[Winona Online Democracy] Now Keith, you know better than that.
Just because the County Board and some County staff have become involved in the Wilson Township issue, that does NOT mean we think townships are outdated or ineffecient. I will admit that at a purely theoretical or brainstorming level, your question about townships could be an interesting one if it was broadened to include all levels of government. The problem is that kind of conversation can only really happen with a group that trusts each other and that is willing to work with others as equals in a fair and open way. There are perceptions (not necessariy facts) that those qualities are not exactly the Winona City Council's strong points. It's one thing to get rid of Townships so you can annex the whole planet with less resistance. It's a whole other thing to sit down in an open and respectful way and say,"let's put everything on the table and see if there might be better ways of doing things, even if it means giving up some of 'our' power and turf." Do you think the City Council would be willing to change, let alone cede "power" to other bodies? Heck, would the City Council even be willing to work with others in a process they can not totally control the outcome of, let alone the process itself? In any discussion of possible new configurations of townships, city councils, and county boards, I believe it's paramount to make sure rural interests (i.e. farmers, land owners, the environment, etc.) are protected from those who are only interested in short term profit and pavement. To simply get "rid of townships" like some developers and city staff would like, does not solve problems. That would only compound problems. We need to think about the problems in other ways. As to your other assertion that, ">It appears, from the lack of responses to the question...," be careful with the conclusions you jump to. Absence of evidence is not the same thing as evidnence of absence. Said another way, just because people aren't leaping out of their cyber chairs to pounce on your question does not mean you have proven a point. People are busy and we get pulled in different directions. Gosh knows I've asked some questions in this forum and there have been no responses. That does not mean my points are correct. It means people are too busy (or bored by my questions). ;-> Dwayne Voegeli Jan. 11, 2005 ------------ But in order to enter into > >[Winona Online Democracy] > > >Content-class: urn:content-classes:message >Content-Type: multipart/alternative; > boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C4F762.0B310D5A" > >It appears, from the lack of responses to the question "What does a >township offer that the County can't do more effectively?" that the only >apparent answer is that people like the closeness they feel to the >township form of government vs. county. That is a valid response. > > > >Paul Double said "Townships are established by the County Boards in >Minnesota and "their geographic boundaries or existence is under the >distinct control of the county board." > > > >Perhaps their existence should be given a second look. Now that would >be a tough political decision, but sometimes tough ones are necessary. >We can not always afford everything we like. > > > >As County officials have actively become involved in the annexation >discussion they must believe that township duties are better handled by >the County. > > > >Keith Nelson >Winona, Minnesota >507 457 8274 > > > > ><html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" >xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" >xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" >xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40";> > ><head> ><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> ><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> ><o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name="PlaceType"/> ><o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name="PlaceName"/> ><o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name="State"/> ><o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/> ><!--[if !mso]> ><style> >st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } ></style> ><![endif]--> ><style> ><!-- > /* Font Definitions */ > @font-face > {font-family:"Palatino Linotype"; > panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 5 5 3 3 4;} > /* Style Definitions */ > p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal > {margin:0in; > margin-bottom:.0001pt; > font-size:10.0pt; > font-family:"Times New Roman";} >a:link, span.MsoHyperlink > {color:blue; > text-decoration:underline;} >a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed > {color:purple; > text-decoration:underline;} >p > {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; > margin-right:0in; > mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; > margin-left:0in; > font-size:12.0pt; > font-family:"Times New Roman";} >span.EmailStyle18 > {mso-style-type:personal-compose; > font-family:Arial; > color:maroon; > font-weight:normal; > font-style:normal; > text-decoration:none none;} >@page Section1 > {size:8.5in 11.0in; > margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} >div.Section1 > {page:Section1;} >--> ></style> > ></head> > ><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> > ><div class=Section1> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'>It appears, from the lack of responses >to the question “What does a township offer that the County can’t >do more effectively?” that the only apparent answer is that people like >the closeness they feel to the township form of government vs. county. >That is a valid response. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'>Paul Double said >“</span></font><font >size=2 face=Arial><span >style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Townships are >established by the <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> ><st1:PlaceName >w:st="on">Boards</st1:PlaceName> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State >w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State></st1:place> >and "their geographic boundaries or existence is under the distinct >control of the county board." <font color=maroon><span >style='color:maroon'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'>Perhaps their existence should be given >a second look. Now that would be a tough political decision, but >sometimes tough ones are necessary. We can not always afford everything >we like. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'>As County officials have actively become >involved in the annexation discussion they must believe that township duties >are better handled by the County.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face=Arial><span style='font-size: >11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> > ><p><i><font size=3 color=maroon face="Palatino Linotype"><span >style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:maroon; >font-style:italic'>Keith Nelson</span></font></i><font color=maroon><span >style='color:maroon'> <br> ></span></font><i><font color=maroon face="Palatino Linotype"><span >style='font-family:"Palatino >Linotype";color:maroon;font-style:italic'>Winona, <st1:State >w:st="on"><st1:place >w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State></span></font></i><font >color=maroon><span style='color:maroon'> <br> ></span></font><i><font color=maroon face="Palatino Linotype"><span >style='font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:maroon;font-style:italic'>507 457 >8274</span></font></i><font color=maroon><span style='color:maroon'> ></span></font><o:p></o:p></p> > ><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: >10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> > ></div> > ></body> > ></html> > >_______________________________________________ >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 > ------------ Dwayne Voegeli Winona County Commissioner (507) 453-9012 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 359 Pleasant Hill Dr. Winona, MN 55987 ------------ _______________________________________________ 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
