Future of Vermilion Meeting 12/15/04?

[vermilionlocal]

Ace you posted under a different subject that there will be a meeting Wednesday the 15th at 6:00 pm concerning the Three Bays Project USSteel has in the works. (See Major Development slated for Vermilion topic) Could you please inform us all where this meeting will be taking place? I would second your thoughts on this being a MUST attend for anyone who has an interest in Vermilion regardless of where on the lake. A project like this will open the doors for future concentrated developments on both the East and West ends. As this issue has developed I have been e-mailing my county commissioner but have yet to recieve a response!! Has anyone else experience this? If so lets show up Wednesday and voice our opinions. Hope to see you there. Thanks for all the info on this Ace.

[guideman]

Hi Vermilionlocal,

This meeting will be held at the Tower Civic center on main street in Tower (next to the fire station). I am pleading to anyone concerned about the lake to be there to voice your concerns for all to hear.

Over the weekend I inlisted the Minnesota Muskie Alliance to join our cause. They will be writting a letter in support of futher studies to protect the fisheries of Lake Vermilion. At this meeting I also talked with representitives of the DNR to get their help in how to go about this. They had some experiences, very similar to what we are up against, in the Brainerd area. They were able to limit the number of shoreline lots and eliminate all of the second tier development. This battle can be won, despite what you may have heard from the naysayers and people in local government.

I have also had problems getting replies from the county commissioners, however we need to continue to contact them and voice our concerns. Afterall this is America and "We the people" still have a say in how things are done. The one organization I have had the most trouble getting any answers from is the Sportsmens Club of Lake Vermilion. Shouldn't they be the ones looking out for the lakes best interest? That's the line they have been trying to feed me for many years however as they have in the past, when they need to take a stand on what I think is an important issue, they are nowhere to be found. If your a member of the SCLV go to the meetings and demand some action. You can find the board members numbers on lakevermilion.com just go to the link to the club and you'll find them.

One problem with the SCLV, is that one of it's board members is also on the county planing board so the words "conflict of interest" come to mind.

We need everyone to speak up on this to get the attention of the people that make the decissions in St.Louis county. Commissioner "Fink" is also a member of the planning board and he is "bending over" backwards to push this plan through. Make him one of your most important contacts, even if he doesn't reply. Remind him that his job is an elected positon and you will remember him, come election day.

"Ace"

[vermilionlocal]

Thanks for the information. I'm putting it on my calender right now!! I also read in the paper today that the township is considering legal action to enact their own zone guidelines. It will be discussed today at the board meeting after discussions with lawyers. As you mentioned defeating this thing is possible we just need masses to do what they can to contact those making decisions. We need the kind of numbers I see around town on the big summer weekends!! Hundreds of people obviously enjoy Vermilion. Now lets protect it!!

[Parker]

Great post Ace. Thanks for the information. We all appreciate the work you are doing on this.

I am usually a supporter of the SCLV. I am very curious to hear its opinion on this matter, however it does not look like the next newsletter will be out until next Feb/March.

I pulled the election results from the last 2 elections. Hopefully they will show on this page as they show on the county’s web site. Please note how close Fink was to losing the last 2 races. Its not like he’s been winning by huge margins.

All of the commissioners need to know they are accountable for their actions, even if it is 2-4 years from now. If they jam this down our throats they need to be aware there will be repercussions during the next election.

2004 Election Results

Selected Races for Saint Louis County

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan DENNIS E. FINK 7906 52.67

Nonpartisan CHARLOTTE VANVACTOR 6997 46.62

Write-In WRITE-IN** 107 0.71

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan "FAY" JOANNE FAY 8128 48.90

Nonpartisan STEVE O'NEIL 8437 50.76

Write-In WRITE-IN** 57 0.34

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan BILL KRON 13375 98.89

Write-In WRITE-IN** 150 1.11

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan BRIAN LANDSTROM 6263 37.99

Nonpartisan PEG SWEENEY 10109 61.31

Write-In WRITE-IN** 116 0.70

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 6 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan KEITH NELSON 10071 65.18

