Jordan Independent - Story - Comments

Clutch plays abounded. If

Thom Boncher — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:47:38 -0600

Clutch plays abounded. If my memory is correct, Nora Hamer, Michelle O"Malley, Emily Clark, and Ashley Hartman all had at least one 3-point basket. That's 12 points in a game decided by 5. (And was that Jason Allen knocking down a 3 during the half time pizza shootout?)

New Prague averages about 60 points per game. Jordan's defense was able to hold them to just over half their average.

New Prague played a full court press for virtually all of the game. The Jags weren't perfect in defeating it, but they got the across mid-court often enough to win the stamina battle.

A big win.

I am not for it, however,

elkes4 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:20:55 -0600

I am not for it, however, when I went to kindergarten it was only a half day... going by the intelligence of my generation, I believe that we could have used a lot more time in school. Its a new year and I hope things start turning around soon.

For a district that has been

dhelke — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:57:12 -0600

For a district that has been fiscally responsible in the past and has just made recent cuts, it will be difficult to remove $400,000 from the budget without someone being impacted. The preliminary projections for the next two years do not help matters out with funding for schools at best remaining flat, but probably being reduced.

The reality is that without an operating levy passed next fall there will probably be another round of substantial cuts moving forward and even with an operating levy there still may need to be some cuts.

The real problem is the state's committment to funding K-12 education and the current funding set-up. A lot of tough decisions are on the horizon not just for the Jordan schools, but schools across the state.

I guess I didn't do a very

Thom Boncher — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:23:22 -0600

I guess I didn't do a very good job of expressing myself at the council meeting. I was advocating a wage cut as a way of avoiding any layoffs. I think it's better for everybody to give 10%, than for one person to give 100%.

To be very clear, I never advocated laying off anyone. It made me sick to hear staff and the council single out one person to vote off the island.

Regarding looking at wages across the board in Scott County - about 30 people were laid off from Continental Machines (in Savage) just before Christmas. I suspect that one or two of those folks were from Jordan. In the private sector, which is the primary source of tax dollars, unemployment is still going up. The county and state are both cutting budgets dramatically. Jordan lost $118.000 in state funding this year (2008), and will surely lose as much, or more next year. At least one business owner has complained to me that his city property taxes have gone up 35% in one year. Other business owners have raised the same issue at council meetings. And keep in mind that taxpayers have the school district to support. According to the JI, among the cuts the school board is considering are about a dozen full and part-time positions. It's not likely that twelve jobs will be lost - but some may be eliminated.

Whatever the city can do to maintain its financial integrity while avoiding layoffs, is worth looking at.

I appreciate what rights we

watchingthetown — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:37:38 -0600

I appreciate what rights we have as citizens of this beautiful country, so the opportunity to speak openly is a gift.

Just some food for thought, a couple questions for those who think that freezing wages is good for the city. Freezing wages is one thing, asking employees to take and additional pay cut of 10% I believe is what I heard, and yet on top of that cutting out staff.

Ok, we have now gone to far. By cutting one employee, we have now increased the employee's health benefits by 14%. (which the city denied paying any more or any further contribution) Now you want to suggest an additional 10% wage decrease...ok who in their right mind would continue to work at the city for 24% less than what they took home this year? Could you pay your bills and feed your family? Now you suggest we cut more employees "Do more with less" I don't think the city employees need to be slaves, those days are long over. ESPECIALLY when you look across the board around in Scott County all other employees are getting 2.5-3.5% cost of living increase. Look at Jordan- ZIP.

Remember, it is a free country to speak your mind, however, keep in mind these are lifes you are talking about, in this very stressful economy! These employee's/staff have families as well. WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT! What has the employees done to get the city into this mess? NOTHING, but report to work and do what is expected of them.

Just food for thought.

Did someone actually cheer

Thom Boncher — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:46:49 -0600

Did someone actually cheer about the wage freeze and the layoff? I didn't hear it, but that doesn't mean much given the state of my hearing. I certainly would not cheer such things. What I was aware of is that some people were talking amongst themselves in the audience. But the council does the same thing during its' discussions.

