Anoka City Forum

Skogquist for Commissioner: History with Special Interests

On 3-1-07  the Anoka Union reported City Manager Tim Cruikshank saying, "I'm getting the message we're not going to have any consultants anymore without the council's approval."

On 3-19-04  the Anoka Union had reported turmoil over another unauthorized survey expenditure. No pre-approval.

The earlier issue involved an unbudgeted, unauthorized expenditure of $8,000.

The bogus "Mayor's Task Force on Housing" was ready to spend this money without council pre-approval.

That's a problem for our form of government. No due process. No public oversight. But it really helps with those tightly managed, politically crafted outcomes. If you can get away with it.  It really keeps any democratic scrutiny to a minimum.

In fact, this same article reported Councilmember Dori Schumacher, who was on the Task Force with Skogquist, saying: "The Task Force is well on its way toward submitting its recommendations to the council."

That's a problem for our form of government. Charter member Zilla Way once stated, "The Charter forbids council members from serving on any advisory boards or commissions." (Early 2007 Union). So self-advising is not advisable and even unlawful. "The Mayor's Task Force on Housing" was unlawful.  It concentrates political power to the few, rather than the whole council.

If you break the rules early and often. . . eventually anything goes.

The keeper of the charter, City Manager Tim Cruikshank, assists the dysfunction with his stated policy: "The mayor can do whatever he wants."

Pierce/Skogquist/Schumacher actually voted for the survey and then went against the survey's findings.

The survey found 80% of Anokans thought rental licensing was desirable.  The triplet ticket on the council disregarded citizens and supported outsider special interests, referred to as predatory landlords by the Tribune.   (Pierce buddy/Skogquist supporter Mr.Fischer of Main & Ferry got his railings ASAP as well. . .Wonder what's on his wish list this time if his boys Aaron Barr and Erik Skogquist are installed).

Now, Bjorn Skogquist-campaigning-for-commissioner decries that sort of thing.  He says we should listen to the citizens, not special interest lobbyists.

It's more likely he will do what he has already done, only it would involve even bigger issues and more money.

Anoka County, be afraid, be very afraid.

Mayor Skogquist's Abuse of Power

Bjorn Skogquist was replacing people on advisory boards on the basis of whether they would do what he said.  The following was a Letter to the Editor published 4-27-07 in the Anoka County Union. Anoka City Forum did not seek permission to publish it here:

To The Editor:

A group of ordinary Anoka citizens became concerned when it was learned that Mayor Bjorn Skogquist said he intended only to appoint people to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) who would do what he wanted.

It was decided that a change in the law for HRA appointments was needed to curb this abuse of power.

The bipartisan group was made up of DFL and Republican activists as well as diehard independents.

The legislation would allow our city council to adopt changes in the HRA appointment process through our city charter.

The entire council could then participate fully in the selections.

Newspaper Headlines: A Shabby History

Bjorn4Commissioner?

Consider Bjorn's Skogquist's dysfunctional eight years as mayor of Anoka; some of the story is told in the newspaper headlines.

It's been a lot of game playing and power grabbing with the real issues of the city neglected:

Survey Spurs Contentious Controversy/    Skogquist orders $8,000 spent with no council vote, then goes against survey results.  Eighty percent of Anokans want rental licensing.  Skogquist's supporters (out-of-town and predatory landlords) don't.  Mr. Skogquist, now county-commissioner-candidate "Mr. Start-listening-to-the-people" goes with the moneyed special interest lobbyists rather than mere citizens.

HRA Expansion Causing Community Division/   Held at 3 people for six months till shills lined up - then expands 5 to 7.  Another demonstration of how Skogquist values personal power over the good of Anoka.

