Corporate welfare for Blue Water Farms?!!
May 8th, 2023
At all times, keep the “fiduciary responsibility” mantra going — the City Council’s primary job is fiduciary responsibility for the city.
Here’s the Blue Water Farms presentation, 5/2/2023, so I guess it’s from the private invite-only meeting held last week at Smokin’ Oak:
What handouts is Blue Water Farms looking for? Shouldn’t everyone be concerned when the CEO of Blue Water Farm, Clarence Bischoff, was CEO of the Riverbend Market Cooperative, which defaulted on the Port Authority loan, and left other investors hanging in the lurch? (I’m still waiting on the Data Practices Act request, but it’s my understanding that the loan was in default, some recouped from sale of assets, and over $20,000 written off — will post when this info is received.)
What handouts from Red Wing city coffers is Blue Water Farms looking for? Who knows… the proposal isn’t public — YET. Their recent offer to “buy” the property is not public, and was rejected by the Port Authority because it didn’t meet their criteria:
It’s my belief that the Port Authority requirements for consideration of a sale were established 15 years ago, and haven’t been amended — pay particular attention to the second page. Am I missing something here, or do these requirements still apply?
What? The “offfer” is not public? The supporters, coincidentally they’re the vocals proponents of Recall City Hall (here’s the wayback of the Recall site, which has been disappeared), are claiming the City won’t make the offer public. Ummmm, hello?!?! That’s not on the City. Whether or not information is public is up to the party at issue. In this case, just like with ejected Chief Pohlman, the one with the power to disclose is the party at issue — it was Pohlman then, and he chose not to disclose.
In this case, DOH, it’s Blue Water Farms that has the power to disclose. So do it, Blue Water Farm, disclose your “offer.” Let’s make sure people know what we’re talking about. Folks aren’t talking about the handouts you want, so what else is there we need to know?
There’s a lot we need to know, and don’t have that information. It’s clear that the Recall City Hall folks loudly supporting Blue Water Farms, without knowledge of the issues and/or with select inside knowledge, apparently didn’t learn anything about confidentiality and who has the power of disclosure from the Pohlman and Recall City Hall fiasco. Earth to Mars — want disclosure? Get on Blue Water Farms to disclose!
Why is Port Authority involved? Simple… The City Council has delegated “economic development” and the vetting of proposals to the Port Authority. The current fracas involves a Blue Water “offer” for the property, made April 27, 2023, and addressed at the Port Authority meeting May 2 (the same day, probably same time, as the private Blue Water meeting at Smokin’ Oak!). Listen to the Port’s meeting:
Port Authority video: https://redwingmn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3104/media
Once more with feeling, the Port Authority findings in denial of the offer (~2:22 in video):
What does the Council have to say about these points? How is any decision by the Council possible, other than to bounce it back to the Port, or deny based on these points?
Meanwhile, the internet is full of pleadings and requests for Red Wing residents to swamp the City Council with “SELL THE PROPERTY TO BLUE WATER NOW!” This makes no sense. There’s been no information on the offer provided. So far, just presentations by Blue Water, and no vetting, no verification, NO DUE DILIGENCE.
Those pushing for this sale, who again just happen to be the Recall City Hall folks, claim that under the Charter the City has authority to buy and sell property, and yes, the Charter does authorize property sales and purchases by the Council:
What they don’t address is the Council’s delegation to the Port Authority. Even more significant, they don’t address the Port Authority process, used for the Bauer Built building, and so clearly laid out at the recent Port Authority and City Council joint workshop, and again in the Port Authority meeting (linked here again). The Council delegated authority to the Port Authority, which is doing its job — watch that Port meeting video.
One of the vocal atadvocates has even said that she had never heard of any archeological issues! Nevermind that this has been discussed ad nauseum at Port Authority and Council meetings and workshops, there’s a Memorandum of Understanding with Prairie Island Indian Community, and that a consultant has been selected to perform the work. Seems they don’t care about protection of the mounds, and that they don’t care about our relationship with Prairie Island Indian Community, and they don’t give a rodent’s rump about upholding the MOU (and to which the Port and Council have held fast). And I heard first hand at the joint Port and Council workshop the willingness of those stridently pushing for a sale NOW that they’d want it sold prior to completing of the archeological study, and would even support turning over that responsibility to the buyers, contrary to the MOU! Unreal… And again, thankfully the Port and the Council recognize the MOU.
And again, there’s also misinformation, disinformation, and/or willful ignorance of state open meeting law and disclosure regarding property sales. See Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Sub. 3:
What will the City Council do? Tune in! To join this meeting via Webex, click this link and type in the password 2023. To join via telephone, please dial (415) 655-0001. Enter access code 2551 442 7582 and password 2023 when prompted.
Willful, intentional, abdication of and failure to exercise fiduciary responsibility, failure to complete due diligence, vetting, verification…
M-A-L-F-E-A-S-A-N-C-E
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