Legalectric

The Jones “farmstead” in Nerstrand

There goes Doug Jones, the “farmer” of Nerstrand with too much time and money on his hands, wailing about those “frivolous” lawsuits. Sorry, Doug, but the Judge said public participation was important and specifically that it was NOT the sort of suit that demanded sanctions. Once again, the Judge did not declare this suit frivolous! What about that don’t you and the attorney representing Rice County understand?

Through Rice County’s actions lately, it seems to me they are indeed getting the message that they must follow the law — and they would not face 10 very specific counts of violations if they would follow the law! So if they are getting the message, and are now following the law (as they did with the Keven Green Nerstrand development), the suit did achieve something. But if Judge Wolf’s statement that “the county is already required to follow the law” and subsequent dismissal gives the county tacit approval to continue in its illegal ways, they’ll get sued again. If courts don’t care about a consistent pattern of violation of laws by a county, fine, we can sue them one by one, over each issue — in this case there were ten specific counts — and the message I take from this Order is that we’re supposed to sue about the specific issue, so get ready for ten times the suits!!

Here’s the Judge’s Order. Download file

The Judge was pretty clear:

The undersigned is mindful that citizens have the right to contest the actions of elected officials and that a lawsuit, not and then, unfortunately is part of being an elected official. The Defendants have failed to show that Planitiffs actions have been such that sanctions should be applied. The granting of sanctions is a harsh remedy and should be applied sparingly so as not to stymie citizen input. This case is not one where sanctions should be applied.

… something’s happening here, and you don’t know what it is… do you… Mr. Jones…

Wasted money

To the editor:

Twice again, Rice County taxpayers are paying for frivolous actions by liberal activists. Isn’t anyone in Rice County government standing up for the taxpayers?

* First — Once again, Carol Overland sued Rice County on behalf of her group, Rice County Land Use Accountability Inc., a for-profit company whose public records give no indication that it is owned by or represents any Rice County citizens or land owners.

Rice County District Court Judge Gerald Wolf rejected her first suit as frivolous, and now dismisses her amended suit for not showing that the county violated any environmental law.

Unfortunately, Judge Wolf also dismissed Rice County’s requests that Carol Overland personally pay Rice County’s costs to defend itself, now totaling about $30,000. Rice County’s insurer will pay this cost but the cost probably will come back to Rice County in future insurance premium increases and Rice County taxpayers will again have paid for Carol Overland’s lawsuits.

* Second — Similarly, Bruce Anderson of RENew Northfield, was quoted in the Northfield News about his latest windmill project: “This will not cost the taxpayers anything.”

For starters, Bruce asked for and is going to receive $6,500 from Rice County to study his own windmill project! The grant was proposed by county Commissioner Jessica Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Jim Brown. Clearly, for starters, this latest pursuit of “free” money will cost Rice County taxpayers $6,500.

If Rice County ordered a $2.5 million windmill and if it qualified for recently enacted federal bond funding with 0 percent interest, federal taxpayers will pay the interest rate subsidy. And if the windmill fails before the bonds are repaid and after the warranty expires, will Bruce Anderson and RENew Northfield guarantee Rice County taxpayers aren’t stuck with the bill?

Doug Jones
Nerstrand

Ballad of a Thin Man

You walk into the room
With your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked
And you say, “Who is that man?”
You try so hard
But you don’t understand
Just what you’ll say
When you get home

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

You raise up your head
And you ask, “Is this where it is?”
And somebody points to you and says
“It’s his”
And you say, “What’s mine?”
And somebody else says, “Where what is?”
And you say, “Oh my God
Am I here all alone?”

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

You hand in your ticket
And you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you
When he hears you speak
And says, “How does it feel
To be such a freak?”
And you say, “Impossible”
As he hands you a bone

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

You have many contacts
Among the lumberjacks
To get you facts
When someone attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect
Anyway they already expect you
To just give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations

You’ve been with the professors
And they’ve all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have
Discussed lepers and crooks
You’ve been through all of
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books
You’re very well read
It’s well known

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you
And then he kneels
He crosses himself
And then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice
He asks you how it feels
And he says, “Here is your throat back
Thanks for the loan”

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

Now you see this one-eyed midget
Shouting the word “NOW”
And you say, “For what reason?”
And he says, “How?”
And you say, “What does this mean?”
And he screams back, “You’re a cow
Give me some milk
Or else go home”

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

Well, you walk into the room
Like a camel and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket
And your nose on the ground
There ought to be a law
Against you comin’ around
You should be made
To wear earphones

Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?