAT?
True,
When I woke up yesterday, even though I feel the war in Iraq is a huge tactical and strategic error, not to mention a moral outrage, I was a still a patriotic American.
Today, because of the very same positions, the Bushies say I am a godless, anti-Christian, pro-Nazi, Chamberlainesque, fascist sympathizer, and terrorist appeaser.
Gee, it must be nice to a Republican and know that Jesus loves you, but can’t stand the rest of the U. S. A.
Would one of you Republicans, who are so close to Jesus, tell us, just how many Iraqi babies and U. S. soldiers Jesus wants killed?
A U S Army Veteran and American Legion Member
When I woke up yesterday, even though I feel the war in Iraq is a huge tactical and strategic error, not to mention a moral outrage, I was a still a patriotic American.
Today, because of the very same positions, the Bushies say I am a godless, anti-Christian, pro-Nazi, Chamberlainesque, fascist sympathizer, and terrorist appeaser.
Gee, it must be nice to a Republican and know that Jesus loves you, but can’t stand the rest of the U. S. A.
Would one of you Republicans, who are so close to Jesus, tell us, just how many Iraqi babies and U. S. soldiers Jesus wants killed?
A U S Army Veteran and American Legion Member
Monday, August 28, 2006
Homeland developer update
From: ccfcookcounty@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:ccfcookcounty@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of ccfcookcounty
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 7:09 PM
To: ccfcookcounty@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Concerned Citizens For Cook County] GSA Developer Site Visit
Update
A quick update on the proposed Homeland Security Building project.
Ten ccfcc met this morning with the intention of witnessing the
GSA's site visit to the Business Park. The group was adorned with
hats and t-shirts that read: "Rational Security: Keeping the Home
Soil Friendly". Also in attendance were Jay Anderson of the Cook
County News Herald, Mike Littvin, EDA Board Member, and Jim Johnson,
County Commissioner. EDA Director Matt Geretschlaeger arrived,
addressed the gathering and answered several questions from the
group. No significant new information was acquired during the Q&A
session but he did stress that there is required to be a public
hearing before any property sale within the Business Park. At 9:15
two SUV's arrived and MG quickly excused himself. It is unclear what
words were exchanged but rather than complete the site visit at that
time, the developers did not enter the park and drove away,
presumably to another site. Two ccfcc members attempted to follow
them, but did not have enough lead time. Shortly after their quick
exit, members of ccfcc contacted Tim Kennedy via cel phone. Mr.
Kennedy is a broker for one of the developers as well as a city-
appointed member of the EDA board. He confirmed that he was at that
time meeting with the developers at an undisclosed site, presumably
near "Hedstroms". Mr. Kennedy also declined to state whether more
than one additional site was on the groups' schedule for the day.
The ccfcc assembly split into shifts throughout the day. Between
9:30 and noon two ccfcc reported that M. Geretschlaeger and
architect Russell Zenk drove into the business park site. Also
during that time period, M. Geretschlaeger and city attorney Don
Davison arrived at the park and asked an excavator working on the
road to name the number of people stationed at the site and their
names. It is unclear why they needed that information or what the
intention of their visit may have been. At approximately 1:40pm, M.
Geretschlaeger returned to the site with the developers, where they
were met by three ccfcc members. The actual site visit encompassed a
drive to the top of the new entrance road to the Cedar Grove
Business Park, approximately 10 minutes. It was clear that the
developers were not interested in fielding questions or having any
contact with concerned local citizens, and left without rolling down
the SUV windows. The windows on both vehicles were tinted so we
could not confirm who was in attendance.
It was agreed that the ccfcc presence throughout the day
successfully made the point that people are concerned about this
project and are watching the process and involved public officials
very carefully. If you are able to attend the GM City Countil
meeting this Wednesday, please do. The open commentary period begins
at 4:30pm sharp.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
SLD
[mailto:ccfcookcounty@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of ccfcookcounty
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 7:09 PM
To: ccfcookcounty@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Concerned Citizens For Cook County] GSA Developer Site Visit
Update
A quick update on the proposed Homeland Security Building project.
Ten ccfcc met this morning with the intention of witnessing the
GSA's site visit to the Business Park. The group was adorned with
hats and t-shirts that read: "Rational Security: Keeping the Home
Soil Friendly". Also in attendance were Jay Anderson of the Cook
County News Herald, Mike Littvin, EDA Board Member, and Jim Johnson,
County Commissioner. EDA Director Matt Geretschlaeger arrived,
addressed the gathering and answered several questions from the
group. No significant new information was acquired during the Q&A
session but he did stress that there is required to be a public
hearing before any property sale within the Business Park. At 9:15
two SUV's arrived and MG quickly excused himself. It is unclear what
words were exchanged but rather than complete the site visit at that
time, the developers did not enter the park and drove away,
presumably to another site. Two ccfcc members attempted to follow
them, but did not have enough lead time. Shortly after their quick
exit, members of ccfcc contacted Tim Kennedy via cel phone. Mr.
Kennedy is a broker for one of the developers as well as a city-
appointed member of the EDA board. He confirmed that he was at that
time meeting with the developers at an undisclosed site, presumably
near "Hedstroms". Mr. Kennedy also declined to state whether more
than one additional site was on the groups' schedule for the day.
The ccfcc assembly split into shifts throughout the day. Between
9:30 and noon two ccfcc reported that M. Geretschlaeger and
architect Russell Zenk drove into the business park site. Also
during that time period, M. Geretschlaeger and city attorney Don
Davison arrived at the park and asked an excavator working on the
road to name the number of people stationed at the site and their
names. It is unclear why they needed that information or what the
intention of their visit may have been. At approximately 1:40pm, M.
Geretschlaeger returned to the site with the developers, where they
were met by three ccfcc members. The actual site visit encompassed a
drive to the top of the new entrance road to the Cedar Grove
Business Park, approximately 10 minutes. It was clear that the
developers were not interested in fielding questions or having any
contact with concerned local citizens, and left without rolling down
the SUV windows. The windows on both vehicles were tinted so we
could not confirm who was in attendance.
It was agreed that the ccfcc presence throughout the day
successfully made the point that people are concerned about this
project and are watching the process and involved public officials
very carefully. If you are able to attend the GM City Countil
meeting this Wednesday, please do. The open commentary period begins
at 4:30pm sharp.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
SLD
Sugar daddy to buy cash cow
Dear True-
In the past I had not considered buying one of the half-a-million dollar condos on the Grand Marais Harbor. Now with the possiblity of such fireworks I can hardly wait to cash in!
As it was, the prospect of having hoards of tourists walking within inches of my picture window day in and day out has almost been enough to motivate a purchase, but now the prospect of such "shock and awe" propells me to contact a realtor ASAP!
Thanks for the heads up on what will definitely be a great boon to our local market!
D. Warbucks
In the past I had not considered buying one of the half-a-million dollar condos on the Grand Marais Harbor. Now with the possiblity of such fireworks I can hardly wait to cash in!
As it was, the prospect of having hoards of tourists walking within inches of my picture window day in and day out has almost been enough to motivate a purchase, but now the prospect of such "shock and awe" propells me to contact a realtor ASAP!
Thanks for the heads up on what will definitely be a great boon to our local market!
D. Warbucks
Sunday, August 27, 2006
A modest proposal: splendid gunfire
Dear True,
What is all the concern about the Coast Guard opening fire off Grand Marais? To me this represents a great opportunity for our community. I think it could be a wonderful tourist draw. We should certainly meet with them, but only to show our support and to ask them to bring it in as close to shore as possible. It should be set up right outside the harbor entrance. That way everyone can watch from the breakwalls or, from the boats in the new marina.
