Legalectric

( … sigh… Petitions were denied)

Last Wednesday, Jewell Jinkins Intervenors filed Petitions for Rehearing in the three Badger Hollow dockets, the project siting docket (9697-CE-100), the transmission tie-line docket (9697-CE-101) and the WPSC and MGE acquisition docket.

In the Wisconsin State Journal:

Neighbors challenge Wisconsin’s first large scale solar farm; PSC says conflict of interest charge is unfounded

Here are our filings:

Here it is… from the “April Fools Day” Public Utilities Commission Meeting:

Here in Red Wing, and throughout southeast Minnesota, and along the other side of the river in Wisconsin, sand has been a major issue. Many communities were dragged into this issue when an epidemic of silica sand mines, processing, and transloading facilities sprang up to support fracking for oil. Sand interests got Red Wing’s Mayor ejected when he was both Mayor and Executive Director of sand mining industry’s Minnesota Industrial Sand Council:

Mayor Egan Resigns

Sand was also an issue as Minnesota attempt at, though I’d say avoided, developing sand mining rules:

Someone explain rulemaking to the MPCA

As to sand as a resource, that’s not really been a part of the discussion in these parts. And on that note, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has released a report:

And in the STrib: UN environment agency warns of effects of rising sand use

Check it out!

There’s a hearing in Goodhue County about our District 1 representation, as above:

6 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2019

Goodhue County Board Room

509 W. 5th St., Red Wing, MN 55066

At the November 20, 2018 meeting, Scott Safe was appointed to temporarily fill Ron Allen’s seat. At that meeting, Allen said:

“… Scott [Co. Administrator] had a list, I had a list… I went down that list, I had another candidate in mind, but I wanted the person that replaces me to be acceptable to a lot of factions in my 1st District. A Couple people I had in mind just wouldn’t fit that bill…” (video linked — Allen starts his statements at 1:00:28) He later said, again, that Safe was “… acceptable to a lot of different groups that I’ve been doing outreach with.”

I have a problem with “acceptability” being the primary criteria. Of course, I note that as someone who would not be deemed acceptable!!

There’s a requirement to hold a hearing, and the hearing is only about the qualification of prospective appointees. How are they going to announce who has applied for appointment, whose arm has been twisted to apply, etc.?

What’s also troubling me is the slothful way the county approaches the special election — this is something that should have been anticipated and planned for — rather than plodded towards. As it sits, if there is a primary needed, if more than two people run, then it could push the election out past the November election out into a special election in February (there are limited dates that elections can occur, and the first one after November is in February).

Subd. 5.County boards vacancy appointment; public hearing.

Before making an appointment to fill a vacancy under subdivision 4, the county board must hold a public hearing not more than 30 days after the vacancy occurs with public notice given in the same manner as for a special meeting of the county board. At the public hearing the board must invite public testimony from persons residing in the district in which the vacancy occurs relating to the qualifications of prospective appointees to fill the vacancy. Before making an appointment, the board also must notify public officials in the affected district on the appointment, including town board and city council members, and must enter into the record at the board meeting in which the appointment is made the names and addresses of the public officials notified. If after the public hearing, the board is unable or decides not to make an appointment under subdivision 4, it must hold a special election under subdivision 1, but the time period in which the election must be held begins to run from the date of the public hearing.

Hey, residents of District 1 of Goodhue County — Be there or be square!!

At long last, here are the lists, but still no meeting times and dates. Thanks to Becky Norton for making this available.

The secrecy of “Ad Hoc” committees is a problem. We’re just now finding out what they are and who is on them. But when do they meet? Who knows, and they aren’t telling, which is… well… telling. CITY COUNCIL – PROVIDE NOTICE OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATION and AGENDA. JUST DO IT.

Note that the “Ad Hoc” committee appoints are made by the Council President.