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The Victoria

GAZETTE

City Scoop Continued

         Met Councilman Peterson:  “I too have asked the question, what can we do to get rid of this?  I would like the Met Council to have data in front of them.  We can’t just rewind and get the attorneys and insurance companies out of there.  That is my interpretation of what we can and can’t do.  I don’t know if they’d continue to represent us.  The lawyers aren’t any further now than they were a month ago.”

         Victoria Councilmember Roden:  “Ty-pically the policy makers direct the lawyers.  I don’t think your answer is adequate.  I suggest you step back and see if there’s a common sense solution.  You as policy makers have a right to do that.”

         Met Councilmember Peterson:  “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Do we write the check out and forego the insurance company?”

         Rep. Kohls: “We need to make the  Metropolican Council responsible for its projects.  The homeowner had no part in causing the major damage whatsoever.  Let’s fix the home and then have the lawyers and insurance companies work it out.  I would love to get this situation fixed.  It got left with the person holding the bag who shouldn’t be holding the bag.”

         Victoria Councilman Amundsen:  “The State can streamline the process when it wants to.  Look at the 35W Bridge.  It’s only in a catastrophic situation that the system seems to work.  Is there any hope to streamline the process at the State level?”

         Rep. Kohls:  “I would say yes.  I continue to advocate for doing things differently.  These are things the Legislature should do and things the Legislature can do.”

         Senator Ortman: “We’ve talked about this before.  We need more citizen involvement to hold the government accountable.  I’ve come to ask you for help.  How do you help me to change the dialogue at the Capitol?  Which layer of government are you going to eliminate?  Do you think anybody will say they don’t need to exist?  The Legislature isn’t going to respond to just the City of Victoria.  You can be the leader and get a group of cities together.”

       #8) The Metropolitan Council is appointed by the Governor and subject to oversight by the Legislative Commission on Metropolitan Government.  How does this structure ensure that the Metropolitan Council is responsive to the needs of the people they serve and held accountable by the cities in which they operate?  What can the City of Victoria do when the Metropolitan Council staff or officials are not responsive?

         Senator Ortman: “There has to be a broader base of knowledge among the legislators.  There is a lack of education among legislators and citizens about what the Metropolitan Council does.  I’d love to help build legislation to help with that.

         “We have so many commissions at the Capitol.  I think that’s a big problem, to have other people do the work and we just follow the recommendations.  You could build a very strong support for a coalition of cities.”

         Rep. Kohls: “The State is going to have another big budget deficit, which means cities end up with more to do on their own.  I believe the big problem with the Met Council is that their positions are appointed and not elected.”

       #9) How do we better partner as a City with both the Metropolitcan Council and our State Representatives?  What do we need to do from our perspective to be sure that our priorities are being acted on?

         Met Councilman Peterson: “Have more conversations like this.  The relevance of communication is relevant whether you’re elected or appointed.  We need help.  I need help.  One person can’t do it.”

         Rep. Kohls:  “I would concur.  It’s an ongoing battle.  We are all very very busy.  Shame on all of us for not communicating more regularly.  So let’s continue to have more communicating, formal or otherwise.”

         Senator Ortman: “Make a safe way for legislators to take controversial votes to change things.  I’d help you with that.  Start now, in October, to form a coalition to create a safe environment for real change.”

         Victoria Councilman O’Connor: “Do the 16 members of the Metropolitan Council know of our frustration?”

         Met Councilman Peterson:  “It’s significantly less than what it was 5 to 8 years ago.  I’m hearing the exact opposite from some communities.”

         Mayor Thun: “I’m pleased to hear that Representative Kohls and Senator Ortman are not in favor of levy limits.  We know it’s our challenge to operate with minimal dollars.  We would like to meet with you more often.”

 

Click here for the conclusion of this dialogue.

Sue’s Album

A symphony of photos

and fewer than a thousand words

at www.VictoriaGazette.com

November 2009