You certainly can, and should ask questions. I agree that more people should join in these conversations. I too would like to know what people's expectations are for the new council. In fact, I think one of the smartest moves the council could make would be to set up some kind of office hours for the mayor and council members to meet the public outside of the regular meetings. Maybe a weekly kaffeklatch in the evening at Awakenings or some other neutral site. Would be interesting to see how many people in town would actually avail themselves of such an opportunity.

I had thought that open

elkes4 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:26:44 -0600

I had thought that open minded meant both sides, not just a single point of veiw... to assume one of the parties should be silent is something that I do not agree with as I believe questions lead to resolution. Prior to the elections it was said that there was no communications. (La pluce de la shant, la pluce de le mea shant) excuse the spelling, but the translation should say, the more things change, the more they stay the same..... I would hope my previous statement is not true and hold a hope for the future, not a future of backward movements.

I thought this web site was

Ray Sandey — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:59:48 -0600

I thought this web site was getting boring and could use some questions to be asked so maybe people would open up and answer questions or ask questions themselves.

Negativity is what I see at council meetings when people cheer as employee salaries are froze and staff is laid off.

I think it is a valid question to ask what people's expectations are?

I have an open mind and an investment in this community, so I think I can ask questions.

Why ask such questions now?

swansonmej — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:35:59 -0600

Why ask such questions now? I think you are
trying to create negativity before our new mayor and
newly formed city council has a chance to take office.

How about keeping an open mind? I am hopeful that our
new city leaders will do their best to represent us.

OK I was trolling, if you

Ray Sandey — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:19:51 -0600

OK I was trolling, if you like fishing analogies. I will respond to some of your questions but really I was hoping that other poeple would jump into a conversation. 1200 people voted for Mr. Ewals and I was curious why?

I don't know him well enough to form an opinion of him personally. Pete and I have a good mutual friend and so I probably would like him. I would not have voted for him because of his stance on issues. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't or don't like him.

I will not go to a JAVA meeting because I beleive it is anti-growth and anti-Jordan. I have read the minutes of a couple of meetings and have watched as JAVA torpedoed a good initiative put forth by the city and the EDA. As far as the 500 empty lots. They are paying more taxes than the farmland they replaced. Lack of lots is part of the reason prices rose so fast and created out of control inflation in real estate.

The developer of those lots purchased the land from the land owner (in an arms length transaction). The developer invested its own capital in the development. What happens to the lots now is between the developer and its lender and the market place. When the market returns (not if, when)Jordan will be in a better position because we will have lot inventory.

Farmland may be irreplaceable but because of genetics not as much land is needed to produce as much grain. Also, landowners should get to decide what happens with their land. Ag Preservation and Green Acres laws are available for landowners to would like to continue there present use of the land. The land owner always has the choice to sell or not to sell. I use the term landowner because 65% of farmland is owned by investors and not farmers. Farms get bigger because of economies of scale.

Jordan has had a revolving door of city administrators in the past decade. Some of that is because of ambition and opportunity, some has been because they were terrible and were not renewed. We were fortunate to have some other young staff that held the ship steady through those times. Jordan has never been big on overstaffing, that is good, fiscal responsible government. Was it good to reduce the planning department, yes, for the time being. Only because we have a healthy inventory of finished lots (both commercial and residential). I think that the city will need to budget for help in that department because that department will be busy before the general public realizes that the market is returning (the media tends to report heavier on the decline than the rise of economies). By going after salaries, raises, etc. you set a bad precedence. We may lose staff to other opportunities and that may or may not be good. When you try to fill that position it may be hard to find good applicants that would want to come here because the past history of the council is to whip in the wind when 10 of 5000 residents show up to a meeting and make a fuss.

I figured the new mayor didn't like the staff because he and his advisory board really pushed for the hacking of salaries at the truth in taxation hearing The actual cost of raises (cost of living or contracted) seemed minimal by the scope of the overall cuts.

As far as the cut in LGA, good. Spend the money in the building fund to cover the loss for the year. Create a budget next year that doesn't include the LGA. Adjust spending to a level of service expected by the residents. Adjust the levy to cover that amount. If we receive LGA in future years, it can be used for unallocated uses or put into the building fund (found money).