We should also be lobbying them to station some real Coast Guard boats in Grand Marais. There should be at least one or two Coastal Patrol Boats involved, not just for national security, but for the fire power they would bring to the firing exercises. The bigger the boat, the bigger the guns, the louder the explosions and the better the show! We should ask for at least one WPC and one WPB.
I am sure that even if we get the 200 slip marina we deserve, we can still handle a couple real patrol boats. With the new marina we’ve been told we will get rid of the yacht club, and one boat can be parked there and, I think, the DNR or the mayor said the boats tied up in the harbor will go too, so the other could anchor there.
It would be a win – win for the town and the harbor. Between the Coast Guard and the new marina we are getting, the harbor would be full of boats, which would really bring the tourists because where else could they see such a variety of, and so many boats in such a small space? And the near shore firing range would be a bonus attraction. Night firing would be particularly beneficial to the tourist trade and what a North Shore close to nature experience!
Granted, the commercial fishing would have to go, and the sport fishing too, but the city would still be ahead. The only thing we would want to worry about is the water skipping by the local snowmobile club. To the mayor that seems destined to be a big part of our city’s future, so we wouldn’t want to mess with it too much. The dragon boats can probably move to Hovland along with the kayaks and the birders.
Commence Firing!
Am I the only one who has thought this through?
Another friend.
What is all the concern about the Coast Guard opening fire off Grand Marais? To me this represents a great opportunity for our community. I think it could be a wonderful tourist draw. We should certainly meet with them, but only to show our support and to ask them to bring it in as close to shore as possible. It should be set up right outside the harbor entrance. That way everyone can watch from the breakwalls or, from the boats in the new marina.
We should also be lobbying them to station some real Coast Guard boats in Grand Marais. There should be at least one or two Coastal Patrol Boats involved, not just for national security, but for the fire power they would bring to the firing exercises. The bigger the boat, the bigger the guns, the louder the explosions and the better the show! We should ask for at least one WPC and one WPB.
I am sure that even if we get the 200 slip marina we deserve, we can still handle a couple real patrol boats. With the new marina we’ve been told we will get rid of the yacht club, and one boat can be parked there and, I think, the DNR or the mayor said the boats tied up in the harbor will go too, so the other could anchor there.
It would be a win – win for the town and the harbor. Between the Coast Guard and the new marina we are getting, the harbor would be full of boats, which would really bring the tourists because where else could they see such a variety of, and so many boats in such a small space? And the near shore firing range would be a bonus attraction. Night firing would be particularly beneficial to the tourist trade and what a North Shore close to nature experience!
Granted, the commercial fishing would have to go, and the sport fishing too, but the city would still be ahead. The only thing we would want to worry about is the water skipping by the local snowmobile club. To the mayor that seems destined to be a big part of our city’s future, so we wouldn’t want to mess with it too much. The dragon boats can probably move to Hovland along with the kayaks and the birders.
Commence Firing!
Am I the only one who has thought this through?
Another friend.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Appalling Homeland proposal
Homeland So-called "Security" proposes gunfights on our lake
Nancye Belding
True North correspondent
How utterly appalling is the latest proposal for Coast Guard gun battles in our peaceful waters. Well it is not only Grand Marais, but 25 other ports including Grand Portage that will be required to harbor innocent civilian sailors while the fun and games of gunplay on the lake unfold.
But each of us must stand in our own "safe" harbor here, each of us must speak to the utterly stupid escalation of violence in a place where all of us value peace and quietude.
Homeland Heavies have informed us that we have until August 31 to respond to their outrageous proposal. BUT, email is not acceptable, our responses must be by snail mail.
A friend has requested that the comment period be extended. After all, before a couple of days ago, none of us had any idea.
Here are his thoughts:
On behalf of Harbor Friends, I have contacted the offices of Oberstar, Coleman, and Dayton and asked for support in getting a public hearing and an extension of the public comment period which is due to close August 31. They have agreed to ask for a public meeting.
Also, I am sending in a formal request for a public meeting and for an extension of the comment period.
A friend of Grand Marais
Surely, my friends and neighbors, we can mitigate this disaster for hapless sailors and kayakers and fisherpeople who may not be actually tuned in to the heedless carriers of war in our peaceful land and lake.
Nancye Belding
True North correspondent
How utterly appalling is the latest proposal for Coast Guard gun battles in our peaceful waters. Well it is not only Grand Marais, but 25 other ports including Grand Portage that will be required to harbor innocent civilian sailors while the fun and games of gunplay on the lake unfold.
But each of us must stand in our own "safe" harbor here, each of us must speak to the utterly stupid escalation of violence in a place where all of us value peace and quietude.
Homeland Heavies have informed us that we have until August 31 to respond to their outrageous proposal. BUT, email is not acceptable, our responses must be by snail mail.
A friend has requested that the comment period be extended. After all, before a couple of days ago, none of us had any idea.
Here are his thoughts:
On behalf of Harbor Friends, I have contacted the offices of Oberstar, Coleman, and Dayton and asked for support in getting a public hearing and an extension of the public comment period which is due to close August 31. They have agreed to ask for a public meeting.
Also, I am sending in a formal request for a public meeting and for an extension of the comment period.
A friend of Grand Marais
Surely, my friends and neighbors, we can mitigate this disaster for hapless sailors and kayakers and fisherpeople who may not be actually tuned in to the heedless carriers of war in our peaceful land and lake.
Gun battles planned for Lake Superior
Great Lakes safety zones - proposed
The US Coast Guard proposes to establish 26 safety zones throughout
offshore waters of the Great Lakes. These zones are intended to
restrict
vessels from portions of the Great Lakes during live fire gun exercises
conducted by Coast Guard cutters and small boats. Comments on the
proposal
should be submitted by August 31. 71 Fed. Reg. 43402 (August 1,
2006).
Here's a link to the Federal Registry info page:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-12332.pdf#search=%22Federal%20Register%20Reg.%2043402%20%20%22
The US Coast Guard proposes to establish 26 safety zones throughout
offshore waters of the Great Lakes. These zones are intended to
restrict
vessels from portions of the Great Lakes during live fire gun exercises
conducted by Coast Guard cutters and small boats. Comments on the
proposal
should be submitted by August 31. 71 Fed. Reg. 43402 (August 1,
2006).
Here's a link to the Federal Registry info page:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-12332.pdf#search=%22Federal%20Register%20Reg.%2043402%20%20%22
Thoroughly cowed
Dear True,
It is time we ruminated on the words of the world’s foremost bovine laureate, Alice Schertel.
Clever Cows
The clever cows
in single file
walk up the hill
and stop awhile.
Then, black and brindle,
Red and brown,
they
make
a
line
and
walk
back
down.
Time for us to do the same. Let’s get off this hill of cow manure, sacred, holy, plain BS, or whatever, and get Bossy back in the barn!
Even the cows are clever enough to come back down off their hill – after awhile.
A Friend.
It is time we ruminated on the words of the world’s foremost bovine laureate, Alice Schertel.
Clever Cows
The clever cows
in single file
walk up the hill
and stop awhile.
Then, black and brindle,
Red and brown,
they
make
a
line
and
walk
back
down.
Time for us to do the same. Let’s get off this hill of cow manure, sacred, holy, plain BS, or whatever, and get Bossy back in the barn!
Even the cows are clever enough to come back down off their hill – after awhile.
A Friend.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Town Hall meeting September 6th re Homeland Security!
True North,
I have read with considerable interest the comments made in this forum as well as discussions I have had with elected officials and local citizenry from Cook County and Grand Marais. Please be advised that the U.S. Border Patrol will host an open town hall meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 to discuss the new Border Patrol facility. Time and place will be announced on the local radio station and in the local newspapers. I look forward to meeting with you and please bring your questions. I will either answer them at the meeting or get answers to the questions I cannot answer at the time.
