Over 640 Xcel customers without power
June 11th, 2016
Over 640 Xcel Energy customers (households, businesses) are without power here in Red Wing this morning after the storms came whipping through here yesterday afternoon. Ours was out for a while, maybe an hour, and then back on. Towards the west end of town, that’s another story, and they’re still without power.
From the map, it looks like Eau Claire was very hard hit, with 2,300+ customers still without power.
The Dogometer predicted a bad storm about half an hour before it hit, evident when she firmly assumed the position under my desk. Now she’s back to normal.
Militarization of policing in Red Wing and Goodhue County?
August 17th, 2015
In what world is something like this needed or wanted in a 16,000 population city like Red Wing, or in a rural county like Goodhue County? What would be the envisioned purpose?
Goodhue County and the City of Red Wing have applied for Homeland Security money to buy one of these, a Lenco Bearcat. Cost is $332,246.00. They call the current one the “PeaceKeeper” armored vehicle. They’re saying it’s too slow, and they’ve been having problems with it. I saw it cruising toward downtown on West Ave. a few years ago, and was stunned, didn’t know they had one here — I mean really, whatever for?!?! Meth labs? Militaristic cults? The Republican National Convention contractual obligations? Folks, this isn’t St. Paul…
I’ve heard that the Goodhue County vote recently was that it would not opt in to this grant, but that there is another vote about it. Red Wing will decide soon.
Goodhue County Commissioners (for your cut and pasting pleasure): ron.allen@co.goodhue.mn.us, brad.anderson@co.goodhue.mn.us, dan.rechtzigel@co.goodhue.mn.us, jason.majerus@co.goodhue.mn.us, ted.seifert@co.goodhue.mn.us
City of Red Wing Mayor and Council (for your cut and pasting pleasure): dan.bender@ci.red-wing.mn.us, jsebion3@gmail.com , lisa.bayley@ci.red-wing.mn.us, deanhove@charter.net, dan.munson@ci.red-wing.mn.us, peggy.rehder@ci.red-wing.mn.us, ralph.rauterkus@ci.red-wing.mn.us, dustin.schulenberg@ci.red-wing.mn.us
A memo to the County Board from a Sheriff’s Deputy states:
The Emergency Response Team uses an armored vehicle on every mission and at events that may take place at the PINGP.
What does this mean? How many “missions” and what are the details? The phrase “at events that may take place at the PINGP” is odd — please explain! Does this mean response to nuclear emergencies? Does this mean response to Xcel Energy security concerns? If this is about the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, shouldn’t Xcel Energy be paying for it? They’ll probably say that these expenses are what the Utility Personal Property Tax is for, but I don’t think that’s how it works, it’s a separate issue!
City of Red Wing – CP_Project_Detail_M-Port_Auth-LencoBearcat
Again, cost is $332,246.00. For this amount, the County and City could buy roughly 10 fully equipped squad cars (based on this linked Goodhue County purchase of 4). Think of the computer equipment they could buy with that kind of money!
This is overkill, it is not needed in Red Wing, not needed in Goodhue County. This is not “policing,” but is militarization of policing. Not a trend I want in my community.
David Schultz on Risk Management for Nonprofits
November 2nd, 2014
Risk Management for Nonprofits
David Schultz, Hamline Professor
Tuesday, November 11, beginning at 6 p.m.
2918 North Service Drive, Red Wing, MN
Free and open to the public
Bring your appetites to learn and for Mexican food (cost on you)
I first became aware of David Schultz’s expertise in nonprofit fiduciary responsibility when I read his op ed in the STrib when the misdoings of Community Action of Minneapolis came to light. This was a major issue recently on the Mpls. yak-yak list, and reminded me of several experiences I’ve had on various Boards, and in nonprofits and others, and have unfortunately seen in other community and client boards as well. After reading his commentary, the tip of the iceberg of information that a board member needs to know, I extended an invitation to Schultz to come to Red Wing for area nonprofit board members and anyone interested on learning about what it means to be a member of a Board. A big thanks to David Schultz for his willingness to come to Red Wing and share his expertise.
After sending preliminary info out, a board member from another Red Wing organization contacted me and said, “Is the presenter the same David Schultz who appears on Almanac as a political analyst? If so, he’s one of the best!” Yes, indeed he is! One of her board had brought Schultz’s STrib piece to their last board meeting, and they’re ramped up and ready to go. There’s a need here — let’s get informed!
