Jordan Independent - What do the candidates for mayor stand for? - Comments

The agendas could be posted

swansonmej — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:19:06 -0500

The agendas could be posted ahead of time so that we know what is due to be discussed before the meeting begins.

We need more timely information. The newspaper simply gives
excerpts of what is discussed.

If I am not mistaken the

Ray Sandey — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:06:17 -0500

If I am not mistaken the minutes are not posted until they are approved. The minutes for the September meetings would have been approved last night and so they should be posted soon.

I do have cable & would have

westender73 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:53:34 -0500

I do have cable & would have to say that a lot of times trying to view the city council meetings, the audio & visual is so bad you can't tell what the heck is going on. I also just checked the city's website using the link elkes4 gave & sure enough the lastest council minutes are from August 18th! So much for the city keeping the community informed. I guess if you want to know what they're doing, you'll HAVE to go to the meetings.

I don't get cable so I can't

swansonmej — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:32:50 -0500

I don't get cable so I can't watch the council meetings that way. If
I know what is to be discussed and if it is of interest to me, I
will attend.

I have been to quite a few

swansonmej — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:31:40 -0500

I have been to quite a few council meetings when I knew that
the 282/21 issue was being discussed. I was there when they presented 3 options for the reconstruction but when the options
were presented to the public at the "town meeting", there were
only 2 options given. I asked at that meeting what happened to
option #3, which was to work within the current space. No answer
was given as to why #3 was dropped.

If you check the city website for agendas and minutes, they are
weeks/months behind posting them. The last agenda posted was
August 18th. The last minutes posted are from August 4th. How am
I to get accurate information from this?

I am an interested citizen who is frustrated at the lack of
communication (via website, Jordan Independent, or how about
a direct mailing to the residents and surrounding area?).

Discussion regarding the

Thom Boncher — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:09:33 -0500

Discussion regarding the water and sewer assessment roster for the 282/21 project was tabled last night. There will be another meeting on Monday, Oct 13th, in the city council chambers. Please note that the meeting is scheduled to start at SIX PM - not the usual 6:30.

Also, although the meeting is primarily about the assessment roster, it's not limited to homeowners who are on the roster. Anyone can (and should) attend.

Many people have told me that they watch the council meetings on cable TV. It's good that they do, but TV viewers should remember that while they and see the council, the council can't see them. TV is a one-way communication medium. Being at the meetings is the best way to show the council the depth of your interest.

Sorry, I did not mean to

elkes4 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:49:18 -0500

Sorry, I did not mean to offend you or lessen your conviction. If you are unable to attend the council meetings they have the minutes posted on the City website. It goes back for the past two years and is in .pdf format. It will give you and anyone seeking information a good insight to the happenings of the council and mayor, as well as other offices relating to the city. There is also a meeting scheduled for this evening at 6:30 I am uncertain if the link will be usable from the blog site if not go to jordan.govoffice.com and go through the menu. Thank you for at caring about your community.

http://www.jordan.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={203B04EA-97F7-465F-81A4-B5BE250891F2}&DE={84D24F4B-7CDF-4150-A0C0-062589E8B678}

You talk of lack of

Johnnie14 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:53:41 -0500

You talk of lack of comunication, I ask, how many city council meetings have you been to? Citizens have an obligation to also take steps to be informed, like attending meetings and reading meeting minutes from the city website. I don't expect Mark Buesgens or Claire Robling or Mayor Jabs to come to my front door and tell me everything they are doing, as an interested citizen I go to the State House and State Senate website. I just get frustrated when you hear of people talking of a lack of communication yet few apply for openings on commissions and even fewer attend meetings. I've been reading these blogs and it's amazing how much retoric and how few concrete facts are on them. Of course the national election is more of this same ilk. I want real examples, not just words like comminication, change, lower taxes, more business blah blah blah. We all want that stuff, what I want is a real example of how any of those running plan to change things and make them better. Saying I'm not going to spend money is not a good enough answer for me.

Hiding deceptively behind a

elkes4 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:30:22 -0500

Hiding deceptively behind a façade is misleading. Being open and honest is the best way to gain the public trust. Just something to think about Johnie14

The Town Hall meeting was

swansonmej — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:17:33 -0500

The Town Hall meeting was not advertised as informational only. Expectations were not set before all of us attended the meeting. Poor communication on the part of the city. There were police
officers standing at the door. This is not the setting of an
information only presentation.

The issue is emotional because our elected officials and city staff are not listening to the people that they represent & work for. People have gotten confrontational because of the frustration
with the lack of clear communication and understanding by the
city leaders.

I want city leaders that will listen to the constituents.

That intersection can be updated without being expanded. The
integrity of the church's foundation should be of concern because
it is a landmark. Pavement will come and go but the beauty and
character of a 100 year old building should be preserved.

It would be a huge mistake

Johnnie14 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:15:01 -0500

It would be a huge mistake not to re-elect Ron Jabs www.mayorjabs.com. The sheer amount of experience and relationships he has would be a large loss, and would be felt. His leadership has saved the city untold thousands of dollars by both shrewd planning as well as cross agency planning and cost sharing.

Once again you're distorting

Johnnie14 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:07:01 -0500

Once again you're distorting the truth. The 282/21 meeting was always set up to be informational only, not a one for negotiotions. Discussions had been held between the different agencies and the church leaders (and those who appointed themselves church leaders) for months before that presentation. In fact, the previous priest new about it long before any objection was raised. The street needs to come out because the plumbing underneath is 80+ years old, and MNDOT is going to give us $500,000 to upgrade the intersection (which by the way is a state highway and not under the cities control). This whole thing has just blown way out of control, to emmotional on both sides. I personally love Jordan and believe it is very well managed, the current city staff is great. I'm just nervous about electing someone who is so confrontational, that's definantely no good for the city, or its tax payers.

I got an invitation to

Thom Boncher — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:51:44 -0500

I got an invitation to participate in the Candidate Forum, and I'll be there. Many thanks to the Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce for providing this valuable service.

Meanwhile, those who want to know more about my candidacy can get info at

www.boncherforcouncil.com

See you at the forum?

As mentioned by Terri Knox

Ray Sandey — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:28:46 -0500

As mentioned by Terri Knox in a previous post The Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Candidate Forum at the JHS Auditorium on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 beginning at 7 PM.

Invitations have been sent to all registered candidates for Mayor and City Council.

The event will be moderated by Rick Ford, a Chaska Businessman and past president of the Chaska Chamber of Commerce. Rick has moderated many forums on behalf of the League of Women Voters.

Please mark this date on your calendars. It would be great to see a large turnout. Tell your neighbors.

I have listened to many of

elkes4 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:04:07 -0500

I have listened to many of the issues that the people (myself included) have on the lack of communication. I am a strong advocate for increased communication and believe it is needed. I am for the citizens of Jordan and would press for a more community with less condescension. I have more information contained in my blog. Please feel free to come to the Candidate Forum and All three candidates should be there. Dan Elke

What do the candidates for mayor stand for?

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:51:03 -0500

With three people running for mayor.I like to know how they feel about taxes,unneeded spending and up coming prodjects. I would like to see city leaders who are honest and up front with the people, instead of hiding things from people. Leaders who will talk with people,not down at them, leaders who remind city staff that they work for the people and got against the people. I see need for change in the way things are done in this city. I hope we end up with a group of leaders who look out for the people instead of themselves.