Regards to the Grand Marais Community.
Glen W. Schroeder
Chief Patrol Agent
Grand Forks Sector
701-775-6259
I have read with considerable interest the comments made in this forum as well as discussions I have had with elected officials and local citizenry from Cook County and Grand Marais. Please be advised that the U.S. Border Patrol will host an open town hall meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 to discuss the new Border Patrol facility. Time and place will be announced on the local radio station and in the local newspapers. I look forward to meeting with you and please bring your questions. I will either answer them at the meeting or get answers to the questions I cannot answer at the time.
Regards to the Grand Marais Community.
Glen W. Schroeder
Chief Patrol Agent
Grand Forks Sector
701-775-6259
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Terrorist threat in Grand Marais?
Jailing “suspected terrorists” in Grand Marais
Dear True,
I am heartsick when I read of the Homeland Insecurity plan to invade Grand Marais. I imagine high barbed-wire fences, constant traffic from military trucks and helicopters, and political prisoners subject to the torture sanctioned by the Bushies. I dread the destruction of quietude and beauty in our tiny and unique harbor village. How many of us—residents, tourists and summer home folks—have expressed our dismay that our town will be destroyed by rampant developers? And yet no one ever thought about possible invasive destruction by the militant Bush administration and its Chertoff-cum-no-bid-crony-henchmen. Heedless of peace and goodness, these ambassadors of ill will want to spread their “evildoer” message where nobody is evil, and thereby INVITE attacks. No terrorist would ever have cared about Grand Marais until it became a conclave of prisons and jailers.
Help! Help! A day,” as dear Emily Dickinson said during the Civil War. What is so badly needed is overtures of peace. Let us rebuild Iraq and Lebanon, express our grief at the loss of civilian lives, and commit to building true peace with all of our billions now spent on war.
Jane Marple
“In a village I find that the worst gossip is so often true.”
Dear True,
I am heartsick when I read of the Homeland Insecurity plan to invade Grand Marais. I imagine high barbed-wire fences, constant traffic from military trucks and helicopters, and political prisoners subject to the torture sanctioned by the Bushies. I dread the destruction of quietude and beauty in our tiny and unique harbor village. How many of us—residents, tourists and summer home folks—have expressed our dismay that our town will be destroyed by rampant developers? And yet no one ever thought about possible invasive destruction by the militant Bush administration and its Chertoff-cum-no-bid-crony-henchmen. Heedless of peace and goodness, these ambassadors of ill will want to spread their “evildoer” message where nobody is evil, and thereby INVITE attacks. No terrorist would ever have cared about Grand Marais until it became a conclave of prisons and jailers.
Help! Help! A day,” as dear Emily Dickinson said during the Civil War. What is so badly needed is overtures of peace. Let us rebuild Iraq and Lebanon, express our grief at the loss of civilian lives, and commit to building true peace with all of our billions now spent on war.
Jane Marple
“In a village I find that the worst gossip is so often true.”
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
How now, sacred cow?
Dear True,
How now? What does it all mean?
I read the message presented not as a parable, but as a fractured fairy tale. “We know what is best and if you will only do exactly what we want, we can all live happily ever after”. The real position of those who shovel this manure is: “it is not our plans to destroy the harbor and forever change the character of the town that are the cause of all the ill will and acrimony, it is the temerity of those that would oppose their betters - that is the real issue. It is those folks who like Grand Marais more than they like money that are the problem.” Since when is it a virtue to substitute personal greed for common sense and the right to hold and express an opinion?
In the real Grand Marais the imperative is not for those who oppose unbridled development to give in and do whatever it takes to get along, it is for everyone to act as responsible citizens in the best interest of the community’s present and future. That means civil discourse, but it also means to deal with facts and to do so in the open and to have a goal of a better Grand Marais, not a goal of the enrichment of a few at the expense of the future of the city.
The tale of the sacred cow is wholly bull. As for the issues at hand, the “large” pen, the “poor” planning, and the “unbridled” development can and should be stopped. And, our grandchildren will be very happy.
John Haluska
Grand Marais
How now? What does it all mean?
I read the message presented not as a parable, but as a fractured fairy tale. “We know what is best and if you will only do exactly what we want, we can all live happily ever after”. The real position of those who shovel this manure is: “it is not our plans to destroy the harbor and forever change the character of the town that are the cause of all the ill will and acrimony, it is the temerity of those that would oppose their betters - that is the real issue. It is those folks who like Grand Marais more than they like money that are the problem.” Since when is it a virtue to substitute personal greed for common sense and the right to hold and express an opinion?
In the real Grand Marais the imperative is not for those who oppose unbridled development to give in and do whatever it takes to get along, it is for everyone to act as responsible citizens in the best interest of the community’s present and future. That means civil discourse, but it also means to deal with facts and to do so in the open and to have a goal of a better Grand Marais, not a goal of the enrichment of a few at the expense of the future of the city.
The tale of the sacred cow is wholly bull. As for the issues at hand, the “large” pen, the “poor” planning, and the “unbridled” development can and should be stopped. And, our grandchildren will be very happy.
John Haluska
Grand Marais
Cow Hockey Parable
Dear True,
I'm still confused: is the Sacred Cow the town? or the harbor? or both? Mr. Shinners has composed a piece of cow hockey. I've taken my printout and numbered all the paragraphs so we can more clearly discuss it.
In paragraph #2 Shinners says people want to see the cow by boat. They can already come by boat. And what do they bring to the cow? They spend their money on liquor and food. No one is busy buying stuff to furnish their boat or stuff to mail home to furnish their homes. No one is staying in the motels because they can live on their boats. So it's a fallacy to say the boaters are increasing revenues in the town. The truth is: retail is hurting. Gasoline prices are keeping people from making the long drive to Grand Marais, and once they get here, they're hanging on to their pennies so they can afford the gasoline to get home. East Bay is having trouble getting full occupancy. The proposed Harbour House isn't selling out. God only knows about the Cobblestone Cove.
In paragraph #2 Shinners says "some wanted to ride their 4 wheel vehicles to see this amazing animal." Bull. The motor-brained locals want to scoot around unbridled, risking their lives and adding to the chaos of tourist traffic. Fine. This'll work until the first one winds up as a hood ornament on a Monson truck.
In paragraph #3 he mentions that for many years issues like this were discussed and decisions were reached that everyone could live with. Again, bull. Sometimes the contentiousness was so rife that issues were simply tabled because no one could agree, or else The Good Ole Boys Club running the current City Council went ahead illegally and allowed the changes they wanted to go through. Either way, the citizenry has grown bitter because its opinions have not been respected, no matter how vocally or elegantly expressed.
In paragraph #4 he says "Someone suggested that the cow be sold and the money used to save the town." Is this a reference to the illegal construction of the Cobblestone Condos and the razing of the Sea Wall? Have these two transactions saved the town? Not that I can see. The first appears like a carbuncle on the face of the harbor and the second appears stalled out.
In paragraph #4 he goes on to say "People became convinced of the righteousness of their cause to the exclusion of any compromise." Oh, yeah? Is he speaking from his own agenda? Or is he using that tired "argument by exadgeration" that if you don't agree with his views, you don't want any change whatsoever. The implication of this specious argument is that anyone who disagrees is foolish, that it's a black or white situation: you either want total change or you're small-minded. I, for one, am so tired of this old chestnut I could scream. Everyone with a brain in Grand Marais knows that change is inevitable and some changes are for the better, they just don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. For instance, most people agree that the harbor could stand some updating and modification; they just don't think it needs to be totally filled with slips. Since we already know the boaters live on their boats and save their money for gasoline, food, and booze, their contribution to the revenues of the town are fairly minimal, but their annoyance factor is enormous because they clot the harbor, ruining its tranquil beauty and clear water with their noise, sewage, and oil slicks.