As far as representing the will of the people, I understand that the squeaky wheel gets the grease but they are elected to make tough decisions and they have much more information to make those decisions then the general public.

I am all about fiscal conservatism but at what expense. At this bottom level of government we are seeing that the next cuts end up being staff and services. The level of waste at this level is minor. I wish people would work hard for reducing the waste and duplication from the top down nationally and at the state level (even met council level).

Yes, Thom this was a conversation starter. Hopefully others will jump in with their thoughts and opinions. This is a fun forum for those that want their identity know or that don't, they can all voice their opinion. This is not personal.

Wow, sounds as if you really

Thom Boncher — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:42:10 -0600

Wow, sounds as if you really don't like Mayor Ewals. "My backswing's all messed up" is a conversation starter. What you posted is trolling. I'll bite.

"anti-city, anti-growth Java"? Ray, have you ever been to a JAVA meeting? What is it that makes you think JAVA is "anti-city, and anti-growth"? As it happens, JAVA has been spending most of its' time dealing with sustainable growth - the kind that doesn't use up irreplaceable farm land to create vacant lots. Growth is not the same as expansion. Jordan has over 500 empty homesites to grow into within the current city limits.

Mayor Ewals has not yet been sworn in, but I'm sure he'd be happy to chat with you about what community organizations he should belong to.

Mike Shaw was re-elected because many people in Jordan believe he is something of a lone voice on the council. Also, when I ask people why they voted for him, the first thing most of them say is, "He's a teacher, and he's lived here forever."

Does the City Staff need gutting? No. And Mayor Ewals has never said anything to me about firing anybody. What makes you think he wants to gut the staff?

"Do we risk losing good employees . . .?" Like whom? The city administrator applied months ago for a job in Chaska. A police officer applied months ago for a job in Belle Plaine. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Will we have trouble attacting good employees? Not if Chaska's and Belle Plaine's experiences are any indication. There are a lot of good employees looking for work right now.

"Why is it so important that city employees not get raises?" Come to the council meeting TONIGHT, when the city tries to figure out how to deal with the loss of thousands of dollars in state aid - for 2008, no less. (And yes, there IS a special meeting tonight at 6:30 to deal with just that issue.)

And tight economy or no, my expectation for the City Council is always the same - to represent the will of the people of Jordan. Sometimes people change their minds about what they want, so the council needs to be flexible. Right now, many people want lower taxes and fiscal conservatism.

For those that voted for our

Ray Sandey — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:21:34 -0600

For those that voted for our new mayor, what are your expectations? (I can't vote in the city because I am a resident of Sand Creek Township)

What is the expectation of the council in this tight budget time?

Why is it so important that city employees not get raises?

Do we risk losing good employees by creating a hostile work environment?

Do we risk attracting good employees when the council gets a reputation for going after staff raises?

Is it a goal of the new mayor to gut the city staff?

Why did Mike Shaw get re-elected even though he had the same voting power of Mayor Jabs?

Will the new mayor be involved in any community organizations beside the anti-city, anti-growth Java group? Should he be?

These are just conversation starters.

sorry I have a head cold. It

elkes4 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:13:45 -0600

sorry I have a head cold. It should read "when their parents came to pick them up" in the previous statement. Just had to correct myself.

I do not take much stock in

elkes4 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:10:05 -0600

I do not take much stock in polls. If you take a poll on if to allow eight year olds to drive for example: if you take the poll at lunch in the elementary school, you would get a totally different result than if you took the poll when there parents came to pick them up. I think if the Jags do not doubt their tallents and work hard they can win any game or amount of games they wish. I will give them some advice from everything that I have not won or done well in, which is more than forty years of good and bad experiences... "Do not doubt yourself, confidence is the largest part of success the smallest portion is dumb luck. " Good Luck! Go Jags!

Fans of the Shakopee,

Mathias Baden — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:55:00 -0600

Fans of the Shakopee, Chaska, Pipestone, and Marshall teams must've been voting on this one.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)