Hamburg City Council Agenda – February 28, 2012

HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

1. Call City Council Meeting to Order

 Pledge of Allegiance

2. Public Comment (Individuals may address the City Council about any non-agenda item(s) of concern.

Speakers must state their name, address, and limit their remarks to three minutes. The City Council may not

take official action on these items and may refer the matter to staff for a future report or direct that the matter be

scheduled for a future meeting agenda.)

3. Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption

4. Consent Agenda (NOTICE TO PUBLIC: All those items listed as part of the Consent Agenda will be

approved by a single motion, unless a request to discuss one of those items is made prior to that time. Anyone

present at the meeting may request an item to be removed from the consent agenda. Please inform the Council

when they approve the agenda for this meeting.)

 Approve Minutes for February 14, 2012

 LMC 2012 City of Excellence Awards

 FEMA Flood Risk Information Open House (March 8, 2012)

 Carver County Road Cost Sharing Policy Update

 Water Usage Report for 2012

 Delinquent Utility Bills Report

 Employee Project Lists

 Approve Time Off Request for Jeremy Gruenhagen

5. Fire Department Report – Chief Brad Droege

 Christmas Lights

 Memorial for Public Servants (Protective Services) Update

 Training Update

 HFDRA Retirement Account

6. Old City Business (Memo)

 City Clean Up Day (Spring 2012)

 2010 Census Count/Met Council Population Estimates (June 1, 2013)

 Purchase Tables for Community Center/Hall

 Additional Lateral Quotes for Carver County Fiber Optic Ring

 Annexation of Land from YA Township

o Township Fee of $250/Acre

 Resolution Number 2011-05 (.486 Acres)

 Resolution Number 2011-16 (3.7 Acres)

 Estimates for Residing Food Stand (Park)

 Estimates for Sidewalk Replacement (Henrietta Ave)

Hamburg City Council Minutes – July 12, 2011

Hamburg City Council Meeting

July 12, 2011

1

Mayor Malz called the Hamburg City Council meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Councilmember Larry Mueller,

Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk

Sue Block, and Fire Chief Brad Droege were in attendance. Others in attendance were Troy Schuette (Elite

Waste Disposal), Matt Maes (Waste Management), Justin Buckentin (HFD Relief Association), Brenda

Droege (HFD), Adam Glander (HFD), Russ Schneewind (Retired Firefighter), Joe Weckman (Retired

Firefighter). Councilmember John Barnes and Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly were absent.

Public Comment

• No public comments at this time.

Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption

• Updated Claims List

• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the agenda with the added item, seconded by

Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried.

Approve Consent Agenda

• Approve Minutes for May 24, 2011 and June 14, 2011

• Sanitary & Storm Sewer Project Update No. 12, 13 & 14

• Potential Refunding of Existing Bonds Memo (Ehlers)

• Water usage Report for 2011

o City Clerk Gruenhagen commented that the mystery as to why there is such a difference

between water usage and billed may be partially solved. A water leak before the water meter

at Parkview Apartments was discovered and approximate three to four gallons per minute was

being pumping out into the ground.

• Cash Flow Statement for May

• MNSPECT Minute (June 2011)

• Councilmember Lund moved to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember

Mueller and motion carried.

Fire Department Report – Chief Brad Droege

Certificates of Recognition (Firefighters)

• Volunteer Firefighters Joe Weckman (23 years of service) and Russ Schneewind (25 years of service)

were each presented with a plaque of recognition for their service in the Voluntary Hamburg Fire

Department. Both are now retired from the Fire Department.

DNR Grant

• Applied for a new DNR Grant.

Fire Truck Pump Testing

• Engine #12 tested ok.

• Engine #11 will need about $2,600 of repairs. There is enough money in the budget to cover the cost.

Donation of Batteries (Duracell)

• The Duracell Company donated 100 to 200 various sized batteries to the Hamburg Fire Department.