Nonpartisan PAUL PLESHA 5349 34.62

Write-In WRITE-IN** 31 0.20

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 7 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan GARY COLLYARD 3993 26.96

Nonpartisan STEVE RAUKAR 10794 72.87

Write-In WRITE-IN** 26 0.18

2002 Election Results

Selected Races for Saint Louis County

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan DENNIS E. FINK 6246 55.31

Nonpartisan KIMBERLY (KIM) MCKAY 4968 43.99

Write-In WRITE-IN (TOTAL) 79 0.70

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan JOANNE FAY 6484 56.97

Nonpartisan KRISTINE OSBAKKEN 4818 42.33

Write-In WRITE-IN (TOTAL) 79 0.69

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan BILL OJALA 5310 38.36

Nonpartisan MIKE FORSMAN 8479 61.25

Write-In WRITE-IN (TOTAL) 54 0.39

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan PEG SWEENEY 7219 54.71

Nonpartisan KAY KNIGHT 5938 45.00

Write-In WRITE-IN (TOTAL) 39 0.30

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 6 Totals Pct Graph

Nonpartisan KEITH NELSON 6972 50.90

Nonpartisan PAUL PLESHA 6672 48.71

Write-In WRITE-IN (TOTAL) 53 0.39

Someone more familiar with St. Louis County politics needs to explain something to me. These commissioners are supposed to serve staggering 4 year terms, yet most have been up for election or re-election twice within the last 4 years. What gives? In my opinion, most of our focus should be on the commissioners who will be up for re-election in 2006.

I know I’ve already written a book here, but I cannot attend the meeting on the 15th. I want someone to ask a question for me. I still have not heard a valid explanation as to why the commission is willing to allow a development that does not meet the requirements of the Tower/Breitung Comprehensive plan, which the board approved less than two years ago. Is the comprehensive plan even relevant anymore?

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I'll be there also!

[Captain Ken]

Ace

Can't come up, under subpoena to testify as an expert in Court tomorrow, but wish I could. If I do, the Sheriff will find me at some point

My analysis of the data above is that Fink and Fay are LOSING popularity big time. They won by pretty small margins in 2004. If someone wanted to run against them next time they could win if they work hard, have a good platform and get the word out. Think about this: All the non-locals are not voters. So, when the current commissioners fail to respond to either the letters from the residents or fail to vote in the best interests of the area on new stuff, they make themselves more and more vulnerable. Most elected officials could give a hoot less what NON-RESIDENTS think cause they can't vote for them, but if the residents who could vote you in or out talk, then many of them pay close attention. Not sure if your commissioners get any pay or benefits (other than power - whose reinforcing value should NOT be underestimated), but you may want to analyze that and remind them that less than 50% of votes next time around = loss of reinforcements. Further, incumbents get what I call "incumbentitis" and they think their good name and wonderful decsions will carry them in the next election, and then they don't work hard to get reelected and LOSE.

[HansB]

Quote:

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One problem with the SCLV, is that one of it's board members is also on the county planing board so the words "conflict of interest" come to mind.

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It would seem to me that SCLV, a group formed to protect the lake, would like to have SEVERAL members on the county planning board! "Conflict of interest"?????

[guideman]

If that person has a long voting record in favor of all types of development then yes Hans, I'd call that a conflict of interest. It's obvious to me that your impression is that the SC can do no wrong on any issue. This isn't a Loon count this is a major issue for anyone that enjoys the Big V and they are the largest voice on the lake. Don't you think they should take a stand, one way or the other? I thought that was what a Sportsmens club was all about, addressing the issues that concern Sportsmen, and their members not just the whims of a few individules. This is the largest development ever proposed for Lake Vermilion and yet the SCLV remains silent. As a member, I would think that would cause you some concern, but then on the other hand, maybe you don't care either.

"Ace"

[HansB]

Gee, Ace, I asked a straight forward question. You turn it into a lecture, and allusions to whether I care about the lake or not. Not sure why you're always so testy with me, but I guess I can handle it.

Have a merry Christmas and chill out.