Jordan Independent - Story - Comments

No wonder you read all of

Mathias Baden — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:26:48 -0500

No wonder you read all of the Jordan news. No wonder!

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

If you're referring to the

Mathias Baden — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:24:46 -0500

If you're referring to the lack of flood coverage on the cover, is page 2 that much worse than page 1? Honestly, I'm asking. What that was overlooked that obviously should've been on the front page?

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

I think we can always use

elkes4 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:23:19 -0500

I think we can always use some good news or inspiration over the some of the over hyped news that is all over the place and easy to find. I think many in the United States know more about Haiti and other places than the residents who live there.

Too often we assume to know about our home town, families and neighbors, only to find out that what we were so certain about, was totally misguided. I would like to hear more of the positive things that go on in my own community and not hear about the price of tea in a country or town I do not frequent.

I know Donna, she is a good

elkes4 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:15:32 -0500

I know Donna, she is a good woman who deserves and will not ask back for what she gives to the community. I am not certain of Mr. Dubbe, but if he is who I think he is, he had really nice hair in high school and pretty much always smiled, which is always a tell tale to a good person who often contributes. Mr. Terwedo, he I do not know much, however I do remember seeing his name often in issues of the Jordan Independent, for helping in or doing things. All things considered, I believe the awards to be well placed. Congrats to you three, action is the best type of inspiration.

I like feel good stories as

Lucy825 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:09:53 -0500

I like feel good stories as much as the next, but what really warrants being on the front page of our local newspaper. If my free Jordan Independent newspaper in the mail yesterday is trying to entice me to subscribe, they failed. What really belongs on the front page of any newspaper?

Flood warning continues for

Mathias Baden — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:46:14 -0500

Flood warning continues for Scott County: http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=MNZ069&warncounty=MNC....

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

Mathias, tell us more about

Thom Boncher — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:22:01 -0500

Mathias, tell us more about the EDA low interest loans. Who qualifies? What can the loans be used for? Are these the same as the grants available through the CGO for the Downtown Business District?

The Jordan Economic

Mathias Baden — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:12:34 -0500

The Jordan Economic Development Authority offers low-interest loans to businesses. The Jordan City Council is able to employ tax abatement for certain qualifying projects -- will a hotel be one of them? Tax-increment financing is given on a much more limited basis, per a state law that made it stricter a few years back.

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

Well Thom, great question...

Lucy825 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:31:55 -0500

Well Thom, great question... Are we using tax relief to draw businesses to downtown? Not that I am aware of, please correct me if I am wrong. We will however have 3 new businesses in our historic downtown this spring though. Not due to any assistance from or City. One new business on Water Street next to 225 Water Street, a new Antique Store on First Street in the Langer Building and a Craft and Art Consignment Shop located in the Hub where the Thrift Store is currently located. Lets please hope that these new businesses will recieve at least some support from our community...

They have it really bad

Daisy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:53:34 -0500

They have it really bad don't they?!!! I'll watch it as long as I can, until my blood pressure sky rockets!!

Are we using tax relief to

Thom Boncher — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:23:11 -0500

Are we using tax relief to draw businesses to downtown? Are we offering tax relief to homeowners? Are we offering tax relief to home builders?

Based on what I understood

Thom Boncher — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:06:09 -0500

Based on what I understood from Monday's meeting,

The City pays 100% of a single employee's health care coverage,

The City pays 60% of family health care coverage,

The City doesn't offer any dental care coverage.

If you have patience to stick with it to the end, watch the tape of the March 15th meeting, and note who answered the question about dental coverage.

Hey Thom, speaking of health

Daisy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:41:57 -0500

Hey Thom, speaking of health insurance, I saw on-line you asked what per cent the city employees paid for their insurance. Did you ever find out! I remember the city administrator didn't know! LIKE, give me a break! The LIKE was a parting shot for Katrina! One of her unfavorite words. Hey Katrina be sure to stop by Emily's Bakery in Hastings! NuMMMMMMMMMMMMie!

Maybe the State Auditors

Daisy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:33:07 -0500

Maybe the State Auditors would be too! Happy as hogs in mud and mushrooms.
Boo Hoo about the health care coverage!

Daisy, if you look through

Thom Boncher — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:52:32 -0500

Daisy, if you look through back issues of the Strib or SPPP, you'll also see that Governor Un-allot got himself in a jam for misdirecting $30,000.00 in license plate fees that were intended to go to MN veterans causes. Pawlenty is an absolute piker compared to us.

WE take $100,000.00 out of Parks and Recreation Department funds to pay for a study on the Rice St. bridge - to be paid back when (if?) the bridge is bonded and built.

WE take $170,000.00 of Admin salaries from the sewer and water departments - at least partly because those departments are so over-funded that they appear to be operating at a profit (illegal for public works in MN).

WE take $400,000.00, and put it in a special fund called "Unallocated" because we can't be bothered to account for mad money we might need for unbudgeted pay raises, unexpected legal fees, engineering costs for yet-to-be funded projects and such. (With all the talking and effort that goes into negotiating contracts, how can there be ANY "unbudgeted" raises?) (FYI, the Council tried to get the "unallocated" account more accurately named last year, and staff didn't do it. Too much work?)

In the City's defense I will say, it was pointed out to me that City Employee benefit packages are not as large as in sister cities such as New Prague or Belle Plaine - both of which pay larger percentages of health coverage, and offer dental plans.

Can you imagine the fun the Strib would have digging through two thirds of a million dollars of odd bookkeeping? They'd be happy as hogs in mud and mushrooms.