Also, in my day, I've known a large number of bullies who'd bandy the word "compromise" around like the white flag of truce when, in reality, their vision of compromise was "do it my way." They never compromised; they expected everyone else to conform and comply. I'm all for compromise provided it's really compromise and not coercion masquerading as compromise.
In paragraph #5, the people who lived in the town and have moved away are the ones who have made their personal financial killing and have moved on to greener (for them) pastures, leaving everyone else holding the bag. The former community spirit Jim Shinners seems to be pining for has been destroyed by the profiteers who gave no thought to the community or its citizens. It's been destroyed by city officials who circumvent the law to further their own private ends. It's being undermined by the massive influx of landsharks, profiteers, and speculators who've gathered here like vultures around a kill.
Lastly, in paragraph #6, he talks about how the "unbridled" development has been stopped and "the sacred cow preserved." If only! "Some of the people were very happy." Yes!
There is a way to preserve what is precious and still court progressive change. It involves common sense, a commodity sadly lacking in current community leadership. Rather than increasing the number of junk-filled tourist souvenir shops, we should take a lesson from the success of the North House School and increase the promotion of this town as a learning center. Grand Marais should become a mecca for those interested in nature, forgotten crafts, art, theatre and writing. It should become a kind of university town in a jewel-like setting, attracting students to its classes, tourists to its shows and performances. and residents as permanent faculty. The city should throw its weight behind these efforts. In addition, the small business park should do what it was designed to do, namely, be a SMALL business park rather than a huge government enclave that destroys the town with light pollution so that viewing the Northern Lights from your back yard becomes a thing of the past.
If Mr. Shinners and others of his ilk have the final say, our beloved Grand Marais is on the way to the abattoir.
A friend of Grand Marais
I'm still confused: is the Sacred Cow the town? or the harbor? or both? Mr. Shinners has composed a piece of cow hockey. I've taken my printout and numbered all the paragraphs so we can more clearly discuss it.
In paragraph #2 Shinners says people want to see the cow by boat. They can already come by boat. And what do they bring to the cow? They spend their money on liquor and food. No one is busy buying stuff to furnish their boat or stuff to mail home to furnish their homes. No one is staying in the motels because they can live on their boats. So it's a fallacy to say the boaters are increasing revenues in the town. The truth is: retail is hurting. Gasoline prices are keeping people from making the long drive to Grand Marais, and once they get here, they're hanging on to their pennies so they can afford the gasoline to get home. East Bay is having trouble getting full occupancy. The proposed Harbour House isn't selling out. God only knows about the Cobblestone Cove.
In paragraph #2 Shinners says "some wanted to ride their 4 wheel vehicles to see this amazing animal." Bull. The motor-brained locals want to scoot around unbridled, risking their lives and adding to the chaos of tourist traffic. Fine. This'll work until the first one winds up as a hood ornament on a Monson truck.
In paragraph #3 he mentions that for many years issues like this were discussed and decisions were reached that everyone could live with. Again, bull. Sometimes the contentiousness was so rife that issues were simply tabled because no one could agree, or else The Good Ole Boys Club running the current City Council went ahead illegally and allowed the changes they wanted to go through. Either way, the citizenry has grown bitter because its opinions have not been respected, no matter how vocally or elegantly expressed.
In paragraph #4 he says "Someone suggested that the cow be sold and the money used to save the town." Is this a reference to the illegal construction of the Cobblestone Condos and the razing of the Sea Wall? Have these two transactions saved the town? Not that I can see. The first appears like a carbuncle on the face of the harbor and the second appears stalled out.
In paragraph #4 he goes on to say "People became convinced of the righteousness of their cause to the exclusion of any compromise." Oh, yeah? Is he speaking from his own agenda? Or is he using that tired "argument by exadgeration" that if you don't agree with his views, you don't want any change whatsoever. The implication of this specious argument is that anyone who disagrees is foolish, that it's a black or white situation: you either want total change or you're small-minded. I, for one, am so tired of this old chestnut I could scream. Everyone with a brain in Grand Marais knows that change is inevitable and some changes are for the better, they just don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. For instance, most people agree that the harbor could stand some updating and modification; they just don't think it needs to be totally filled with slips. Since we already know the boaters live on their boats and save their money for gasoline, food, and booze, their contribution to the revenues of the town are fairly minimal, but their annoyance factor is enormous because they clot the harbor, ruining its tranquil beauty and clear water with their noise, sewage, and oil slicks.
Also, in my day, I've known a large number of bullies who'd bandy the word "compromise" around like the white flag of truce when, in reality, their vision of compromise was "do it my way." They never compromised; they expected everyone else to conform and comply. I'm all for compromise provided it's really compromise and not coercion masquerading as compromise.
In paragraph #5, the people who lived in the town and have moved away are the ones who have made their personal financial killing and have moved on to greener (for them) pastures, leaving everyone else holding the bag. The former community spirit Jim Shinners seems to be pining for has been destroyed by the profiteers who gave no thought to the community or its citizens. It's been destroyed by city officials who circumvent the law to further their own private ends. It's being undermined by the massive influx of landsharks, profiteers, and speculators who've gathered here like vultures around a kill.
Lastly, in paragraph #6, he talks about how the "unbridled" development has been stopped and "the sacred cow preserved." If only! "Some of the people were very happy." Yes!
There is a way to preserve what is precious and still court progressive change. It involves common sense, a commodity sadly lacking in current community leadership. Rather than increasing the number of junk-filled tourist souvenir shops, we should take a lesson from the success of the North House School and increase the promotion of this town as a learning center. Grand Marais should become a mecca for those interested in nature, forgotten crafts, art, theatre and writing. It should become a kind of university town in a jewel-like setting, attracting students to its classes, tourists to its shows and performances. and residents as permanent faculty. The city should throw its weight behind these efforts. In addition, the small business park should do what it was designed to do, namely, be a SMALL business park rather than a huge government enclave that destroys the town with light pollution so that viewing the Northern Lights from your back yard becomes a thing of the past.
If Mr. Shinners and others of his ilk have the final say, our beloved Grand Marais is on the way to the abattoir.
A friend of Grand Marais
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Mulling the Homeland issue from many views in Grand Marais
Dear True,
Those who are concerned about the proposed development should take the opportunity described by Tom Resek to meet with Matt Geretschlaeger. Matt is forthright and honest and has the best interest of the community as a whole at heart. His position of working with developers often requires that he keeps information that he gets from them confidential. This is so the developer’s idea, which is essentially the developer’s intellectual property, is safeguarded out of fairness early on in the process to protect the developer in a competitive environment. There is a time and a place where all the information about a development and a developer can and should be made public. That place and time is not at the start of the process.
As for what is now known about the proposal for a Homeland Security facility, it is an idea worthy of serious consideration and probably deserves the full support of the community. While no one likes the leadership of the Homeland Security Department; or for that mater even the name of the department, the agencies under it are necessary parts of our government and a facility to house them is in order, and locating that facility in Cedar Grove Business Park in Grand Marais is a lot better than most other places in the county; if, for no other reason, in the business park, some influence and control can be exercised by the community, especially since it will be a private developer building and owning it rather than the federal government. If the federal government were the builder and owner it could be extremely difficult to influence either the process or the outcome.
That being said it is still important to approach this from fact, not emotion.