Civil Defense Siren Maintenance Program - Ready Watt Electric

• Council and Fire Chief Droege discussed the Siren Maintenance Program. After some discussion the

Council decided to approve the contract with Ready Watt Electric. The three year contract is for

preventive maintenance service on the civil defense siren at a cost of $486 per year.

Hamburg City Council Minutes – January 10, 2012

Hamburg City Council Meeting

January 10, 2012

1

Mayor Malz called the Hamburg City Council meeting to order at 6:59 p.m. Councilmember Steve

Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Larry Mueller, City

Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk Sue Block, Fire Chief Brad Droege, and Maintenance Worker

Dennis Byerly were in attendance. Also in attendance were Brian Droege (representing the Parkside Pool

Team), Rich Schug (Hamburg Baseball Club, 52 Club and NYA School Board).

Designations/Appointments for 2012

 Appointed Assistant (Acting) Mayor

o Councilmember Larry Mueller

 Designated Departments for City Council Members

o Councilmember Mueller – Sewer & Water

o Councilmember Lund – Streets

o Councilmember Trebesch – Buildings

o Councilmember Barnes – Parks

 City Council Meeting Start Time for 2012

o 7:00 P.M.

 Designated Official Depository (Bank) and Official Newspaper

o Bank – State Bank of Hamburg

o Newspaper – Norwood/Young America Times

 Designated City Engineer's for 2012

o Justin Black – S.E.H. out of the Hutchinson, MN office

 Councilmember Lund moved to approve the designations/appointments for 2012 as stated,

seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were

present.

Public Comment

 Brian Droege (Parkside Pool Team)

o The Parkside Pool Team requested permission to rent the Hamburg Bi-Centennial Park on

May 19, 2012 for a fund raiser. The event would include having a band, hog roast, and beer.

The beer would be served by using a Hamburg Lions one day temporary license or the

Parkside Tavern's liquor license. The band would play only up to 11:30 or 12:00 p.m.

o Councilmember Trebesch moved to grant the Parkside Pool Team permission to hold the

Hog Roast at the Hamburg Bi-Centennial Park on May 19, 2012 provided they have proper

insurance and liquor license, seconded by Councilmember Mueller and motion

unanimously carried. All Council members were present.

 Rich Schug (School Board)

o Mr. Schug updated Council on the improvements to the Central Elementary and High School.

He also suggested that the members of council should stop in to see the improvements for

themselves.

Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption

 Added – Exempt Permit

 Added – Project Lists

 Added – Updated Delinquency Report

 Added – Updated Claims List for January 2012

 Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the agenda with the added items, seconded by

Councilmember Mueller and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.

Approve Consent Agenda

 Approve Resolution Number 2012-01

Hamburg City Council Minutes – January 24, 2012

Mayor Malz called the Public Hearing for discussion of Ordinance Number 142 (2012 City Fee Schedule) to order at 7:01 p.m. Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Larry Mueller, Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk Sue Block, Fire Chief Brad Droege, and Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly were in attendance.

 

Ordinance Number 142 – 2012 City Fee Schedule

• Council discussed the 2012 City Fee Schedule and decided to keep all items listed at the same price as they were for 2011. The two exception were;
  
  • Pop (Per Pound) for City approved Club Rates increased from $0.50 to $0.55.
    
  • Storm Water Utility Fee increased from $16 per month to $16.75 per month.
    

 

Public Comment

• No one from the Public was present.
  

 

Councilmember Mueller moved to close the Public Hearing on Ordinance Number 142 at 7:11 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.

 

 

Mayor Malz called the Hamburg City Council meeting to order at 7:13 p.m. Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Larry Mueller, Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk Sue Block, Fire Chief Brad Droege, and Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly were in attendance.

 

Public Comment

• No one from the Public was present.
  

Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption

• Added – Pay Equity Report and Approval
  
• Added – Lawful Gambling Permit for the Lions Club for March 30, 2012
  
• Added – Hall Publication Ad for Approval
  
• Added – Project Lists
  
• Added – Updated Delinquency Report
  
• Added – Updated Claims List for January 2012
  
• Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the agenda with the added items, seconded by Councilmember Mueller and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.
  