Appts. Process Criticized, Scrutinized For 'Lack Of Openness'/   Skogquist front loading his appts.  And for what ultimately?  In this case it was the loss of $185,000 - the full year's HRA budget.  Bjorn dismantled the community development department, got his own employee placed under Cruikshank, micromanaged the lack of due diligence on buyer Kaiser, loaded HRA with do-what-I-say appointments.  And for what?  Failure.  Now he won't even take responsibility for 302, blaming the economy.

Rental Licensing Becomes Divisive/ Skogquist's power base interests vs citizen's interests

Unifying Anoka Difficult/  Skogquist's invitation only "visioning meetings" blow up.  He says, "I can't work with this council."  City manager Cruikshank says, "The mayor can do whatever he wants." That is not only incorrect, but should have signaled a job resignation had occurred by Cruikshank to the rest of the city council.

Skogquist Snaps, Flings Allegations/  shameful, immature behavior or campaign performance?  Pattern of discrediting and defaming other voices goes way back.

Cruikshank, Brooklyn Center City Manager Finalist/  second attempt to escape

Moratorium: A City Divided Upon Itself?/   political plank set-up for 2006

Skogquist Shot Down, Loses Bid For Moratorium/  gains supporters, wrangles for downzoning

Greenhaven Golf Pro To Go: Citizen Tees Off Against Council, Manager/  unfair firing, lawsuit recently settled, at what cost?  Ask a councilmember.

Future Locked Up In Historic Preservation?  More homeowners rights assigned to government

Anoka Lends $485,000 for 302 Fremont/ Skogquist defends his appts. and unprecedented amount

Owner 302 Fremont Doesn't Meet Deadline/  HRA acknowledges no-win default situation/302 is a foreclosure waiting to happen

Dysfunction test #3 : Skogquist's Anoka

Backstory on Skogquist as mayor of Anoka on his way to commissoner candidate.  The experts urge citizens of dysfunctional cities like Anoka to "educate yourself". Scenario three- the plot thickens:

Uh, Oh.  The little guy with the big head turns out to be a career politician who wants to dominate advisory boards, put in place some new overriding vision to replace all other plans carefully laid in place and expects to be able to direct staff himself to push his singular agenda- self promotion.  Your manager says:

1.  I can work with you on that.  I'll just craft an "economic coordinator" position, Chris Heineman, and place him under me.  Call 302 Fremont done.  The Planning Dept I'll move from Community Development, and again place directly under me.  That covers rezoning, HPC, etc.  The new HRA position ditto. You, mr. mayor, already recommend HRA appts., so you can just expand that from 5 to 7 and put your people in there.  Your HRA board chairman can be assigned to control any development process in the city (like the Library park) and hold conservation easements.

After all, as you've been saying: "the HRA can do things the council can't".  These maneuvers will effectively allow you to bypass the council when fully implemented.

Then you won't have to endure all the "scrutiny and minutiae" you have complained about.

That should help you direct and control your extreme agenda with the least amount of hassle from citizens and those few professional staff we have left.  I'll go on record again and say, "the mayor can do whatever he wants" and assist where I can with agendas, staff recommends, etc.  When I can't bully and intimidate, I'll do my greasy charm thing.  (Just don't call me "your manager" in public meetings.  People might catch on. . .and it's a little humiliating when I'm called your assistant in letters to the editor.)

Where I can't, you can load council chambers with. . .what does Erik Skogquist call them? Citizens?  No - rabble.  You can do the rabble thing and bully everyone.

Dysfunction test #2: Skogquist as Mayor

A major reason noted for the alarming increase in dysfunctional cities is ignorance by citizens about their local government.  Consider this scenario:

A young, inexperienced person becomes mayor.  He seems gifted in community activism (his brother- Erik Skogquist- calls it rabble rousing) and public speaking. The young man refers to himself as having "talent and expertise".  He considers himself an up and coming politician.  He demands an office in Anoka city hall. Your city manager responds:

1.  Of course, let me help you with that.  Here are the keys to the building so that you can come and go as you please with no staff around. Plus keys to a nice river view office (the whole council used to use it but since you have usurped and made them irrelevant . . .) We'll furnish that with the best new furniture in the building and of course a phone line so you have "City of Anoka" on the caller ID of the folks you want to call and influence. That will make mayor seem more impressive than what it is: ceremonial head of a five person policy making body. My announced policy will be, "the mayor can do whatever he wants." (Tribune North article on visioning mtgs.)