As presented so far the building is to primarily serve the border patrol’s needs. It will have indoor garage space for vehicles, office space for up to 50 people, a space for holding seized materiel, holding cells for prisoners, and outdoor space for parking and a for helicopter pad. All of these seem eminently reasonable and necessary and it is hard to see that objections to any one of them will be sustainable. The most problematic in terms of impact on the community is the helicopter pad where as most concerns so far relate to the size of the building and to the need for cells for prisoners. 34,000 square feet is large in the context of most structures in Grand Marais, but it is really not a very big building. It is the size of about 2 Walgreen drugstores, which are in the range of 16,000 to 19,000 feet, but have no indoor parking and don’t office 50 people.
The border patrol is a necessary part of our government and the work they do requires arrest and the detention of those arrested. The detainees have to be kept somewhere while they await transport or deportation. At present they are held in other facilities, some no doubt at the Cook County jail from time to time. What is wrong with housing them in this facility in Grand Marais? Nothing based on the information we have! Contrary to what some fear mongers have been saying, this is not a federal prison being proposed and it is not Guantanamo Bay.
What is wrong with adding a facility that will employ up to 50 people in fulltime, high wage by local standards jobs, with excellent benefits? That is not 50 prison guards, but 50 professionals whose wages we are already paying.
Those who work for the several agencies that come under Homeland Security are the Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, Immigration and Naturalization, FEMA, etc. While Homeland Security is a disaster at the top, these are essential units of our government, the people who work there are our friends and neighbors, and it is in our own best interest individually and as a community to find a way to accommodate this facility.
What is wrong with a local business that does not pollute?
What should the community’s concerns be?
There should be concern about openness. There needs to be an opportunity for a reasoned discussion. If it is to be accepted it cannot be jammed down our throats as if the DNR’s Let’s Build a Huge Marina Department and the present city administration would do. The public should have as much information about this facility as do the local officials. The EDA needs to respect the confidentiality of the developers, but it should not accept any suggestion of withholding any information based on security. Those concerned should make every effort and use every legal tool should to get as much information as possible into the public domain. The Minnesota Data Practices Act and the national Freedom of Information Act should be used as necessary to get information from all levels of government.
There also should be concern about process. The EDA under Matt Geretschlaeger has a reputation for integrity and in the community’s experience in dealing with Matt, that reputation is very well deserved. However, more information is need regarding whether or not the project was properly posted as an agenda item. If it wasn’t, the EDA needs to be taken to task with a complaint to the Department of Administration.
Unfortunately, the city is also involved, and the present administration’s reputation and history is the exact opposite of integrity. There have to be serious questions asked about conflicts of interest, openness of discussion and self-dealing on the part of officials. At present the mayor and others are reportedly under investigation by the Minnesota State Auditor for past actions. The planning commission, under Hal Greenwood, is shown to be pro development at any cost and has a reputation for favoritism. All of these points need to be factored in to dealing with this project and the public should insist on open and well publicized agendas and meetings, on written, rather than verbal documentation of discussion, communications, and actions, and on transparency regarding conflicts coupled with officials stepping away where any conflict exists.
Beyond that, there are serious questions regarding the location relative to residential development, particularly as it relates to the operation of a helicopter. They are a noisy nuisance and it can be expected that they would operate at all hours which would impact not only the proposed site, but the entire city.
The size of the proposed building is not too large, but something a bit bigger could be, though perhaps not in this type of facility. This project does, however, raise the question of what is too big for Grand Marais and Cook County. This should be taken as an opportunity for a community discussion on whether a Wal-Mart or Home Depot size big box retail operation is acceptable to the area? If the answer is no, that needs to be worked into local planning and zoning ordinances now.
What will the building look like and what do we want future buildings in the area – throughout the city and county – to look like? This is the time to have that discussion and incorporate some design values into local ordinances.
How will it impact adjacent residential areas and adjacent residential development plans? This needs to be understood and dealt with now, rather than after the project is built and helicopters buzz the city at 3 AM.
How many local, permanent jobs will result and who will get them?
There are likely just as many other questions that need to be answered, but the issue needs to be dealt with calmly and optimistically and the EDA is professionally run and has earned and deserves the community’s trust. The city, unfortunately, is a poster child for ineptitude and dishonesty. Trust the EDA, but verify. Do not trust the present city administration under any circumstances.
This rant is from a friend on the far left side of Grand Marais’ common sense divide.
Those who are concerned about the proposed development should take the opportunity described by Tom Resek to meet with Matt Geretschlaeger. Matt is forthright and honest and has the best interest of the community as a whole at heart. His position of working with developers often requires that he keeps information that he gets from them confidential. This is so the developer’s idea, which is essentially the developer’s intellectual property, is safeguarded out of fairness early on in the process to protect the developer in a competitive environment. There is a time and a place where all the information about a development and a developer can and should be made public. That place and time is not at the start of the process.
As for what is now known about the proposal for a Homeland Security facility, it is an idea worthy of serious consideration and probably deserves the full support of the community. While no one likes the leadership of the Homeland Security Department; or for that mater even the name of the department, the agencies under it are necessary parts of our government and a facility to house them is in order, and locating that facility in Cedar Grove Business Park in Grand Marais is a lot better than most other places in the county; if, for no other reason, in the business park, some influence and control can be exercised by the community, especially since it will be a private developer building and owning it rather than the federal government. If the federal government were the builder and owner it could be extremely difficult to influence either the process or the outcome.
That being said it is still important to approach this from fact, not emotion.
As presented so far the building is to primarily serve the border patrol’s needs. It will have indoor garage space for vehicles, office space for up to 50 people, a space for holding seized materiel, holding cells for prisoners, and outdoor space for parking and a for helicopter pad. All of these seem eminently reasonable and necessary and it is hard to see that objections to any one of them will be sustainable. The most problematic in terms of impact on the community is the helicopter pad where as most concerns so far relate to the size of the building and to the need for cells for prisoners. 34,000 square feet is large in the context of most structures in Grand Marais, but it is really not a very big building. It is the size of about 2 Walgreen drugstores, which are in the range of 16,000 to 19,000 feet, but have no indoor parking and don’t office 50 people.
The border patrol is a necessary part of our government and the work they do requires arrest and the detention of those arrested. The detainees have to be kept somewhere while they await transport or deportation. At present they are held in other facilities, some no doubt at the Cook County jail from time to time. What is wrong with housing them in this facility in Grand Marais? Nothing based on the information we have! Contrary to what some fear mongers have been saying, this is not a federal prison being proposed and it is not Guantanamo Bay.
What is wrong with adding a facility that will employ up to 50 people in fulltime, high wage by local standards jobs, with excellent benefits? That is not 50 prison guards, but 50 professionals whose wages we are already paying.
Those who work for the several agencies that come under Homeland Security are the Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, Immigration and Naturalization, FEMA, etc. While Homeland Security is a disaster at the top, these are essential units of our government, the people who work there are our friends and neighbors, and it is in our own best interest individually and as a community to find a way to accommodate this facility.
What is wrong with a local business that does not pollute?
What should the community’s concerns be?
There should be concern about openness. There needs to be an opportunity for a reasoned discussion. If it is to be accepted it cannot be jammed down our throats as if the DNR’s Let’s Build a Huge Marina Department and the present city administration would do. The public should have as much information about this facility as do the local officials. The EDA needs to respect the confidentiality of the developers, but it should not accept any suggestion of withholding any information based on security. Those concerned should make every effort and use every legal tool should to get as much information as possible into the public domain. The Minnesota Data Practices Act and the national Freedom of Information Act should be used as necessary to get information from all levels of government.
