02-24-1986 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 2-24-36 That is political double-talk ) which freely translated meals that Bill Sime had the audacity to solicit public participation during the excessive increase in our real estate taxes, during the debate over replacing the Hennepin County Assessor with a local assessor, and during the debates over assessing up to 50% of the Crystal Bay sewer project to all of the residents of Orono instead of just the benefitted property owners as had always been done historically. And, as one public official lout it, "Bill Sime did that without Council approval." Vhen r said I strongly felt that no one should serve on the City Council who does not enccurage public input continually, the Council member I was talking to replied,"If you feel that way, perhaps it is utter that you are not on the Planning Commission." While,publicly, each member of the Council will say they have an "open" Council and wplfrnmP r-1,hl it irli%tit, T nllest 4n., ti,�r actions don't show that. I have been threatened by more than one City Official because of my activities stimulating citizen participation and citizen involvement on important City issues. Items have been suddenly removed from the meeting agendas in fear of public participation. And I have not been reappointed to the Planning Commission --not because I didn't do the job properly, but because I am openly on the "team" of the residents of Orono, instead of on the "official team" which will make decisions for the masses without interference. As one council member put it to me early on, "Our Council does not want a bunch cf irate citizens who are ignorant of the issues, to attend our meetings." I have also served for the least three and a half years as a member of the Capital budgeting Task Forces An adviscry body of 10 volunteer citizens who review pre os- i c-:iE i + al r :. pf,nditure requests by every department of Hennepin County and make recommendations to tl._4 P:-_ar of Hennepin County Commissioners for their annual buduPt. I was awarded their CITATION C)F HONOR in resolution d5- 12-868 dat December 30, 1985. A fine letter accompanier4 tt:e sonar 3 expressir, tl,e :1e&,,,vp.Ln Cuunc.y ;:commissioners "appreciation for services an<< counsel to Hennepin County". Several members of the CdTF sent me flattering letters regarding my contributions, and the Chairman of the CSTF commended me in his letter for "looking out for the interests of the Hennepin County taxpayer." Yes, we had some degree of success cutti.zq taxes at the County level. I also feel my efforts on behalf of the residents of Orono have been partially responsible in saving our "Crucified Taxpayers" hundreds of thousands of dollars. Isn't it a shame that my rt,ward for championing the tights of the citizens of Orono for the past four years, fighting to reduce their taxes, is to he droppe-1 from the Planning Commission ? Isn't it a trauedy that some of our elfrcte.'. officials are Opposed to citizen Earticipation ant] citizen invclvement -- except by invitation??