This morning I am switching my focus from the national scene to the local scene. Earlier this month Janet and Lowell Carlson faced jail time for not complying with Carver County's assessment that their septic system needed upgrading. The repair costs are estimated to be $10,000 which the couple has placed in escrow. The Carlson's have agreed to repair their septic system. Janet Carlson said, "Although we didn't want to cave in to the county's pressure, due to Lowell's health issues [and] the need for me to care for him, being in jail was not in our personal best interest" (http://www.startribune.com/local/west/63568787.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU). Part of the Carlson's argument was that Carver County property, the old Waconia Ballroom, had a similar septic system that was not in compliance even though Carver County officials contend the septic system is in compliance.
Since the dust up, the Carver County Board decided last Tuesday to hire two separate inspectors to check the septic system at the Waconia Event Center. County Commissioner Tom Workman has been a supporter of the Carlson's and pushed for additional inspections of the Waconia Event Center. A question needs to be asked here; why wasn't an independent inspector not used when the Waconia Ballroom was purchased last year instead the county took the word of an inspector hired by the seller (http://www.startribune.com/local/west/64860922.html?page=1&c=y). Where was the Carver County Board when they shelled out about $2.5M for the site?
Carver County must now, per the order by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), complete the inspections by October 28th and then submit the findings to the MPCA by November 3rd. Okay, but why do taxpayers of Carver County need to pay for two separate inspectors? What if the results differ between the inspectors? County Commissioner Workman been given a gag order by the MPCA because, "He crossed the line. He was acting like a licensed inspector, passing judgment on a [septic] system, which only a licensed inspector can do" (http://www.startribune.com/local/west/64860922.html?page=1&c=y). The gag order appears to be due to Carver County Commissioner Workman's "public stint", with media present, to show that a pipe in the septic system's distribution box was not located as the seller's inspector had claimed.
What does the MPCA have to hide? What is wrong with an elected official bringing to light an issue? Personally, I have experienced the wrath of questioning the MPCA. After several phone conversations and being asked if I was on the Hamburg City Council by the MPCA on Hamburg's I/I problem, MPCA representatives came to explain why Hamburg lost 20 points on their score for assistance with the I/I project. Read the minutes from the Hamburg City Council meeting held on August 25th on my blog site to see the conversation and explanation. Putting aside the issue of the MPCA heavy handedness in handling Carver County Commissioner Workman, why did Carver County Board approve the purchase of the Waconia Ballroom without inspecting the property themselves and why do we need two separate inspectors now? Taxpayers of Carver County need to know.
A new report says in December 2001, Osama bin Laden was cornered in Afghanistan's mountainous Tora Bora region.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
ReplyDeleteReport released by Senate panel blames Bush officials for bin Laden escape
"Bin Laden expected to die," report says, noting that a copy of his will was found
"Requests were also turned down for U.S. troops to block the mountain paths," report says
Washington (CNN)
A report released by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee blamed the Bush administration for failing to capture or kill Osama bin Laden when the al Qaeda leader was cornered in Afghanistan's Tora Bora mountain region in December 2001. The report, released Sunday, said the situation in Afghanistan presented greater problems today because of the failure to nab bin Laden eight years ago.
Bin Laden had written his will, apparently sensing he was trapped, but the lack of sufficient forces to close in for the kill allowed him to escape to tribal areas in Pakistan, according to the report.
It said former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and top U.S. commander Gen. Tommy Franks held back the necessary forces for a "classic sweep-and-block maneuver" that could have prevented bin Laden's escape.
When criticized later for not zeroing in on bin Laden, administration officials, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, responded that the al Qaeda leader's location was uncertain.
"But the review of existing literature, unclassified government records and interviews with central participants underlying this report removes any lingering doubts and makes it clear that Osama bin Laden was within our grasp at Tora Bora," the report said.
Removing the al Qaeda leader from the battlefield eight years ago would not have eliminated the worldwide extremist threat.
The Republican National Committee’s health insurance plan covers elective abortion – a procedure the party’s own platform calls “a fundamental assault on innocent human life.”
ReplyDeleteFederal Election Commission Records show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna. Two sales agents for the company said that the RNC’s policy covers elective abortion.
Informed of the coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told POLITICO that the policy pre-dates the tenure of current RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
“The current policy has been in effect since 1991, and we are taking steps to address the issue,” Gitcho said.
Leading up to passage of the House health care reform bill last week, 176 House Republicans joined 64 Democrats in voting for the so-called Stupak amendment, a measure that prohibits federal funds from being used to buy health insurance that covers elective abortions.
A spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee – the campaign arm for the House Republicans – said it does not include coverage for elective abortions in its employee insurance policy.
“The policy does not cover abortions unless the life of the mother is in danger,” the NRCC spokeswoman said.
Anon..I am a bit confused as to how these two comments are a link to the blog entry they are attached to?
ReplyDeletePlease elaborate. Thanks
Now that the successful PGA is over that was held in Chaska this summer many people are wondering how Carver County Commissioner Tom Workman and some other known Republican career politicians receive free passes to spend the entire week at the event. How were these freebies handed out and by whom? Would this not be a violation of the Marty law to receive such precious gifts because you are an elected official with ties to the Republican Party? I look forward to an answer that is just not a cover up. I wonder if the Carver County GOP supports this type of behavior.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the law that allows Carver County residents to use the same person who installs a septic tank to also inspect the septic system for compliance with the law. It was reported to me that Carver County Commissioner Tom Workman while he was a member of the Republican majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1999 voted to make that change to the law allowing the same person to do both. Is that really true that he and his follow party members voted to pass such a ridiculous law?
ReplyDeleteIn an effort to make factual statements on the blog, I did contact Commissioner Workman to have the questions posted by anonymous. Here is his response:
ReplyDeleteHi Chris. I did get a ticket from a friend to attend one day at the PGA. No lobbyist. No interested party. Sorry. So the first one is false.
I would have no clue about the second one. It has not been my contention that the installer can sometime later re-inspect or not. That was of interest to the media...not me. The soils inspector has now said it FAILS just as I said it would.
Commissioner
Tom Workman
I did send a response back asking if he knew the name of the name of the legislation. I ask the anonymous comment maker if they could point out the piece of legislation that Commissioner Workman voted on too.
While I appreciate any and all comments, a suggestion of mine is to be more specific when refering to legislation. Thanks.