There also should be concern about process. The EDA under Matt Geretschlaeger has a reputation for integrity and in the community’s experience in dealing with Matt, that reputation is very well deserved. However, more information is need regarding whether or not the project was properly posted as an agenda item. If it wasn’t, the EDA needs to be taken to task with a complaint to the Department of Administration.
Unfortunately, the city is also involved, and the present administration’s reputation and history is the exact opposite of integrity. There have to be serious questions asked about conflicts of interest, openness of discussion and self-dealing on the part of officials. At present the mayor and others are reportedly under investigation by the Minnesota State Auditor for past actions. The planning commission, under Hal Greenwood, is shown to be pro development at any cost and has a reputation for favoritism. All of these points need to be factored in to dealing with this project and the public should insist on open and well publicized agendas and meetings, on written, rather than verbal documentation of discussion, communications, and actions, and on transparency regarding conflicts coupled with officials stepping away where any conflict exists.
Beyond that, there are serious questions regarding the location relative to residential development, particularly as it relates to the operation of a helicopter. They are a noisy nuisance and it can be expected that they would operate at all hours which would impact not only the proposed site, but the entire city.
The size of the proposed building is not too large, but something a bit bigger could be, though perhaps not in this type of facility. This project does, however, raise the question of what is too big for Grand Marais and Cook County. This should be taken as an opportunity for a community discussion on whether a Wal-Mart or Home Depot size big box retail operation is acceptable to the area? If the answer is no, that needs to be worked into local planning and zoning ordinances now.
What will the building look like and what do we want future buildings in the area – throughout the city and county – to look like? This is the time to have that discussion and incorporate some design values into local ordinances.
How will it impact adjacent residential areas and adjacent residential development plans? This needs to be understood and dealt with now, rather than after the project is built and helicopters buzz the city at 3 AM.
How many local, permanent jobs will result and who will get them?
There are likely just as many other questions that need to be answered, but the issue needs to be dealt with calmly and optimistically and the EDA is professionally run and has earned and deserves the community’s trust. The city, unfortunately, is a poster child for ineptitude and dishonesty. Trust the EDA, but verify. Do not trust the present city administration under any circumstances.
This rant is from a friend on the far left side of Grand Marais’ common sense divide.
The parable of the sacred cow
Dear True,
There was once a lakeside community of people who owned a wonderful cow. The cow could sing, dance, cure the sick, and do all sorts of unusual things. People came from all around to see the cow. People worked together, celebrated together, and enjoyed their community. No one locked their doors, and people in trouble could always turn to their neighbors.
This cow was kept in a special pen near the center of town and both the cow and the pen were cared for carefully. Economic pressures slowly began to overtake the town, as their infrastructure began to deteriorate and more and more people moved into the area to see the cow. One day someone suggested that people be allowed to come and see the cow by boat, so that more people could come and enjoy it. Others wondered if maybe some improvements to the pen or more and better lodging in the town wouldn’t make the cow more attractive. Some thought enabling people to travel by bicycle to see the cow would improve things. Some wanted to ride their 4 wheel vehicle to look at this amazing animal.
For many years issues like this were discussed by everyone in the community sitting down together and coming to a decision that all could agree to. This time however, some people said that they had come to this community because of the cow, and that no changes of any kind would be welcome. Others claimed that they had considered the issue and that only their solution would work. Finally someone said that anyone who disagreed with them was a fool and incompetent and that if they didn’t like their idea they should move away.
For the first time, people wouldn’t talk to their neighbors who disagreed with them. People were asked to take sides against those who had other ideas. Someone suggested that the cow be sold and the money used to save the town. People became convinced of the righteousness of their cause to the exclusion of any compromise. People had to remember who they disagreed with on which issue so they knew who they shouldn’t talk to. There was much discussion, arguing, and acrimony, both about the cow and toward people who didn’t agree.
Eventually, some young families left the community. Then some of the people who had been in the town for many years moved away. Many felt that the cow wasn’t worth all of the trouble it had brought to the town. Some of the businesses left and finally, doors were locked, and people didn’t speak to each other any more.
The “large” pen, the “poor” planning, and the “unbridled” development had been stopped. The sacred cow had been preserved. Some people were very happy.
Jim Shinners
There was once a lakeside community of people who owned a wonderful cow. The cow could sing, dance, cure the sick, and do all sorts of unusual things. People came from all around to see the cow. People worked together, celebrated together, and enjoyed their community. No one locked their doors, and people in trouble could always turn to their neighbors.
This cow was kept in a special pen near the center of town and both the cow and the pen were cared for carefully. Economic pressures slowly began to overtake the town, as their infrastructure began to deteriorate and more and more people moved into the area to see the cow. One day someone suggested that people be allowed to come and see the cow by boat, so that more people could come and enjoy it. Others wondered if maybe some improvements to the pen or more and better lodging in the town wouldn’t make the cow more attractive. Some thought enabling people to travel by bicycle to see the cow would improve things. Some wanted to ride their 4 wheel vehicle to look at this amazing animal.
For many years issues like this were discussed by everyone in the community sitting down together and coming to a decision that all could agree to. This time however, some people said that they had come to this community because of the cow, and that no changes of any kind would be welcome. Others claimed that they had considered the issue and that only their solution would work. Finally someone said that anyone who disagreed with them was a fool and incompetent and that if they didn’t like their idea they should move away.
For the first time, people wouldn’t talk to their neighbors who disagreed with them. People were asked to take sides against those who had other ideas. Someone suggested that the cow be sold and the money used to save the town. People became convinced of the righteousness of their cause to the exclusion of any compromise. People had to remember who they disagreed with on which issue so they knew who they shouldn’t talk to. There was much discussion, arguing, and acrimony, both about the cow and toward people who didn’t agree.
Eventually, some young families left the community. Then some of the people who had been in the town for many years moved away. Many felt that the cow wasn’t worth all of the trouble it had brought to the town. Some of the businesses left and finally, doors were locked, and people didn’t speak to each other any more.
The “large” pen, the “poor” planning, and the “unbridled” development had been stopped. The sacred cow had been preserved. Some people were very happy.
Jim Shinners
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Homeland Security meeting with EDA Matt
I spoke to EDA Matt today, and he would like the opportunity to address, any
community group, directly about the Homeland Security Site and where things
stand.
I think it would benefit everyone to hear things from the source.
Thanks,
Tom Resek 387-2847
community group, directly about the Homeland Security Site and where things
stand.
I think it would benefit everyone to hear things from the source.
Thanks,
Tom Resek 387-2847
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Concerned citizens re Homeland Security development in Grand Marais
Dear True,
There recently was a meeting in Grand Marais of about 50 “Concerned Citizens” who discussed the proposed Homeland Security building recently announced by the EDA. There were many legitimate issues raised, but what was lacking was a clear understanding as to just what was being proposed. The main thing that I came away from the meeting with was amazement at just how little ordinary people now trust their government at all levels. The distrust is well justified as it was clear, even in discussing what should be a relatively clear cut issue, that the government, whether federal, state, local, or even at the agency level, in this case a mundane economic development agency, goes to great pains to keep the public in the dark. We will be on a very long road before openness and trust is restored. In the meantime, the immediate question is how can information about the Homeland Security proposal be brought into the open so it can be discussed in the open, public forum it deserves? And, how can the relevant government agencies be put on notice that people must be informed, that meetings must be open, that meeting notice requirements must be met?
On all these issues the concerned group must first of all be sure of its facts. On the question of notice it needs to meet with the EDA and ask to see just what the agenda for the meeting at which this matter was discussed was posted. If notice was lacking it must be reported as a violation of the open meeting law (http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf) to the Information Policy Analysis Division (651-296-6733 or 800-657-3721) (http://www.ipad.state.mn.us/), they will be glad to help.