2. Whoa, young fellow.  I need to explain about council/manager govt.  You see, you are merely ceremonial. You have no authority beyond your one vote on the council and no power to veto.  You have no direct access to staff except for information purposes. You cannot direct staff.

Bjorn's Blunders Bleed Taxpayers

Bjorn Skogquist stayed a little too long.

Many of his blunders are now blowing up.  The cost is being counted.

Anoka City Forum's Short List:

• $186,000 was written off for 302 Fremont. Thousands more were squandered in legal fees and lost staff time.

(302 being the one thing 302 neighbor Aaron Barr will be remembered for since arriving in Anoka in 2002.)

• $100,000 -Skogquist helps delay Riverspointe.
• $500,000 each year delaying condo project by city hall.
• $1,500,000 in embellishments for downtown ramp.

It's unfortunate the taxpayers money that's been lost can't be divided up and charged just to those citizens who voted to put Skogquist into office.

Don't forget quality of life:

• Expanded liquor hours, expanded policing costs.
• Habitat houses + fence on south Ferry instead of nice townhomes.
• Fractious partisan politics.
• A reputation as a dysfunctional city.

That's just the short list.

Good Olde Boy Bjorn

In Bjorn Skogquist's dysfunctional Anoka things often become arbitrary and capricious.  Compare Gould Jewelry and CVS, two projects proposed for 7th and Main.

One is now built: Gould Jewelry Store.

• The other one, a CVS store, is finally in the process of going forward.

Gould had a dream.  But family jewelry stores are going the way of the dinosaur. Witness Hoff and J. B. Hudson Jewelry stores.

• CVS had a market study.

Gould's project was granted changes in zoning and several variances.

• CVS, (SuperAmerica-site owned by local family, the Dehn's), could have gone ahead and built their project with no special dispensations (ie. variances, zoning changes, etc.).  They were stopped by a moratorium.

And today Gould has boulders strewn in the sidewalks (not in any approved site plan).  A backwards fence (illegal).  And the building is unfinished.

The Difference:

Gould hosted events for both of Mayor Bjorn Skogquist's non-profits.

• CVS and the Dehn family only had signatures of scores of mere Anoka residents.

There's never been a good old boy like Bjorn. 

McGowan's Reality Check Smeared

Mark McGowan brought a much needed reality check on very specific issues about Windego Park Society (WPS), Mayor Skogquist's pet project, run by his brother Erik Skogquist.

The meeting 6-16-08 was a new dysfunctional low even for Skogquist.

Finance, Lori Yager, seemed incompetent. She couldn't answer finance questions but attempted an engineering one. The city manager was invisible as usual.  Erik Skogquist did a lot of sideways dancing with one reckless thrust at the end.  Bjorn shamelessly assisted his brother and moderated his baby. And yet strangely abstained from actually voting.

Dr. Rusin made the most sense to many people when he voiced his disgust, "just kill the damn thing. This thing has to die. Move on."

Mark Freeburg had the clearest thinking and reasoned list. He characterized WPS as just another romantic, futile effort like Mayor Skogquist's scandalous loss of $186,000 on 302 Fremont.

Carl Anderson actually joined the mob and proved himself biased and ungracious growling, "just go home."

Council could have been at least courteous and thanked McGowan for the important issues he brought to their attention that have perhaps been overlooked.   Council basically received a free feasibility study.

Mr. Skogquist, the elder, couldn't find his gavel when his groupies (and Carl Anderson) were heckling and out of order.  And, in fact, as mayor he sincerely thanked that part of the audience for their outburst!