Approve Consent Agenda

• Approve Equipment Sharing Agreement (Carver County Cities)
  
• Approve Minutes for January 10, 2012
  
• Approve MN Lawful Gambling Permit for Hamburg Lions Club (Spring Bingo)
  
• 2012 American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast/Heroes Award Nominations
  
• Water Usage Report for 2011
  
• Delinquent Utility Bills Report
  
• Employee Project Lists
  
• Approve Time Off Requests for Jeremy Gruenhagen
  
• Policing Report for December 2011
  
• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.
  

Fire Department Report

 

FEMA Grant

• The Hamburg Fire Department received notice that they will not be receiving the FEMA Grant this year.
  

HFDRA 2011 Donation Summary

• The HFDRA donated a total of $14,100 with $8,300 of that amount going to the City of Hamburg. Total percentage of donations to Hamburg was 58.87%.
  

DNR Online Open Burning Permit System/System Access

• Fire Chief Droege and Council discussed the proposal to join the online Burning Permit System Access. It was decided to make a final decision to join or not to join at the April 10, 2012 Council meeting.
  

Insurance Coverage for Employees or Volunteers Individual Vehicles

• Council and Chief Droege discussed insuring employee or volunteer vehicles at $10's per vehicle. Council decided to insure a total of six vehicles.
  
• Councilmember Mueller moved to insure six individual Fire Department vehicles at $10 per vehicle, seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.
  

Memorial for Public Servants (Protective Services Update)

• Chief Droege updated Council on the Memorial project.
  
• Council and Fire Chief Droege discussed setting up a National Night Out committee however no further action was taken.
  

Keyless Entry for Community Center/Fire Hall

• To install two doors with keyless entry locks would cost $5,430. Council and Fire Chief Droege discussed installing new locks but decided to put it on the Wish List.
  
• Council requested to have the code on the Fire Department side door changed as soon as possible.
  

 

City Fee Schedule for 2012

 

Adopt Ordinance Number 142 – (2012 City Fee Schedule)

• Cost of pop for approved City Club's changed from $0.50 per pound to $0.55 per pound.
  
• Monthly Storm Water Utility Fee changed from $16.00 per month to $16.75 per month.
  
• Councilmember Mueller moved to set the 2012 City Fee Schedule with the changes as stated in the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.
  

 

Old City Business (Memo)

 

City Clean Up Day (Spring 2012)

• City Clerk Gruenhagen will be meeting February 1^st with Norwood/YA and Cologne to discuss setting up a City Clean up Day for Hamburg.
  

2010 Census Count/Met Council Population Estimates (June 1, 2013)

• This will be discussed next year.
  

City Electronic Sign

• The electrical wire for the City Sign was broken and spliced together only to have it break two days later. Council discussed if the wiring should be temporarily fixed or wait until the weather warms up to permanently fix the problem. Council decided to wait until spring when the frost is out of the ground to have to problem fixed permanently.
  

Purchase Tables for Community Center/Hall

• Council again discussed if round or rectangular tables should be purchased for the Community Center. It was decided to hold off on the decision until the Hamburg Lions Club purchase tables and racks for the Community Center.
  
  • Fifteen (15) round tables with racks or rectangular tables.
    

Norwood Young America Chamber of Commerce Membership

• The NYA Chamber of Commerce would like to expand their membership to include Hamburg and Cologne. Council discussed joining but they questioned the membership fee, would it be $100 for non-profit or the $320 for City/Government.
  
  • Chamber of Commerce member Chris Lund will check into what the fee would be for the City and report back to Council at the next Council meeting.
    

 

Public Works & Utilities Department Report

 

Utility Locater/Camera

• The last vendor to demo their camera will be at the City office tomorrow, January 25^th.
  

Shop Vac

• A new wet/dry Shop Vac was purchased from Sears and will be picked up this coming weekend.
  

