[Winona Online Democracy] I will ask again that we keep the discussion focused on facts vs opinions and on principles vs personalities. This is the standard that has been set forth for our vision of civil discourse.
Kathy Seifert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Sorensen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Turek, Janice" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Chris Hood (E-mail)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "City Council" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Judy Bodway" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 12:16 PM Subject: RE: [Winona] Wilson Annexation [Winona Online Democracy] Ms. Turek continues to address the Jason Phillips annexation request of the City of Winona in an uninformed, unprofessional manner. Her vitriol has now turned personal. So, the following response is also personal: 1. Turek inappropriately uses her work e-mail address at Winona Health for her personal uninformed views. 2. Turek clearly does not understand the City of Winona laws/ordinances that govern development. If she did, she would understand that our mapping of the Phillips property, taking out steep slopes and flood plain property from development consideration, shows approximately 125 acres that could be developed. 3. Turek alludes to 40 acres of Phillips property in the Winona Comp Plan. For the record, all of Phillips property is shown in the County's consideration for potential development. Additionally, Mr. Phillips is requesting annexation by the City, not the County. It is the City that is required to consider the annexation request, not some other agency. 4. Turek levels specific conflict of interest changes against the Mayor. That is a cheap, unprofessional approach and a clear indication that she has lost the factual merit of the matter. For the record, the Mayor's property is approximately two miles beyond Phillips. His property will not be included in the orderly annexation agreement that we are proposing to the Township Board. 5. Turek comments are self-serving. She lives in Springbrook, a developed subdivision, and now apparently does not want others to have the same right to develop as she had. She is a good model for NIMBYism. Her comments are further confusing, given that she gives us credit for trails that everyone can use and no one else provides. 6. Turek does not acknowledge a simple fact in this debate. Phillips, the Township and the City are all talking development. Town Chairman Kirshmann clearly has done that by inviting in someone to explain community septic system development, (which Mr. Phillips does not find appropriate for his site.) Former resident of Wilson Township C.J. Robinson despised the Springbrook development approved by the Township, which Turek now lives in. It was called development, which I assume Turek was in favor of. Does anyone else sense a lack sincerity in Turek's comments like I do? 7. Turek does not acknowledge what the City and Mr. Phillips have agreed to in deference to the Springbrook property. We have agreed to not allow the extension of the Springbrook property road to the Phillips property. We have agreed to not force annexation of any adjacent property. How would we do that? My signing an orderly annexation agreement with the Township. 8. Turek clearly does not understand finance. But the agencies and auditors (the ones that we really worry about) reviewing City financial decisions do. Our financial decision-making is considered exemplary. In summary, Turek offers nothing to the debate except a clear vision of her personal bias. She is not a citizen of the City of Winona and cannot vote here. I guess that frustrates her. Perhaps, she would consider moving to Winona to have that privilege. And to personal performance reviews, I hope that someone at WinonaHealth reviews her personal use of their computers. Finally, WOD leaders need to control their system and its usage. I read somewhere a concern with Steve Schield's letters. How about Turek's personal attacks? How about we go back to a factual debate? -----Original Message----- From: Turek, Janice [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2004 4:58 PM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: [Winona] Wilson Annexation [Winona Online Democracy] Our City Officials, I truly believe (as well as many others I talk to) have become land grabbers and power hungry. They continue to make irresponsible and irrational decisions at the expense of our Townships and taxpayers. People need to realize that without Townships we have no country to drive to. We have no wild life to gaze at, we have no trails except in city parks to walk. People in the city limits can say it doesn't effect their life, but it does!. First off, your taxes are being poured into developing unneeded areas AND UNDEVELOPABLE AREAS. Your tax dollars will be spent for services two miles outside the city limits WHERE FAR FEWER THAN WHAT THE CITY IS TELLING YOU WILL LIVE. PLEASE CONTINUE READING THIS INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN RECENTLY GIVEN, IT GOES TO THE HEART OF THE MISLEADING AND IRRESPONSIBILITY OF OUR CITY DECISION MAKERS. It seems that the city had a meeting yesterday(?) with Natalie Sidarius she "facilitated" the development, as a professional planner, of the county AND city Comprehensive Land