The heckling and then the deliberate libel/slander of McGowan at the very end by Mr. Skogquist, the younger, all seemed a little too coordinated.

One question is:  was the slander "due diligence" done months ago?  Or was it an attempt to dig dirt between the Planning meeting on the 3rd and the council meeting on the 16th to discredit a person?

It's the weakest, most desperate position:  Can't answer the issues?  Smear the man.

They say politics doesn't develop character.  Politics only reveals character.

Skogquist against Freedom of Speech

The "Anoka City Forum" inbox was abuzz with comments and disbelief over the mayor, Bjorn Skogquist, and his bartender Durkin's idea to pass a resolution against freedom of speech.

Some felt it was par for this course. Others were appalled someone would have the gall to even suggest government censorship in an American city hall.

It was at a meeting with no press, scant minutes, limited attendance - very "back room". It really got around though.

Someone pointed out that if Paul Pierce, Aaron Barr, Mike Gundlach or Dori Schumacher were on the council to back Mr. Skogquist up, it would probably be a done deal by now.

"We the city council pass a resolution against the public's freedom of speech on blogs."

That would be serious. As noted, "Blogs now represent the town square and digital democracy."

"No one is more despised by career politicians than someone who insists on telling the truth and can back it up with good files."

"Always easier to attack messengers than deal with issues." (That's why civilian commenters are not ID'ed on this forum.)

Update:    since this was posted the online open comments feature had to be closed.  Spam was getting too heavy, too time consuming and too weird.

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The position of visibility on opening night of the Car Show was staffed by none other than Mayor Skogquist. Third night was Skogquist political yes-man and Anoka newcomer, Mike Gundlach.

Finally, someone else commented on the irony and similarities of Durkin and Castro's Cuba.  Cuba recently expelled two journalists. Durkin was quoted almost verbatim: "they were just too negative and it was hurting business."

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Update:  And now Bjorn Skogquist wants to be a county commissioner.  Oh, Anoka-freedom-of-speech-lover, be afraid, be very afraid.

Unfortunate Legacy: Diminished Advisory Boards

One of the many unfortunate legacies of King Bjorn Skogquist's reign is the diminishment of Anoka's volunteer advisory boards.

2008 was the third year in the smaller room at Greenhaven.  It's called a Board Appreciation Dinner. It is meant to be a recogniton and honoring event of the many citizen volunteers of the city.

It was a bad omen, a few years ago in the largest room, Mayor Skogquist said in his opening remarks, "People have asked me, why do you bother with advisory boards?"

After that it went downhill. This year and last only two retiring board members came forward (one each year) for their service recognition. 2006 it was painfully obvious we were broken when Bjorn read 10-12 names and none of them were even there.  How sad.

2007 the King himself left immediately after opening remarks. Basically saying "Nuts-to-you" to the whole room. 

He handed the program to his manager instead of mayor pro tem Mark Freeburg. Once again indicating the rest of the council was irrelevant.  He and his manager were the ones running things.

I remember Mayor Beberg was especially proud of the high rate of agreement of the council and advisory board recommendations.

Skogquist's record is all over the place to say the least.  He will totally ignore unanimous recommendations.  Other times he backs down opposition by saying we have to do this because of a board's recommendation.  Arbitrary and capricious seems too mild a description.

One year a fund raiser at Skogquist's residence was posted as a meeting for the HRA.  He had basically taken over that advisory board with his appointments. He's been observed holding blatant meetings-after-the-meetings with a majority of that board.  Technically that's a violation of Open Meeting Law.  But Anoka's a frontier, just give it a shot politics, no rules.

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Background research indicated that city manager Tim Cruikshank had very little experience working with Advisory boards or even Department heads when he came to Anoka.

That helps explain why these two key groups goals were not even incorporated into council goals in 2007 like always had been done in the past.

That's another unfortunate thing and Anoka's loss.

