Just thought I would pass this on. Rather interesting what goes on at the local level.

Greg - Just thought I would pass this on. Rather interesting what goes on at the local level. Sheila

----- Original Message ----- From: "Harold Hamilton (Anoka County Watchdog)"
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 12:14 PM Subject: Watchdog Email Update > WWW.ANOKACOUNTYWATCHDOG.COM > > EMAIL UPDATE > > JULY 25, 2008 >

> In This Issue: >
1. Economic Problems? Not for Government! >
2. Economic Problems? Not for Government! >
3. The Heights of Foolishness. > >

1. Economic Problems? Not for Government! > There is a fundamental problem with American democracy when government > starts living better than the folks who fund government. > > Today, hard working families in Anoka County are beset by falling home > values, foreclosures, job losses, high-energy costs and high food costs. > Simply put, it's getting harder and harder for average families to > maintain a decent standard of living. > > Moreover, government doesn't seem to care. Taxes and fees are on the > rise. Property taxes continue to rise. Anoka County has raised numerous > "fees" as well as imposing a Wheelage tax on our cars as well as a sales > tax increase. > > So what is Anoka County doing to tighten its belt? Not a damn thing. Not > one damn thing. > >

The Watchdog has obtained from a source expense reports from the county > for 2007. While taxpayers were tightening their belts, the county was > wining and dining itself. Frankly, the list of expenses is nothing short > of disgusting. The excess and outright piggery is shocking. > > Below is a select sampling of expenses. The Watchdog will be posting the > complete spreadsheet on our homepage. > > Grab your barf bag and read on, brave taxpayers: > > 1/22/07 Canyon Grille $414.91 > 10/08/07 Canyon Grille $311.68 > http://www.canyongrille.com/ > > 1/26/07 Cornerstone Catering $745.50 > > 3/04/07 Oceanaire Seafood Room $403.26 > http://www.theoceanaire.com/ > > 3/1/07 Capital Grille $532.68 > > Lutsen Resort $1,056.45 (multiple dates) > http://www.lutsenresort.com/ > > 8/3/07 Craguns Lodge and Golf $325 > http://www.craguns.com/ > > 9/14/07 Grandview Lodge $384 > http://www.grandviewlodge.com/ > > 3/30/07 Ruttger's Lodge $275 > http://www.ruttgersresorts.com/baylakelodge/ > > Caribou Highlands Lodge $255.62 (two dates) > http://www.caribouhighlands.com/ > > Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC $5,460 (multiple dates) > http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/DCAWHHH-Hilton-Washington-District-of-Columbia/index.do > > Jefferson Hotel, Washington, DC $1,708.73 (multiple dates) > http://www.thejeffersonwashingtondc.com/#Photo%201 > > So, Watchdogs, when was the last time you spent a few days at Lutsen or > Ruttgers? When was the last time you could afford a dinner at the Canyon > Grille or the Oceanaire Seafood Room? Ever stayed at the Hilton in > Washington, DC? Your county government has. And they used your tax > dollars to pay for it. > > The primary election is September 9th > Election Day is November 4th > http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=4 > >

2. Economic Problems? Not for Government! > A typo? Hardly. As if the fringe benefits of being a public servant > weren't enough, don't forget about the salaries. Use the salary finders > listed below to see how much some public servants are being paid. In this > economic environment, will they be taking a pay cut to share the pain? > Probably not. Not as long as you continue to tolerate rising property > taxes and free spending elected officials. > > http://extras.twincities.com/car/salaries/ > http://ww3.startribune.com/dynamic/salaries/ > > The Watchdog picked out the salary of our favorite Anoka County bureaucrat > to get the ball rolling. > > Steve Novak earns a salary of $128,703 which equates to $62 per hour. > This salary is in addition to Novak's moonlighting job as a lobbyist for a > private organization. No data is available regarding pay from that job. > http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us/lobby/lbdetail/lb701.html > > Note that Novak's hourly wage is close to the number of hours considered > full-time employment (2080 annually). So when does Novak work for the > other employer? Are taxpayers getting full-time work from this highly > compensated bureaucrat? Who knows. In fact, maybe taxpayers are better > off to have Novak work as little as possible, since his activities seem to > often entail pursuing higher taxes and more government. > >

3. The Heights of Foolishness. > You would think with all the money taxpayers give government, you could > get some real help. At the very least, you would think government would > at least give taxpayers the courtesy of doing no harm. > > No way. Watchdogs in the city of Columbia Heights have informed the Dog > of an ordinance under consideration by the city council that would force > all homeowners to undergo and pass a city inspection before being allowed > to put their home up for sale. > > Never mind that core American principle of property rights. Since when do > citizens have to get government permission to sell their home? What gives > the city the right to interfere with a private sale offering? > > The way the scheme is proposed to work is that before selling, a citizen > would have to pass an inspection certifying that the home met city code > requirements. > > Of course, the city is likely justifying this intrusion by painting > scenarios of snake infested homes and falling walls. Of course, any > potential buyer can always have an inspection conducted before buying. > > But just take a look at the city code and see what kinds of items can > flunk out a home owner: > All doors in a home cannot have a hole or puncture (5A.201(c)); > All bathrooms must have "easily cleanable" surfaces (5A.201(d)); > Windows must be capable of being "easily" opened (5A.205(b)); > Bathroom floors must be capable of being "easily" maintained in a clean > state (5A.205(c)). > http://www.ci.columbia-heights.mn.us/city_services/city_code.asp > > Notice how subjective the standards can be. Notice how easy it would be > for some bureaucrat to impose subjective and arbitrary standards that have > little to do with true health and safety. > > Wake up, Columbia Heights. The council will consider this matter July 28! > This is a bureaucratic nightmare waiting to happen. > http://www.ci.columbia-heights.mn.us/ > http://www.ci.columbia-heights.mn.us/departments/pdf/Sequence_to_Closing_Chart_web.pdf >