Carver County misuse of Taxpayer money

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 28^th and then submit the findings to the MPCA by November 3^rd. 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 25^th 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.

 

Does the Waconia City Council and resident's understand redemption?

Last night the Waconia City Council meet to discuss revelations recently unearthed about their Public Utilities Director. Drew Anderson was hired as wastewater worker by the city of Waconia a year after he raped a 14-year old girl in Stearns County. According to the Star Tribune, “[Drew Anderson] was not charged or convicted until two years after he was hired as a wastewater worker.” During the 4.5 hour meeting, which ended around 1 a.m., Anderson testified that several city officials knew about the rape conviction as far back as 1999.

When Anderson was arrested and pled guilty of the rape, the city of Waconia arranged to have Anderson serve his sentence in Carver County jail in order to allow him to work his job on work release. City Administrator Susan Arntz promoted Anderson this past spring said, “He has been an exemplary employee. We have never had a single complaint against him” (Star Tribune). Sexual abuse is an emotional topic and offers plenty of contradictions for those that pay their debt to society.

Depending on the degree of sexual assault determines if the person will need to notify the city they want to move into and if they must register as a sex offender. Forever they will be carry the label of sex offender which in lies the contradiction. While there are some that “cannot help themselves” when it comes to repeating as offenders but from all accounts thus far Drew Anderson has done his time, paid his debt to society, and move on from it to become a productive member of society without repeating.

Anderson’s attorney Marshall Tanick may have it right when he said; “a witch hunt done to appease a few people” is at the core of the issue surrounding Anderson. Keith Anderson, in his story A Secret at City Hall, brought to light the past rape conviction of Drew Anderson. In the same article, Keith Anderson reports that “[Drew Anderson] has played a major role in significant change, including the construction of a new water tower, a renovation of the old water tower on Main Street, numerous life station upgrades or installation, restoration of numerous aging sewer pipes, as well as a new water treatment plant on 10th Street.”

And now, citizens like Bonnie Olsen, want Drew Anderson fired from his job, not because of job performance, because of his rape conviction. “My issue is this conviction – whether he is a good or poor performer, he is a convicted sex offender” (Star Tribune). I do not condone Anderson’s past transgression but he did pay his debt to society, has not repeated and has become a productive member of society.

As I said before sexual abuse is an emotional issue and it is difficult for people to move past it when discovered. Drew Anderson did wrong when he was 26 years old. Now he is 43 and has elevated himself to Public Utilities Director for the city of Waconia all the while not repeating the savage act 17 years ago. As a civilized society, a vastly Christian society, we need not forget what took place but believe that our judicial process works, people can learn from their mistakes and redemption is real. To simply fire an employee, public or private, because of something done in their past, that has not been repeated, is unjust, unfair, and flies in the face of redemption. The City Council has delayed any decision until Monday.