Community Interventions

The experts recommend:  "Pay attention to how council members are acting and progressing at meetings, use your vote to eliminate dysfunction and get involved in citizen groups to keep tabs on your council."

"There has got to be a group of citizens that are able to identify when things are starting to go to pot in their government and somehow put the focus on that."

Mike Gundlach's Prior Lake had 60 people attend their first meeting of Citizens for Ethical Government. The name of the group tells Prior Lake's story. Gundlach (recent migrant to the anoka political scene) was apparently a political ally, a lieutenant for Prior Lake's dysfunctional mayor. The machine boss era used the unflattering, but descriptive, "thug ugly".

Roseville fought their extreme dysfunction with an impressive website, much community activity and ongoing monitoring. Roseville Citizen's League at www.rosevillecl.org/  Formerly known as the Roseville Citizens Council for Fair and Open government.

Maplewood has just organized at www.maplewoodcitizensleague.com to challenge and change their dysfunctional dynamics.

They also have www.maplewoodmn.blogspot.com/ . Self described as "verbal cartoons about Maplewood city politics." This is a brilliant LOL (laugh out loud) read. It contains eerie similarities to Anoka's mess.

Historically, America had the Good Government Clubs (Goo Goos) that fought the corruption of the Boss era and brought reforms.

Help!

Special State legislation was introduced to break the impasse over Anoka's HRA.  Www.anokacountywatchdog.com noted "it is quite unusual for local, special legislation to be passed this way."  He's right.  It is quite unusual.

It is also quite unusual for Anoka's mayor to go on an independent and unauthorized lobbying trip to the State Capitol on this issue.

It is outrageous that he pinched official City of Anoka letterhead to use on his little field trip.

_______________   ________________    _____________

What's going on is that Anoka is dealing with an out-of-control political adolescent. It apparently was felt that we needed outside intervention: "Help! Bjorn's being unreasonable again and we can't do a thing with him".

Lord knows the City Fathers gave it their best shot:

Father Weaver had him in his office for a long chat.

Father Rice even took him to dinner.

Father Freeburg held the big stick. . .threatening "we'll make your game field smaller and reduce the HRA back to normal". (He's still got a 3-2 majority of appointments).

Grandfather Anderson left it all to the younger ones to discipline the kid, much like real family dynamics. Grandpas are for fun, not for discipline.

The City Fathers got nowhere in four months, except more bad press airing our dirty dysfunctional laundry.

So, what's left but appeal to the State Fathers. . . We need help controlling this kid.

It used to take a Village to raise the fatherless boys, now apparently it takes a State.

Grampa Sam

Follow-up: The Anoka City Council regular meeting website agenda May 7th lists: RESOLUTION/ Supporting HRA Appointment Process Legislation. If this passes, the mayor is required to sign it (pg 112 of 128 of electronic packet). www.ci.anoka.mn.us.

Follow-up: It passes, but he refuses to sign it.  So he is now refusing to do his job. . . does that mean he'll be wandering off soon?

Electronic packet comment: It's odd but revealing that Speakman's letter of resignation from the HRA is to the mayor and copies Gundlach and not staff.

This supports the erroneous dynamic of "King Bjorn" Rich Goldman first coined, the fallacy that "the mayor runs the city". (Speakman's father was Corriveau's AA sponsor and Corriveau, of course, was a Skogquist/Gundlach "constituent" and supporter.)

Always Late- Big Deal

Follow-up to "Political Theater-Always Late" post . . .Regarding Bjorn Skogquist being chronically late (42 of 52 mtgs were called to order late), the following report was submitted:

Being chronically late is a big deal. According to employment experts chronic lateness can be a serious behavior disorder. It is damaging to a person's relationships, personal and work life. Struggles with chronic procrastination often accompany the chronically late. Self esteem issues grow from there.

The chronically late are perceived by others to be poor planners, undependable and inconsiderate.  It is generally unacceptable in every walk of life.