The second thing to do is to collect as much information as possible about the proposed project. The group or an individual representing the group should set up a meeting with the EDA. It should also, regardless of the meeting, make a data practices request of the EDA and of the county and of the city and of Homeland Security, of any and all information relating to the project. To the EDA, the county and the city the request can be a letter stating something like the following:
I hereby request copies of (or to review – in which case you can go to the appropriate office and look at, in private any material) any and all information including but not limited to emails, letters, notes, meeting minutes, agendas, phone call notes and transcripts, etc. relating to the recently announced proposal for a Homeland Security building in Grand Marais, Minnesota. This request applies to all EDA officials and correspondents (or, this request applies to all city officials, elected or appointed and to all city employees; or, this request applies to all county etc.). You can expect to be charged a reasonable amount for copies. THEY HAVE TO COMPLY OR GIVE A GOOD REASON WHY. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAKES THE OFFICIAL PERSONALLY CULPABLE. The penalties are fines, imprisonment, loss of office, etc.
Those concerned have to have to go after the information that other officials have also. They should contact Homeland Security in Grand Forks, ND (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_patrol_sectors/grandforks_sector_nd/grandforks_general.xml) (Contact Information: Phone Number - (701) 775-6259; Sector Mailing Address - U.S. Border Patrol Sector, 2320 South Washington Street, Grand Forks, ND 58201) and ask for a meeting and at the same time make a similar written request only label it as being under the Freedom of Information Act. At a minimum they should ask for a copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) that went out to the contractors. They should ask for any information they have regarding opposition to any similar projects in other areas.
Next, they should contact their elected officials serving in the U. S. Senate and Congressman Oberstar. Ask them for information, help and advice on who you can link up with.
Norm Coleman
Minnesota Office in St. Paul:
2550 University Ave W, Suite 100N
St. Paul, MN 55114
Main: 651-645-0323
Fax: 651-645-3110
Toll Free: 800-642-6041
Mark Dayton
Northeast Regional Office
Steve Bradach, Northeast Regional Director
222 Main Street, Suite 200
Post Office Box 937
Biwabik, Minnesota 55708
Phone: 218-865-4480
Congressman James Oberstar
Duluth Federal Building
Room 231
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
(218) 727-7474
TDD: (218) 727-7474
FAX: (218) 727-8270
Jackie Morris
John Schadl
Dave Boe
I hope that helps.
A friend.
There recently was a meeting in Grand Marais of about 50 “Concerned Citizens” who discussed the proposed Homeland Security building recently announced by the EDA. There were many legitimate issues raised, but what was lacking was a clear understanding as to just what was being proposed. The main thing that I came away from the meeting with was amazement at just how little ordinary people now trust their government at all levels. The distrust is well justified as it was clear, even in discussing what should be a relatively clear cut issue, that the government, whether federal, state, local, or even at the agency level, in this case a mundane economic development agency, goes to great pains to keep the public in the dark. We will be on a very long road before openness and trust is restored. In the meantime, the immediate question is how can information about the Homeland Security proposal be brought into the open so it can be discussed in the open, public forum it deserves? And, how can the relevant government agencies be put on notice that people must be informed, that meetings must be open, that meeting notice requirements must be met?
On all these issues the concerned group must first of all be sure of its facts. On the question of notice it needs to meet with the EDA and ask to see just what the agenda for the meeting at which this matter was discussed was posted. If notice was lacking it must be reported as a violation of the open meeting law (http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf) to the Information Policy Analysis Division (651-296-6733 or 800-657-3721) (http://www.ipad.state.mn.us/), they will be glad to help.
The second thing to do is to collect as much information as possible about the proposed project. The group or an individual representing the group should set up a meeting with the EDA. It should also, regardless of the meeting, make a data practices request of the EDA and of the county and of the city and of Homeland Security, of any and all information relating to the project. To the EDA, the county and the city the request can be a letter stating something like the following:
I hereby request copies of (or to review – in which case you can go to the appropriate office and look at, in private any material) any and all information including but not limited to emails, letters, notes, meeting minutes, agendas, phone call notes and transcripts, etc. relating to the recently announced proposal for a Homeland Security building in Grand Marais, Minnesota. This request applies to all EDA officials and correspondents (or, this request applies to all city officials, elected or appointed and to all city employees; or, this request applies to all county etc.). You can expect to be charged a reasonable amount for copies. THEY HAVE TO COMPLY OR GIVE A GOOD REASON WHY. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAKES THE OFFICIAL PERSONALLY CULPABLE. The penalties are fines, imprisonment, loss of office, etc.
Those concerned have to have to go after the information that other officials have also. They should contact Homeland Security in Grand Forks, ND (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_patrol_sectors/grandforks_sector_nd/grandforks_general.xml) (Contact Information: Phone Number - (701) 775-6259; Sector Mailing Address - U.S. Border Patrol Sector, 2320 South Washington Street, Grand Forks, ND 58201) and ask for a meeting and at the same time make a similar written request only label it as being under the Freedom of Information Act. At a minimum they should ask for a copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) that went out to the contractors. They should ask for any information they have regarding opposition to any similar projects in other areas.
Next, they should contact their elected officials serving in the U. S. Senate and Congressman Oberstar. Ask them for information, help and advice on who you can link up with.
Norm Coleman
Minnesota Office in St. Paul:
2550 University Ave W, Suite 100N
St. Paul, MN 55114
Main: 651-645-0323
Fax: 651-645-3110
Toll Free: 800-642-6041
Mark Dayton
Northeast Regional Office
Steve Bradach, Northeast Regional Director
222 Main Street, Suite 200
Post Office Box 937
Biwabik, Minnesota 55708
Phone: 218-865-4480
Congressman James Oberstar
Duluth Federal Building
Room 231
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
(218) 727-7474
TDD: (218) 727-7474
FAX: (218) 727-8270
Jackie Morris
John Schadl
Dave Boe
I hope that helps.
A friend.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Homeland Security targets Grand Marais for secret mission
Nancye Belding
True North correspondent
Tonight in Schroeder, County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said that Homeland Security plans to build a 34,176 square foot building on a 10 acre site in Grand Marais, beginning shortly, with a 2008 completion date.
Officials will arrive Thursday to look at potential sites. They want a helicoptor pad as well as a large parking lot,detached indoor parking for 25, an 8 foot fence, and plan to have 50 employees as well as visitors, and a helipad. They would not say what the employees will be doing or why such a large building is needed. Two similar sites are also planned, for Duluth and International Falls.
Martinson said the EDA was informed of the plan today. Homeland Security will not buy the land, but will lease it for 15 years. He said various developers have been looking for an appropriate site during the past month though the news became official only today. One developer has already purchased seven lots at the EDA park, though whether with this plan in mind or not, he did not know.
That's all Bruce said tonight.
But here are a couple of thoughts:
A building of that size would mean 683 square feet per employee; hello? My house is about that size. Where's the lowly cubicle?
Also, if it were two stories high the footprint would be nearly 100 feet by 100 feet. Whether this is even legal in our zoning ordinances needs to be checked out. And, even with seven business sites at Cedar Grove this gonzo footprint may not work with carefully crafted architectural plans that preserve green space. Not to mention the impact of helicopters and (presumably) large vehicle traffic near the new planned EDA residential development of 30 homes.
True North correspondent
Tonight in Schroeder, County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said that Homeland Security plans to build a 34,176 square foot building on a 10 acre site in Grand Marais, beginning shortly, with a 2008 completion date.
Officials will arrive Thursday to look at potential sites. They want a helicoptor pad as well as a large parking lot,detached indoor parking for 25, an 8 foot fence, and plan to have 50 employees as well as visitors, and a helipad. They would not say what the employees will be doing or why such a large building is needed. Two similar sites are also planned, for Duluth and International Falls.
