HomeMy WebLinkAboutUntitled •
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suppose it is only natural to wrap your community, it's acceptable.if
your arms so tightly around some they don't, since it helps them and
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thing you so deeply With-g Y p Y desire.With they are providing your community a
out self-control,however,you might benefit. Life is full of exceptions to
squeeze first the wind and then the life Cilns rules,this is one of them. •
from it Eventually,it becomes a rot In response,rather than chastising
ting corpse for you to mourn,remem Ba S business people for making market-
bering fondly how wonderful it used c£ ing decisions geared to make them
to be and your dreams of seeing it Managing successful, Oak Park Heights can•
grow. p Editor market itself to Twin Cities corpora
I think of the puppy in John tions as business friendly, showing
Steinbach's"Of Mice and Men."So off its line-up of business residents
precious was the little creature and so and how it treats them.
heartbreaking was it when the big oaf When major retailers like Rainbow Then, there was the cannon shot
accidentally y hugged it to death.I also or Menard's move into the you gg a area,y Schaaf let loose at the Stillwater City
think of the Oak Park Heights and want other major corporations to re- Council when he said Oak Park
how its David Schaaf,a man who so alize that it is your town that they Heights is NOT STILLWATER and
loves his community that he commit- decided to work with,your town that would be more than willing to help
ted to serve it by running for City they want to call. You would hate Rainbow move in.
Council and then for mayor. Under those first calls to go to a neighboring Like Steinbach's big oaf hugging
his watch,he seems to want to nurture. city, they very well could get the his puppy,Schaaf is trying to act for
it, help it grow, see it establish a business instead.Right? the good of his community. But by
unique personality respected by its In a follow-up comment, Schaaf squeezing so hard,both characters are
neighbors. said as much,but he also said more. doing their loves harm.
But,lie is squeezing it too hard? He started squeezing the puppy in a How should his neighbors to the
After leaving the grand opening sense when he spade a swipe at other north react? Will they ask: 'Is the
Felebratioo,for,t1 e new:,Rainbow . Oak Park Heights businesses for iden- mayor of Oak Park Heights as spiteful
thrm Otk Park Height ifllipped tifying themselves with ;his , as he sounds?,Is re truly a war
ough my notebook,still`not believ- community'sbetterknown neighbor, going on here?Should the citizens of
ing what I heard from Schaaf when he Stillwater. Stillwater only shop in Stillwater
. was handed the microphone.Among Such a move by a business is un- stores? Should Stillwater residents
the standard we-are-so-glad-you-are- derstandable. Stillwater Ford or vote against any school referendum
here fare, Schaaf added what could Menard's,for example,are Oak Park that helps Oak Park Heights?Should
only come off as bitter words—in the Heights businesses,but they turn not anyone in Stillwater who might agree
very least you would have to admit only to local patrons but to the Twin with the Oak Park Heights City Coun-
they were uncomfortable. Cities metro area for sustenance.As oft that the proposed6t.Crow bridge.
Schaaf said he was happy to see much as Schaaf would like to bolster is a bad idea,change their mind:be-
Oak Park Heights identified in Oak Park Heights' identity, Twin cause Stillwater might benefit more
Rainbow's advertisements,a move that Citians don't know Oak Park Heights than its southern neighbor?'
will get the city's name"out there." from Mendota Heights,but they do Of course, Schaaf is a seasoned
Yes, that is something most Oak : know where historic Stillwater is. politician. He certainly knows what
Park Heights residents should be And as long at Schaaf's community he is doing betterthan'possibly could
pleased about.Oak Park Heights has is getting the benefit of prying host understand. But still, again, is he
a very valuable asset in Highway 36, to a successful business,there is good squeezing:too hard?
which gives the city highly-visible reason to leave ego at home andac- ••
commercial land to develop,which in cept the reality of marketing. Chris Baldus is the managing edi-
turn expands the city's tax base with- So, while it's good to have big tor of the Stillwater Evening Gazette.
out adding burden to homeowners. businesses identify themselves with His column appears every Monday.
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4 SEP • 21997
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To: The Oak Park Heights City Council:
Approximately 2 months ago a coalition was formed to try and
figure out a way to bring this City back to the way that it was
before the Mayor as of now was elected. This group has received
funds from many private and commercial people. This money has
been used for legal and private investigation fees. The legal
portion was to make sure the coalition did not violate any laws.