The experts note many reasons:  job dissatisfaction, resentment over salary and lax or no policy.  These people often want extra attention or need to be in control.

Tardy types also may be motivated by:

The adrenaline rush: "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date."

An ego boost: "I have so many important things to do. . ."

Perceived thrill of snubbing rules. (Nuts to them again). They have difficulty conforming to rules and structure.

Experts conclude:  Punctuality is a life skill of healthy, mature, productive people.

Chronic lateness exists only where tolerated by others.

Chronic lateness especially thrives and goes unchallenged in dysfuntional environments.

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What does that say about Anoka. . .

Hypocritical?

"Vote not for mortgage officers".  Candidate Bjorn Skogquist said that in 2004.

In 2006 Skogquist's running mate, Aaron Barr, was "vice president of mortgage".

Nothing hypocritical about that whatsoever. If you are that most hated/mistrusted of all the species: a professional politician.

"I seen my opportunities and I took em." Tammany Hall Boss. Nothing personal, no hard feelings.  Feelings have no place in politics, the way I plays em.   King Bjorn says so.

Never mind that Anoka, by it's founding document/charter states that Anoka shall have nonpartisan government.

Barr understood he was on a side with his talk of "crossing the aisle". (We're a five person council!) But Skogquist has, in fact, established a political party of sorts. Complete with political action groups: like Anoka Neighborhood for example and now Rivertown.

Brought out as needed for rabble rousing, mass bullying and unofficial candidate forums. Silent until needed.

Applicants to advisory boards must pass party loyalty tests or they are out. Like Bonthuis.  In the end she must have been a free thinker.

No room for freethinkers in King Byorn's vision of Anoka.

The real concern is whether he is an anomaly or the first of a new wave. How big of a problem do we have?

Legal Troubles

A common eventuality in the dysfunctional city is the emergence of various legal troubles.

Mike Gundlach's participation in Open Meeting Violation in Prior Lake was ruled to be so by the MN Supreme Court. Last month in Anoka's local paper a council member mentioned open meeting violations in Gundlach's Anoka HRA.    Old dog, old tricks? 

Reading the records on the Prior Lake case, one got the impression that the violation they got him on was just the best, most obvious to prosecute.

Mike Gundlach is the import from Prior Lake who landed on our HRA less than four months after hitting town. He went on to have his campaign literature for city council delivered tucked in with Skogquists in the fall of 2004. Of course his campaign signs were on the same properties, heavy on rental, with Skogquist. So much for non-partisan local govt. . .

Can a four month resident be expected to know Anoka's housing particulars? No, of course not, but he met the main criteria set by King Byorn: someone who will do what he is told.

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Anoka's mayor, Bjorn Skogquist, along with his first two sidekicks (Paul Pierce and Dori Schumacher) were investigated by the county attorney for campaign violations. The mayor gave this intriguing public statement: "The county attorney dropped it on my behalf."

That's a future research project. It would have been so much more comforting if he'd said something like, "It was thoroughly investigated and no wrong doing, yada, yada."  But he said, "The county attorney dropped it on my behalf."

The local Anoka paper has a policy to report on campaign fraud and violations.

But if they did so, we missed it.

Double Speak

"His ideas were half-baked and inedible". . .or were they?

Early in Baron Bjorn's reign (Mayor Bjorn Skogquist) the Union reported he said, "Anoka has to seriously consider establishing an EDA (Economic Development Authority) to compete with other communities like Blaine, which has successfully negotiated and landed several large developments because of their EDA."

Fact:  Blaine is 34 square miles with 1/3 available for development.  Eleven square miles is available for development.  Fact: Anoka is a total of 7 square miles. Fact: Anoka will never compete with Blaine.

In the same meeting - different manipulations: expanding the HRA from 5 to 7 with his appointments -Skogquist said, "Anoka had very little land left for development. . .approx. 1%".