Martinson said the EDA was informed of the plan today. Homeland Security will not buy the land, but will lease it for 15 years. He said various developers have been looking for an appropriate site during the past month though the news became official only today. One developer has already purchased seven lots at the EDA park, though whether with this plan in mind or not, he did not know.
That's all Bruce said tonight.
But here are a couple of thoughts:
A building of that size would mean 683 square feet per employee; hello? My house is about that size. Where's the lowly cubicle?
Also, if it were two stories high the footprint would be nearly 100 feet by 100 feet. Whether this is even legal in our zoning ordinances needs to be checked out. And, even with seven business sites at Cedar Grove this gonzo footprint may not work with carefully crafted architectural plans that preserve green space. Not to mention the impact of helicopters and (presumably) large vehicle traffic near the new planned EDA residential development of 30 homes.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Paving paradise, parking lots and pigs
Dear True,
There is an old story about a man who owned an amazing and wonderful pig that was of great service to his family. On one occasion, the man’s son had fallen into a pond and the pig jumped in and rescued him. On another, the man’s house had caught on fire and the pig rushed into the house and dragged everyone to safety. The pig could sing, it could dance, it could do everything and more that one would normally expect of a pig.
The man couldn’t help but brag how great it was to have such a terrific pig as part of his holdings and everyone agreed that such an animal would be very valuable, a real treasure and all asked if they could see the pig. The pig’s owner was more than happy to comply and everyone was delighted with the pig and could easily tell that it was a marvelous animal. Word of the pig spread far; people came from everywhere to see it, and this brought great fame and wealth to the man and his family.
One day, after yet another crowd had come to see the pig, the man brought him out, but something seemed not quite right. Everyone was dismayed to see that, although the pig indeed was unique and very intelligent, it just wasn’t the delight they had expected. It now sported a wooden leg. The crowd clamored to know what tragedy had befallen the pig, and demanded the pig’s owner tell them how he could have let this happen to so perfect an animal.
The pig’s owner was taken aback. He declared that there was nothing wrong with the pig; that it was as delightful, as smart, and as amazing as ever and that he was giving it the best of care. When asked why the pig was now despoiled with a wooden leg, the man smugly replied, “well, you know”, he said, “when a pig is as nice as mine, you don’t want to eat it all at once”.
If those who favor the DNR’s large marina, and those who favor unbridled ATV and ORV trails, and those who favor poorly planned and ill advised development have their way, the Grand Marais area will soon be the marvelous pig with three wooden legs, not just one, and with not a hope of ever being the same again.
Yours,
A Friend of Grand Marais
There is an old story about a man who owned an amazing and wonderful pig that was of great service to his family. On one occasion, the man’s son had fallen into a pond and the pig jumped in and rescued him. On another, the man’s house had caught on fire and the pig rushed into the house and dragged everyone to safety. The pig could sing, it could dance, it could do everything and more that one would normally expect of a pig.
The man couldn’t help but brag how great it was to have such a terrific pig as part of his holdings and everyone agreed that such an animal would be very valuable, a real treasure and all asked if they could see the pig. The pig’s owner was more than happy to comply and everyone was delighted with the pig and could easily tell that it was a marvelous animal. Word of the pig spread far; people came from everywhere to see it, and this brought great fame and wealth to the man and his family.
One day, after yet another crowd had come to see the pig, the man brought him out, but something seemed not quite right. Everyone was dismayed to see that, although the pig indeed was unique and very intelligent, it just wasn’t the delight they had expected. It now sported a wooden leg. The crowd clamored to know what tragedy had befallen the pig, and demanded the pig’s owner tell them how he could have let this happen to so perfect an animal.
The pig’s owner was taken aback. He declared that there was nothing wrong with the pig; that it was as delightful, as smart, and as amazing as ever and that he was giving it the best of care. When asked why the pig was now despoiled with a wooden leg, the man smugly replied, “well, you know”, he said, “when a pig is as nice as mine, you don’t want to eat it all at once”.
If those who favor the DNR’s large marina, and those who favor unbridled ATV and ORV trails, and those who favor poorly planned and ill advised development have their way, the Grand Marais area will soon be the marvelous pig with three wooden legs, not just one, and with not a hope of ever being the same again.
Yours,
A Friend of Grand Marais
Jane fears for visioning results
Dear True,
There has been some good work done on the Grand Marais visioning process. My big fear, however, remains. The city council will make any final decision and that decision has already been made. It is to let the private property owners who support and employ them do whatever they want. The fundamental problem I have is that we are a community of diverse interests, people and economic needs and interests. The same people who favor the big marina are those that want no-controls-what-so-ever on development. Individual property owner rights, in their world, trumps the best interest of the community, no matter the cost.
Two of my favorite towns – Hals, Denmark and Depoe, Oregon are harbor towns that gave up their harbors entirely to boats. These are wonderful villages in beautiful settings that have, in effect, paved their harbors with boats.
The issue in Grand Marais is that those who favor the large marina consistently say that the harbor should be just for boats, after all, that is what a harbor is all about.
As for visioning and redevelopment, some of the key proponents of unbridled development in Grand Marais have expressed that Wisconsin Dells is what we should aspire to. Their fall back is Bayfield, Wisconsin or Door County. Any of these could be a poster child for tackiness, surpassed perhaps only by Niagara Falls. The driver for their attitude is not community, but profit. This means that the fundamental issue is one of core values, not of taste. There is no sense of what is best for the community; no sense of legacy; no sense of stewardship; no sense of responsibility to others. On the one side you have an unholy combination of those in favor of crass commercialism and weekend housing for the wealthy and on the other you those with a genuine sense of love for their community and a deep feeling of obligation to preserve what is worthy, to redress what needs to be corrected and to leave Grand Marais as genuine expression of good stewardship. My vision is one of continued strife because I do not see how these diametrically opposing positions can be reconciled.
Yours,
Jane Marple
"I find, in a village, the worst gossip is so often true."
There has been some good work done on the Grand Marais visioning process. My big fear, however, remains. The city council will make any final decision and that decision has already been made. It is to let the private property owners who support and employ them do whatever they want. The fundamental problem I have is that we are a community of diverse interests, people and economic needs and interests. The same people who favor the big marina are those that want no-controls-what-so-ever on development. Individual property owner rights, in their world, trumps the best interest of the community, no matter the cost.
Two of my favorite towns – Hals, Denmark and Depoe, Oregon are harbor towns that gave up their harbors entirely to boats. These are wonderful villages in beautiful settings that have, in effect, paved their harbors with boats.
The issue in Grand Marais is that those who favor the large marina consistently say that the harbor should be just for boats, after all, that is what a harbor is all about.
As for visioning and redevelopment, some of the key proponents of unbridled development in Grand Marais have expressed that Wisconsin Dells is what we should aspire to. Their fall back is Bayfield, Wisconsin or Door County. Any of these could be a poster child for tackiness, surpassed perhaps only by Niagara Falls. The driver for their attitude is not community, but profit. This means that the fundamental issue is one of core values, not of taste. There is no sense of what is best for the community; no sense of legacy; no sense of stewardship; no sense of responsibility to others. On the one side you have an unholy combination of those in favor of crass commercialism and weekend housing for the wealthy and on the other you those with a genuine sense of love for their community and a deep feeling of obligation to preserve what is worthy, to redress what needs to be corrected and to leave Grand Marais as genuine expression of good stewardship. My vision is one of continued strife because I do not see how these diametrically opposing positions can be reconciled.
Yours,
Jane Marple
"I find, in a village, the worst gossip is so often true."
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