Paint for Community Center

• Council discussed that the Community Center should be repainted before the floors are waxed. Deputy Clerk Block will pick up some sample colors and report back to Council at their next meeting.
  

Hall Ceiling in Men's Bathroom

• Dan Oelfke will be fixing the damaged ceiling in the men's Hall bathroom but wanted to know if he should spray (texture) the ceiling or do a smooth ceiling.
  
  • Council decided to have Dan do a smooth finish on the ceiling.
    

Sewer Compliance

• Council discussed and decided to have City Clerk Gruenhagen send out letters to City residents whose sewer lines are in compliance.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen will send letters to residents that have sewer lines that are not in compliance and just recommend fixing lines that are sagging or have old piping. Council also decided that if any black corrugated pipe is found it would have to be replaced.
  

Lions Pancake Breakfast

• Gene Siewert (Hamburg Lions Club) had previously asked if next years Lions Pancake Breakfast could be held the Sunday after the Pheasants Forever Banquet which is held on Saturday.
  
• Council discussed and decided to have Lions Club member Chris Lund ask if the Club would be willing to donate money to the City for having Maintenance Worker Byerly clean the Hall at 2:00 a.m. Also ask if they would like to clean the Hall themselves before their breakfast or have it on a separate weekend like it is now.
  
  • Chris will talk to the Lions Club members and report back to Council.
    

 

Deputy Clerk & City Clerk/Treasurer Report

 

2012 MCFOA Conference (March 20-23)

• Deputy Clerk Block requested to attend the 2012 MCFOA Conference in St. Cloud, MN on March 20 to 23, 2012.
  
  • Council discussed and decided to grant Deputy Clerk Block's request to attend the 2012 MCFOA Conference and to approve a three day hotel stay during the Conference.
    
• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve Deputy Clerk Block to attend the 2012 MCFOA Conference in St. Cloud, March 20-23, 2012, and a three day hotel stay during the Conference, seconded by Councilmember Lund and motion carried. Councilmember Barnes abstained.
  

Water Conference in St. Cloud

• City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen and Maintenance Worker Byerly will be attending the Water Conference in St. Cloud, March 6, 7, 8, 2012. They will be staying one night at St. Cloud during the Conference.
  

Additional Lateral Quotes for Carver County Fiber Optic Ring

• Adding two additional fiber optic lines would cost the city approximately $14,574.07.
  
  • Community Hall/Shop additional estimate of $7,152.48.
    
  • Hamburg Water Treatment additional estimate of $7,421.59
    
• Council decided that adding the two lines would be extremely expensive and asked City Clerk Gruenhagen to check into why the quoted prices are so high.
  

Business/Professional Directory for Hamburg (Update)

• Council looked over the list of businesses on the directory and two listings were questioned if they were still in operation.
  
  • Deputy Clerk Block will call the businesses and find out if they should remain or be removed from the Hamburg Business List.
    

Delinquent Report

• Some residents have set up payment schedules and there will be four postings of disconnect if payment is not received.
  

 

Approve Payment of January 2012 Claims

 

Approve Payment of January 2012 Claims

• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the three ACH payments, claim number 15403 and 15404, check number 15435 to 15453, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.
  

 

City Council Reports

 

Councilmember Mueller (Sewer & Water)

• Councilmember Mueller asked if locating a City Pickup was being worked on.
  
  • Mayor Malz is working on this.
    

Councilmember Lund (Streets)

• Councilmember Lund asked if the three lights illuminating the flag could be changed to having only one shining on the flag.
  
  • No decision was made.
    
• Councilmember Lund brought up the idea of having the City work with the Lions Club to expand the Park bathrooms to include a handicap bathroom.
  
  • Council discussed and no decision was made at this time.
    

Councilmember Trebesch (Buildings) – had no further comments

Councilmember Barnes – had no further comments

Mayor Malz – had no further comments

 

Adjourn City Council Meeting

• Councilmember Barns moved to adjourn the Hamburg City Council meeting at 9:04 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.
  

