Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion.
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I won't defend MNDot on this project because I totally agree with David
Brauer's assessment on this matter but Ken Bradley made a number of
mistatements which need clarification from someone who has been there, heard
all the testimony, and talked with all the officials for many, many years.
He wrote:
>"Dozens of politicians and MN DOT bureaucrats stated publicly that the
re-route would not damage the spring.">
Pam: Public officials based any support they gave due to assurances from
MNDoT that the project would not harm the spring or the creek.
>"Although several hydro-geologist testified to the projects eventual damage
on the spring, expert testimony was ignored by politicians and MN DOT.">
Pam: In my many public hearings on this topic, I only heard from Craig
Larson, who did not independently investigate or offer a professional
judgement with his license on the line. He did offer an opinion, as did
many others. The watershed did hire Kelton Barr, who began investigating the
intersection project about a year ago (shortly after a boundary change
placed it under our jurisdiction), well over a year after the 46th Street -
54th Street section was under way.
>"The force of money made most politicians blind to protecting the
environment. This project will reach costs of over a billion dollars by the
time of completion. The construction companies and developers made sure to
reward politicians with campaign contributions for their efforts to help
sell this damaging project to the community.">
Pam: While this project certainly will be expensive, I don't think it will
end up in the billion dollar range. I would like to see the documentation
of the rewards you mention. Since there are only two construction
companies, McCrossan and Ames, they should be easy to track.
Pam Blixt
Minnehaha Creek Watershed Board
and
Nokomis East Neighborhood
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