Commissioners have debated whether or not to give local trades workers a chance to work on 1 percent tax projects for 17 months. That’s time and money poorly spent. The fact the debate happened begs the question: Is the county board on the take? Are they willing to open their personal assets to an audit?
Why else would they not hire locals first and always — who did they ask to vote for them? Who pays local taxes? Who pays their salary? Who do they represent?
As commissioners contemplate having only 20 percent of the workforce on 1 percent projects be local, they should realize 20 percent is a number voters can work with.
As Commissioner Fenwick found out, 20 percent won’t get you re-elected! Commissioners Johnson and Sobanja are up for re-election next year. We need to find candidates who support local workers first and always.
District 3 voters are on the grumble. Commissioner Hakes’ supporters say they voted for change but got more of the same. During the campaign 1 percent projects were the main topic on the plates of the commissioners. Although District 3 voted Fenwick out of office it didn’t take long for his replacement to nominate him to the 1 percent tax steering committee.
We watched the city council pull this crap four years ago when voters ousted Mayor Sandbo. They put him on the EDA. Although he has lost two elections his politics are still shoved down the voters’ throats and pocketbooks. It’s the “good ol’ boys club” and it’s wrong!
It appears Commissioner Hakes shed her moral fiber she’s told us of to join the club! Her position on wasteful spending also took a back seat as she unsuccessfully fought to compensate the steering committee. Commissioner Hakes, why don’t we see your name in the headlines fighting for using local workers first and always? You talked the talk during the election, now start walking the walk!
I look to the county board for a leader. I find followers who lost their leader, so they put him back in the game!
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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