 

 

Submitted by:

 

 

 

Sue Block - Deputy Clerk

Hamburg City Council Agenda – February 14, 2012

• Call City Council Meeting to Order
  
  • Pledge of Allegiance
    

 

• Public Comment
  (Individuals may address the City Council about any non-agenda item(s) of concern. Speakers must state their name, address, and limit their remarks to three minutes. The City Council may not take official action on these items and may refer the matter to staff for a future report or direct that the matter be scheduled for a future meeting agenda.)
  

 

• Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption
  

 

• Consent Agenda
  (NOTICE TO PUBLIC: All those items listed as part of the Consent Agenda will be approved by a single motion, unless a request to discuss one of those items is made prior to that time. Anyone present at the meeting may request an item to be removed from the consent agenda. Please inform the Council when they approve the agenda for this meeting.)
  
  • Approve Minutes for January 24, 2012
    
  • Approve Temporary On-Sale Liquor Licenses for Hamburg Lions Club
    
    • March 30, 2012 & April 25, 2012
      
  • Approve Amendment to Policing Contracts for 2012 Policing Services
    
    • Semi-Annual Billing in lieu of Quarterly Billing
      
  • MNSPECT Minute for February 2012
    
  • Countryside Veterinarian Clinic Newsletter
    
  • Letter from Richard Odoms
    
  • Delinquent Utility Bills Report
    
  • Employee Project Lists
    
  • Approve Time Off Request for Sue Block
    
  • Year End Policing Report Totals for 2011/January 2012
    

  
   

• Old City Business (Memo)
  
  • City Clean Up Day (Spring 2012)
    
  • 2010 Census Count/Met Council Population Estimates (June 1, 2013)
    
  • City Electronic Sign
    
  • Purchase Tables for Community Center/Hall
    
  • Norwood Young America Chamber of Commerce Membership
    

    
     

• Public Works & Utilities Department Report
  
  • Purchase Utility Locater/Camera
    
    • Ordinance Number 124
      
  • Lighting System Analysis
    
    • Rebates End March 31, 2012
      
    • T12 Lamps (Production Ends July 14, 2012)
      
  • Paint Community Center (Color)
    

  
   

  
   

  
   

  
   

  
   

• Deputy Clerk & City Clerk/Treasurer Report
  
  • 2012 MCFOA Conference (March 20-23)
    
  • Additional Lateral Quotes for Carver County Fiber Optic Ring
    
  • Hall Rental Rate for Auctions
    
  • Street Pavement Plan (Al Hahn)
    
  • 2011 Financial Audit
    
  • Annexation of Land from YA Township
    
    • Township Fee of $250/Acre
      
      • Resolution Number 2011-05 (.486 Acres)
        
      • Resolution Number 2011-16 (3.7 Acres)
        

 

• Approve Payment of January/February 2012 Claims
  

 

• City Council Reports
  
  • Councilmember Mueller Report (Sewer & Water)
    
  • Councilmember Lund Report (Streets)
    
  • Councilmember Trebesch Report (Buildings)
    
  • Councilmember Barnes Report (Parks)
    
  • Mayor Malz Report
    

 

• Adjourn City Council Meeting
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY HALL & PARK ACTIVITIES

 

 

JANUARY                 7 – HFDRA Banquet/Dance

                     15 – Lions Pancake Brunch

                    21 – Pheasants Forever

                 24-25 – Fahey Auction

                    28 – Green Isle CPA Banquet

                

 

FEBRUARY                 4 – HHFC Fish Fry

 

 

MARCH                 7 – Bongards Creameries

                    30 – Lions Club Spring Bingo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY CENTER (FIRE HALL) ACTIVITIES

                    

 

FEBRUARY                 6 – Hamburg Lions Club (Lions/YA Twp. Room)

