County Commission

Good thing the county had an opt-out, otherwise there would be no raises for the part-time commissioners

Am I the only one that catches the Minnehaha County Commissioners in constant contradictions?

Signaling Minnehaha County’s emergence from several years of budget austerity, county commissioners voted themselves a pay raise Wednesday.

The county has turned the corner on a period of “economic dire straits,” according to Commissioner John Pekas.

Okay, so just a few months ago we had to have an opt-out because of the increasing number of prosecutions, but now all of a sudden we have ‘turned a corner.’ Huh? Is Mayor Huether running the county commission also?

Let’s just overcharge you on property taxes so we don’t create more work for ourselves

“You mean we will have to talk about the budget next year to? This job sucks!” (Image: KELO-TV screenshot);

And $4 million sets the limit of how much the county can collect, but that does not mean the Commission will need that much.  Commissioner Cindy Heiberger thought it was better to aim high.

“This is a beginning.  If we opt-out for $1 million this year, are we going to be back in the same room next year doing the exact same thing?” Heiberger said.  “I just feel like if we opt-out for a lower amount, we’re going to turn around and be back here in a few years saying we’re just squeaking by.”

Cindy, I have news for you, you are an elected official – it is your job 1) to look out for the best interest of the taxpayers and 2) to work for us. You act like revisiting the budget next year would just be ‘too pesky’ for you. Please tell us why you wanted to be a public servant?

We experienced the same crap with the city and water rates, let’s just overcharge, then if we realize it is too much, we can simmer it down a bit.

Huh!?

Oh, and then there is this nice little tidbit;

During the 1.5 hour discussion, they opened up the meeting for public comment from taxpayers.  However no one voiced any concerns about paying higher property taxes.

Gee, McFly, I wonder why? Because most of those taxpayers are working during the time of your meeting.


 

Seems the County Commission had a change of heart

I have a feeling it had little to do with the coaxing of State’s Attorney Aaron McGowan;

Two weeks ago, members spoke out against accepting a federal grant that would have paid for a special DUI prosecutor. It’s a position that would handle strictly the growing case load in the county. But Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously in favor of it.

I have a feeling commissioners received many angry calls and emails for not approving this position the first time around. Like I said before, we pay Federal taxes, if the Feds are giving us money to improve our community, we take it. Because if we don’t someone else will.

It’s about freaking time! A real progressive is running for office in Minnehaha County!

I couldn’t be more elated after reading this in the Gargoyle Leader, and I have to admit, I feel a bit ignorant that I didn’t know about this ahead of time;

Minnehaha County Commissioner Jeff Barth and fellow county commission candidates Mark Rogen and Reynold Nesiba will be the featured speakers at the Minnehaha County Democratic Forum at noon today at the VFW, 3601 S. Minnesota Ave.

Nesiba is an associate professor of economics at Augustana College. In 2006, he led the successful petition drive and campaign to limit the use of the state airplane fleet to state business.

Reynold has also been a driving force in trying to rid the state of the unfair food tax. As an economist, he understands the devastating effect it has on the poor.

I don’t know him personally, but have had a couple of intriguing convos with him. I have NEVER heard a bad word spoken about the man, on either side of the aisle and his friends and colleagues only praise him. We would be blessed to have someone like this on the County Commission.