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.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
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."
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Who cares?
Who cares about Grand Marais?
I was so disappointed to read in the latest News-Herald web poll that 83 percent of respondents do not plan to participate in Grand Marais visioning, Phase 2. Compare this with half of Tofte’s adult population and some of its children taking part in their town design.
In Grand Marais, the visioning project led by Community Growth Institute has welcomed Grand Marais residents as well as county-wide and part-year residents and even visitors, creating a pool of 5,000 or more possible paraticipants.
In talk around town, letters to the papers, and press coverage it appears that many of those people have strong opinions about what Grand Marais ought to be in the future.
So, why not participate? If you can’t come to one or more of the meetings on July 25 and 26, you can email the design team with your thoughts at cginstitute@communitygrowth.com.
Or, check out the web site at http://www.grandmaraisvision.info; look at the draft visions to date, and then fire off your thoughts.
Why not? What are you thinking about, you 83 percent? Perhaps some of you have taken part in past planning efforts; perhaps you feel that your work is being overlooked and set aside. This is not true. The design team has carefully studied all of the earlier planning efforts including the comprehensive plan, as well as the script of the Town Hall meeting last year. Most people who took part in Phase 1 were excited about how open the CGI team of Rudy, DL and Chuck were to their input.
It’s not a time to sit back or complain; if this process fails you will have the rest of your lives to do that. Come on, people, smile on your brother, everybody get together right now.
True
I was so disappointed to read in the latest News-Herald web poll that 83 percent of respondents do not plan to participate in Grand Marais visioning, Phase 2. Compare this with half of Tofte’s adult population and some of its children taking part in their town design.
In Grand Marais, the visioning project led by Community Growth Institute has welcomed Grand Marais residents as well as county-wide and part-year residents and even visitors, creating a pool of 5,000 or more possible paraticipants.
In talk around town, letters to the papers, and press coverage it appears that many of those people have strong opinions about what Grand Marais ought to be in the future.
So, why not participate? If you can’t come to one or more of the meetings on July 25 and 26, you can email the design team with your thoughts at cginstitute@communitygrowth.com.
Or, check out the web site at http://www.grandmaraisvision.info; look at the draft visions to date, and then fire off your thoughts.
Why not? What are you thinking about, you 83 percent? Perhaps some of you have taken part in past planning efforts; perhaps you feel that your work is being overlooked and set aside. This is not true. The design team has carefully studied all of the earlier planning efforts including the comprehensive plan, as well as the script of the Town Hall meeting last year. Most people who took part in Phase 1 were excited about how open the CGI team of Rudy, DL and Chuck were to their input.
It’s not a time to sit back or complain; if this process fails you will have the rest of your lives to do that. Come on, people, smile on your brother, everybody get together right now.
True
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