                     6 – Hamburg Fire Department Training

                     9 – Fire Board Meeting

12 – Washington Lake 4-H Club

14 – Hamburg City Council Meeting – 7:00 PM

                    20 – Hamburg Lions Club

                    20 – Holiday – Presidents' Day – City Office's Closed

27 – Hamburg Fire Dept. (Relief Association) Meeting

                    28 – Hamburg City Council Meeting – 7:00 PM

                    

 

Obama Cites Rising Gas Prices – Up 83 Percent Under His Tenure – Among Reasons to Extend Payroll Tax Cut | CNSNews.com

Obama Cites Rising Gas Prices – Up 83 Percent Under His Tenure – Among Reasons to Extend Payroll Tax Cut | CNSNews.com

Let's take a look at this from a standpoint of dollars. The payroll tax cut cost the SSN fund $105B in 2011 and the projected amount for 2012 will be $119B if extended for rest of the year. Why are we kicking the can down the road? Just like last year, the $119B that the SSN Fund will lose this year is not being offset or repaid. President Obama had this exchange, see the article:

And when gas prices are on the rise again – because as the economy strengthens, global demand for oil increases – and if we start seeing significant increases in gas prices, losing that $40 could not come at a worse time,” Obama said. “One local entrepreneur named Thierry – where’s Thierry? He’s right here.

“He told us that $40 would cover the gas that gets him to his day job, or, alternatively, the Internet service his small business depends on. So he’d have to start making a choice – do I fill up my gas tank to get to my work, or do I give up my entrepreneurial dream. ‘Forty dollars,’ he wrote, ‘means a heck of a lot,’” the president added.

Does President Obama believe that the American people are stupid? If Thierry is a local entrepreneur then he will not benefit from the payroll deduction nor has he benefited prior because the payroll reduction is for employees. Let me say that again - the payroll tax is for EMPLOYEES. The "local entrepreneur" does not get this deduction. That being said, why are we allowing our Government to kick the can down the road. Depending on which CBO report one believes the SSN fund could be insolvent by 2025 or 2050. Instead of extending the payroll tax cut why is there no discussion on reducing the overall tax rate for everyone by 2%? Wouldn't that make more sense? We'd still be able to give everyone an extra $40, minus those that are entrepreneurs, and not further damage the SSN fund.

FDR's quote at the end of the article is intriguing as well - "We put those payroll contributions there so as to give the contributors a legal, moral, and political right to collect their pensions and their unemployment benefits. With those taxes in there, no damn politician can ever scrap my social security program. Those taxes aren’t a matter of economics, they’re straight politics." Trouble part is that many will go to the polls this upcoming November and pull the lever for more spending, less fiscal control and further erosion of the SSN Fund. Guess it is true that we get the government we vote for.

Women are being duped yet again

President Obama, as the drive by media outlets put it, "caved" to religious pressure in regards to birth control, abortion, sterilization and birth control inducing abortion methods this past week by making a compromise. The compromise that President Obama offered was to exempt religious institutions and faith based organizations from having to pay for these services; instead the services will have to offered by insurance companies at "no additional cost to the employee or hassle." Does President Obama believe that the American citizenry is stupid?

All President Obama did was shift the mandate from one group to another. The original mandate violates the 1st Amendment while the second mandate also violates the Constitution. Right now insurance is not sold across state lines thus the Federal Government cannot regulate it. Regulation is left up to the States. That being said certain aspect of insurance law has crept in and States have lost certain rights because of it. Namely via Medicare and Medicaid. When will Americans wake up and realize that more and more of our freedoms are being stripped away by those in Washington D.C.

We can start earlier but here is a short list of things:

1. Patriot Act - wiretapping
2. TARP - Temporarily nationalized the banks
3. TARP II - Temporarily nationalized GM and Chrysler
4. Health Care Act - Individual Mandate
5. Fifth Amendment - Assassination of America citizen tied to Al Qaeda
6. Health Care Act - Mandate of birth control for free

I know I am missing a couple. Our government has been working to erode our freedoms. Where is the outrage? I forgot we cannot express outrage now because one may interpret that as attacking someone based on the undercurrent of race.

