After reading several recent articles in the local newspapers, I was wondering just how “independent” a report do you think you’re going to get from the contracted “Nationally Recognized Independent Golf Course Consultant”?
In the July 9, 2011 Cook County News-Herald, Mark Sandbo states “he’s met with Sirius three times.” As I’m sure you remember, this is the same individual, along with several others, who consumed so much of the commissioners’ time less than a year ago with many “plans” involving “The Friends of Superior National’s” multiple attempts to wrest control of future monies destined for the golf course via the newly instituted 1 percent tax. These “Friends” were coming up with new “plans” practically weekly until stopped dead in their tracks walking up to the commissioners with yet another plan at a commissioners’ meeting in September 2010.
At that meeting the commissioners decided that an “independent golf course consultant” would be sought out, no more “plans” would be accepted from Sandbo or his “Friends.” Since that meeting Sandbo’s “Friends of Superior National” has morphed into “The Golf Course Committee,” an advisory branch of the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA). One of the committee’s first pieces of advice was to hire a golf course manager because the commissioners aren’t moving fast enough for their liking.
The EDA was before the commissioners in December 2010 seeking and getting a $200,000 loan to keep the golf course “afloat through the winter.” I guess that was fast enough. Recently Sandbo got his manager, adding to the EDA’s payroll when they barely have two nickels to rub together.
Sandbo’s statement that he’s met with Sirius three times leads one to question how many other “Friends” have met with Sirius and how many times, how many phone calls to Sirius?
How much interference does it take before an “independent” evaluation becomes compromised and biased?
Paul D. Quinn
Lutsen
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