Here’s Schultz’s view on Board responsibility and the Community Action case:
Nonprofit boards are no place for light duty
Being a board member is an active task, not for the faint of heart. There is a duty to show up — to assure the operation has adequate funding, that members be informed, and if there are problems, to stand up and correct the problems. Here’s the pamphlet from the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General on Board Fiduciary Responsibility.
Schultz is a Professor at Hamline and has a C.V. that shows he’s got intense experience in many areas, far beyond the political analysis and issues I’d known about. His work teaching and training for nonprofits is part of a wide ranging career including housing issues (just ordered a copy of his book “Evicted!” on eminent domain) and ethics.
And, yes, David Schultz is coming to Red Wing! Join us at Fiesta Mexicana, for “Risk Management for Nonprofits.” Tuesday, November 11, starting at 6 p.m.
From the STrib:
Nonprofit boards are no place for light duty
In the case of Community Action of Minneapolis, oversight broke down at personal, internal and external levels.
Only in Red Wing, a “company” town
September 8th, 2014
Last night we went for another picnic, this time near home, at Memorial Bluff. They’ve spent a lot of time, money, and effort to rehab the park, and at the Upper Stone Quarry, have put in the most amazing stone picnic tables and benches, HUGE hunks of rock. The trail near our old house on 8th is now dubbed the “Cow Path,” apparently they regularly herded cows up to the top to graze!
We went to the Upper Quarry, and again picked the table with the view:
Yes, it’s got the “best view,” but look at this! Who would put a picnic table directly under a transmission line, with the upfront close and personal view of this transmission tower? What were they thinking? Not everyone has an affinity for transmission!!!
But some do — we were joined by two flapping and calling birds, hawks or immature eagles, who hung out on top of the structure objecting to our presence. Lighten up, birds!
I think that I shall never see…
June 5th, 2014
As ALJ Kathleen Sheehy said, “Oh, ENOUGH about the TREES!”
But soon, we’re losing another boulevard tree, this one a red maple, not too old, but it’s about 35 feet high. ANOTHER ONE~ Last spring, we lost a large one in the May blizzard, and now, any day now, this one is coming down. What’s adding insult to injury is that they’re taking it down FOR A TEMPORARY REROUTE OF THE XCEL DISTRIBUTION LINE ACROSS THE STREET!
They must have looked on a map, with input from Xcel found our house, and picked it. They’re redoing West Avenue, replacing the VERY tall retaining wall across the street (20 feet??), narrowing the street to slow traffic, and putting in a sidewalk across the street so kids can walk to school. We’ve been dealing with the City about this for a while, went to a meeting, checked the city’s packet on it, talked to them there, and had a conference or two in the yard this week. And as Alan says, giving them full credit, “they’ve been responsive.” Yeah, but they’re still taking our tree down. And taking another one down when they redo the other street. And they still haven’t replaced the one we lost last year in the blizzard, or the large one that came out some time before we bought the house. Four out of four…
When I spoke with the City and Xcel guys checking it out, I objected, I don’t want to lose this tree, and suggested undergrounding since they’re digging up the street, and they said this street wouldn’t work for that (oh, please…), and I again said I didn’t want to lose that tree, particularly for a TEMPORARY XCEL DISTRIBUTION REROUTE. The Xcel whippersnapper looks down his snout and says, “You like power, don’t you.” Folks, y’all would have been proud… I did not bring Kady out to address his attitude (the City guy sorta snorted at his comment, and the Xcel guy had clearly not encountered moi previously).
This tree is more than just a tree, it’s a safety infrastructure installation:
Our tree has been hit a few times, it’s at a curve near the crest of the hill, and people often race up the hill. As you can see from the map, that tree keeps the cars out of our yard and out of Mary’s porch. We need that tree!!! SCREEEECH, CRASH… doesn’t happen often? Well, just last year, someone coming the other way crested the hill too fast and on the way down didn’t make the turn, and they careened into the house on the other side of the street and took out their front steps!
And look:
And they’re starting in on it, the big “Utility Work Ahead” signs are out on West, and they’re climbing the pole across the street. See that big honkin’ sucker there? That one is coming out when they redo Sturdevant, which they said, “could be next year, could be a few years,” but that will mean we have NO trees left.
I can hear air tools all the way on the other side…
AAAAAAAAAAAAGH! My tree…