Archbishop Dolan wrote, ""We note that today's proposal continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions....The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is... to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services" in response to the recent changes. That is just the half of it. Take the blatant disregard for the US Constitution and combine it with this comment: "Reducing unintended pregnancies is a well-established public health goal. They are associated with a variety of health issues for both mother and child from maternal depression to birth defects. There are also economic consequences, particularly for teen mothers who are less likely to graduate from high school" states US Department of Health and Human Services.

If the goal is to truly reduce unintended pregnancies, albeit no method is 100% unless one abstains, ask yourself a few questions:

1. Will the family unit be mandated sterilization after a certain family size is reached?
2. If I am on welfare - will by welfare distribution be effected? or Will I have forced to be sterilized?

Women groups see this as freedom and liberation. It is a ruse. The fight for free contraception is to pacify women and lull you into thinking that power is being given. Once the government is able to prove a legit health concern over the number of babies you produce they will mandate it. When will people wake up and see that Government is not the answer to all. The role of government is for the basic protection of our rights set up in the US Constitution and the power there in. Not to be all for all.

The 1st Amendment under assault by Obama Administration

White House spokesman Jay Carney also sought to diffuse criticism from Church leaders, telling reporters later on Tuesday that the administration would work with religious organizations "to see if the implementation of the policy can be done in a way that allays some of those concerns." (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/white-house-open-compromise-over-contraception-adviser-152243708.html)

This comment by Mr. Carney is alarming. It is bad enough that the Obama Administration has trampled upon the Constitution by appointing recess appointments when the Senate was not in recess. The controversy with abortion, contraception and sterilization is not the first issue with ObamaCare. What is the next Amendment or freedom "hope and change" is going to take away?

Catholic League Poised To Go To War With Obama Over Mandatory Birth Control Payments « CBS New York

Catholic League Poised To Go To War With Obama Over Mandatory Birth Control Payments « CBS New York


The 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." but that is exactly what President Obama did when he signed into law the Health Care Act. As Rep. Pelosi so eloquently stated during the passage of the bill,"we need to pass it to understand whats in it". Perhaps people should have demanded more from our elected officials when debating this bill; makes one wonder what else is in the bill that restricts our freedoms. But I digress.

The Health Care Act is going to require all religious institutions to provide health insurance that includes provisions to pay for birth control pills, abortion-inducing drugs, and sterilization. Catholics and Imam's are up in arms over this intrusion into their free exercise of their religions. "The Catholic hierarchy seems to be playing a cynical game of chicken and they don’t seem to care that the health and well being of millions of American woman are what’s at stake here,” National Abortion Rights Action League President Andrea Miller said. Sorry Andrea the Catholic hierarchy is not playing chicken; rather they are protecting their rights. If employees of these groups want to obtain insurance with these provisions then they can either find other employment or buy supplements on the secondary market.

Troubling part of this conversation is that far to many will get bogged down into abortion issue and ignore the blatant violation of the 1st Amendment. It is time that we demand more of our government by restricting their powers to the powers explicitly stated in the Constitution and regulate all other powers to the States to decide. Today it's health care tomorrow it will be something else. Since the broad interpretation of the Commerce Clause we have steadily seen State rights and Rights of citizens eroded and Obamacare is just another step in that direction.

Super Bowl Sunday

The day every gridiron fan looks forward to; Super Bowl Sunday. This year it will be in Indianapolis featuring the New England Patriots and New York Giants. A few subplots here but nothing really outlandish. Over the past few decades we have seen more attention paid to the commercials than the game itself. I'd admit that since the Raiders are not playing, I will be watching for the commercials too. Madonna will be the headliner at halftime and she did earlier this week promise to keep her clothes on; phew!

Well with only a few hours to go before kickoff it is time to make a prediction - New York Giants 35 New England Patriots 20. The turning point will be a Double P pancake of Brady that Brady's wife will feel in the stands leading to a fumble and touchdown! Finally revenge of the tuck rule!