What has transpired from the process is quite upsetting. The
coalition has conducted a petition to show non trust in our mayor
and our disappointment in his duties. The petition as of this day
has over 400 signatures of people that want the Mayor to stand
down.
The reason the petition was started was that when the Mayor was
campaigning for office he lied to all of the people of the city. His
promise of lower tax has been over ridden by the spending on the
lobbyist. His lies on development both residential and commercial
have been less than honest. The latest issue pertaining to the
annexation of Baytown is also corrupt and Mayor you know what
we are saying here don't you?
Here is the conditions that we are asking:
1. The Mayor stand down immediately.
2. The Council appoint a new Mayor.
3. All petitions and letters received by the coalition will remain
private and will be surrendered to Mr. Schaaf upon his
retirement.
4. No mention of any actions by the coalition will be brought to
the media.
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This coalition is very serious in its actions and will press this issue
until all avenues have been exhausted. The Mayor has caused
great embarrassment to the City and it will not be tolerated any
more. The Mayor has 2 weeks to resign before the coalition starts
its campaign to bring the City back to its graces. Mr. Schaaf you
know as well as we do, that your bank problems have only begun
and the business that you still owe and will forever owe will taint
the image of the City long after you leave.
For the sake of the City leave now. If not, this will be the start of a
long and ugly battle that will end in your loss. We are prepared to
fight as you did in Fridley when you were run from that town. As
you have done in the past, we will make the issue personal and it
will embarrass you, your business partner and the City.
As stated please take this warning serious. There is no action that
we as a group will not take to rid you from the City. Please stand
down now. If not we will make this a personal and professional
fight you do not want.
Please stand down and let the city function as well as possible.
Again do not take this lightly. We are prepared to fight and we
will win.
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Page 4 - City Council Minutes 12/10/96
Consent Agenda:
1 . Approve Bills and Investments
2 . Approve Council Meeting Minutes - November 26, 1996
3 . Budget Amendment - Increase Revenues-Insurance Refunds and
Reimbursements from $0 to $1, 230 and Increase Expenditures-Police
Department Salaries of Regular Employees from $454 , 740 to
$455, 970
4 . Renewal of City Administrator Contract
5 . Renewal of Building Inspection Agreement with Bayport
6 . Resolution 96-12-41 - A Resolution Making Interfund
Transfers as Recommended in the 1996 Audit Report
Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Beaudet, moved to approve the
Consent Agenda as presented. Carried 4-0 . Mayor Schaaf thanked
Councilmember-elect Turnquist on his work to coordinate the
renewal of the City Administrator' s contract .
New Business:
City Election Needs - Administrator Robertson stated that some
people had to wait a considerable length of time in order to vote
at the recent election and recommended purchasing additional
voting booths . He also indicated that the Calvary Church site is
too small to accommodate enough additional voting booths .
Therefore, the City should try and either locate a new location
or an additional precinct location by the 1998 election.
Bridge Lobbying Proposal - Mayor Schaaf, seconded by Beaudet,
moved to approve the contract with O'Connor and Hannan with a cap
on the contract of $20, 000 in attorney' s fees and $1, 000 in
additional expenses to represent the City in lobbying the
Secretary of the Department of Interior regarding the proposed
MNDOT bridge. Councilmember Robert objected and indicated that
she prefers to delay action on this item because the Secretary' s
decision is supposed to be announced soon. Councilmember Robert
suggested holding a special meeting after the impact statement is
announced. After some discussion, Mayor Schaaf, seconded by
Beaudet, moved to withdrew the motion and add this item to the
agenda of the December 18 , 1996 Council meeting.
Get-acquainted Party - Mayor Schaaf stated that there has been a
suggestion to have a "get acquainted" party to introduce the new
Council to City staff . The date for the party is Thursday,
January 2 , 1997 at 1 :30 p.m. Newly elected Councilmembers will
be sworn in and then meet City employees . Councilmember Swenson,
seconded by Beaudet, moved to schedule a get acquainted party on
Thursday, January 2, 1996 at 1 :30 p.m. Carried 4-0 .
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