What is the meaning of this double speak?  Was he really so ignorant or was he power grabbing?

If EDA had replaced EDC, Skogquist could have pulled additional salary and re-appointed all slots.  He stacked his deck further on the HRA, which also has significant monies and levy power.

Imported trouble

John Kysylyczyn, former mayor of Roseville, was back in town.  There was a John K. sighting at the Anoka City Council meeting February 20, 2007.  He and an unidentified cohort stayed for a meeting-after-the-meeting at 12:30 am with Mayor Bjorn Skogquist.

Anoka has not been without outside assistance in layering in dysfunctional attitudes and dynamics. There is Mike Gundlach from Prior Lake (that's another story).  And for the last six years there has been John Kysylyczyn (John K.) from Roseville.

As recently as December 15, 2006 the Tribune was reviewing his time as mayor (2000-2004):

"His term had been marked by lengthy meetings, battles over procedure, personal bickering, unexplained absences and quibbles with the city manager."

John comes off as very nice and personable at first; he's a Boy Scout at-large after all. However, researcher #7 gave this report: after 15 minutes she had to excuse herself as his language continued too colorful for a lady to forbear.  To his mother's credit, perhaps, he did blush mightily.

John K.'s time in Roseville was marked by ethics complaints and calls for his resignation.

Deer in Headlights

One common occurrence as a city sinks into dysfunction is that the "disease" becomes systemic. It affects the whole "family".

City staff hires become about "a good fit" rather than the most qualified professional.  They fit the dysfunctional dynamics. There are abrubt resignations and unfair firings. Healthy people leave. Functions often become fragmented and less efficient. The big picture of the city suffers neglect.

Advisory board appointments become about who  "will do what they are told".  Recruits that best fit that criteria are the newest residents.  They know the least about the city and can be told whatever. They know few people outside the machine/clique to balance or challenge the information they are being fed.

However, it becomes a great disadvantage to only know what you have been told.  Sooner rather than later you will be playing the fool. When the coach/choir director is not there with the cues, you're flying blind.  Sooner rather than later you will display your ignorance.

Just such a thing happened at the HRA meeting 2-12-07. Bjorn's boys: Joe Garrick, Aaron Barr and Mike Gundlach were stumbling over themselves on the fire suppression program details. . .they looked like deer in headlights. None of them had a basic working knowledge of Anoka's relatively small downtown. Nor had any of them studied the packet unto comprehension.

Duck and Cover

The 2-2-07 Union article was indefinite as to who exactly is dysfunctional.  Clearly, the people in charge who have been there for the past six years are the mayor and his assistant, the city manager.

The buck really has to stop with these two.

They are the architects of Anoka's dysfunction. Everyone else on the council is just too new. Freeburg has been on longer, but the dysfunction dates back to this current mayor and his manager, not to previous councils.

What really affects the health of a city, it's bond rating and reputation are governance and management. One of these alone going south is surmountable, but both?

It's kindof amusing to see the dysfunctional Mayor/Manager team dodging and bobbing so the buck of dysfunction isn't laid squarely at their feet.

The only thing left to bet on is who will pull a double cross first?

-Tough Henry.

Dysfunction test #1

The Tribune story naming Anoka as a dysfunctional city noted one of the root causes was "not understanding how local government works."  See how you do on the Scenario test:

Mr. X, a known 'predatory landlord', storms into city hall demanding special treatment (and threatens to get the building official fired) because he (Mr. X) bought the council.

Which of the following would you prefer your city manager do:

     A.  Call together an emergency meeting of all available staff to attempt to appease Mr. X.

     B.  Call the police or a county investigator to get a statement from Mr. X on how exactly he 'bought the council'.

     C.  Show Mr. X the door.

The answer, of course, depends on what you expect of a city manager:

      1. Uphold the charter according to city manager job description.

      2. Government by special favors, arbitrary and capricious actions and decisions.