Use Plans) and other county and city employees. It seems the county plan only designates approximately 40 developable acres on the Phillips property in Phase One of that plan. Phase Two does designate more of those acres when Phase One acres throughout the county are used up by development. There are a total of 1500 acres designated in Phase One, scattered throughout the entire county. Phase Two of the plan HAS NOT even been adopted by the county. If Phillips can only develop those 40 acres, HOW CAN OUR CITY JUSTIFY THIS ANNEXATION, THEY CANNOT COME CLOSE TO BREAKING EVEN BY RUNNING PIPES FOR SEWER AND WATER OUT THERE. THEY WILL BE USING TAX DOLLARS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, AGAIN TO SUPPLY TO ONE LAND OWNER. It would also seem, in light of this information that either Sorensen or Phillips ( or perhaps both) have either been pumping up the number of developable acres on his property or simply making things up to support their positions. Why? I can only surmise that it's to make the water/sewer extension to that property more appealing to city council members with respect to the payback of the invested infrastructure. If the council thought or knew that it was only 40 acres instead of 100-120 acres, as they are being told, that would be a much tougher sale and they would lose faith in Sorensen ( who has NEVER had a job performance review since being employed by the city!). The Bonestroo/Rosene study commissioned by the city in 2002 only shows 544-800+ acres of developed and developable acres in all of Pleasant Valley, not the 1200 acres Sorensen is telling the council and press. iF THERE IS ONLY A TOTAL AREA OF 1500 DEVELOPABLE IN ALL OF WINONA COUNTY, HOW CAN HE SURMISE 1200 ARE DEVELOPABLE IN PLEASANT VALLEY ALONE. This is strictly speculation on his part, and as with the Phillips property, you can now see his speculation was 60% off base. This information Should be used to bring Sorensen's credibility into question with the council and the press/public. THIS INFORMATION IF FOR PUBLIC VIEW IN THE P&Z OFFICE AT THE COUNTY BUILDING. Phillips section of the Comprehensive Land Use Plans designated areas for residential growth within rural areas of Pleasant Valley. Yet the city can turn their eyes and develop these lands the way they want??? Who is keeping an eye on these guys? We have no sewer problems out this way, we are content and do not want the annexation, yet one developer (that means one land owner) vs 100's in Wilson and Homer Township that will be affected) can ask the city to spend nearly 3 million dollars of your money to help develop his land. And the city agrees, based on what?? Speculation that in the future they will get a return for their money. How far is the future, projections are 30-40 years. Are you willing to have your money spent on a project that may or may not see a return in 30-40 years?? This is based on population growth, the housing market as it is now declining, demand, and cost of living. Besides Mayor Miller having land in the proposed annexed area and this is itself being a conflict of interest, I believe another indicator that the most recent land grab by the city is challenged due to their lack of response to the Wilson Township. They have been asked by Wilson Township well over 2 months ago to produce the following information: 1. How many buildable acres are available in the city now. 2. How many houses are being built now. 3. How many houses and housing units are for sale in the city limits. 4. How much land is still available undeveloped in the recently annexed areas including Winona Township and the area of Wilson Township most recently annexed. 5. What has been the population growth of Winona over the last ten years. 6. How many vacant housing is available in Winona. 7. What is their projection of growth. 8. what is the projection of Real Estate Marketing over the next 10 years. 9. Who do the predict are moving into the area with High end paying jobs support 300 new high end built homes/ 10. How many assessments has the City completed for the most newly annexed areas. 11. What has been done about the safety and increased traffic in these areas. 12. How many times has the city been cited over the last five years for pollution issues? It will probably alarm most of us, but it shows a lack of concern for the environment and development by our city officials. Pollution issues are at the heart of this annexation, these are natural habitats with protected springs running through them and the city refuses to look at this. The city has yet to come up with these figures for the Township Board. Why??? Because they will reflect that there is no need to be land grabbing and "leap frogging" and that they want to continue to be irresponsible in their development plans. The township attorney has said that in many cities annexation disputes have lead to the replacement of mayors, council members, and city managers, but too often after the annexation has occurred when city residents finally learn the true costs and impacts on both communities. Their is history here, and our city is refusing to look at. I implore each of you to call your council men, and let them know you are not supporting this effort. We have the responsibilty to make these guys act in a responsible way. It is our right. _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
