The Oak Park City Council tabled a request from the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing to contribute $3,000 out of city funds to “help keep the (bridge) project on schedule.”
There are a few different options to fund the request, if the council so chooses, City Administrator Eric Johnson said.
"I just don't want to go down the path Stillwater did that got them into trouble a while back," Council Member Mark Swenson said. "I would like staff and legal to look at it and give us an official recommendation. I support this, but I would like them to tell me we have the authority to support it."
The council will take up the request later this month.
UPDATED FROM:
The Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing on Tuesday will ask the Oak Park City Council to contribute $3,000 from city coffers to “help keep the (bridge) project on schedule.”
“While we remain optimistic construction can begin, opposition still hopes for delays, as in the past when we have repeatedly seen efforts to replace the old lift bridge get stopped at the last minute,” a letter from Coalition Co-Chair and Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki to the Oak Park Heights City Council reads. “Stopping things now would increase both costs and the chances the project never occurs.”
Stillwater , while Washington County .
Oak Park Heights Mayor Mary McComber and City Council Member Chuck Dougherty are both members of the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing.
In order for the coalition to be successful, the letter says, it is important to raise “half its budget from the public sector, equally between Minnesota and Wisconsin.”
Since forming two years ago, the Coalition has reportedly raised and spent about $300,000, Minnesota Public Radio reported last month.
The Coalition’s Director Larry Dowell, told MPR that 85 percent of that funding came from individuals or businesses, and the rest from the public sector.
“Despite the high profile work of the coalition,” MPR’s report reads, “it is difficult to find out who its members and contributors are. Dowell would not release a list of the coalition's 82 donors and members.”
The Coalition describes itself as a group of business, labor, government and community leaders from Minnesota and Wisconsin who support building a new bridge that balances community needs and benefits the entire region.
RELATED: Stillwater City Council Gives $10K to Coalition for St. Croix River Crossing
Washington County Board Gives $15K to Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing
Stillwater City Council Approves $15K for Lobbyists Last-Minute Push to Pass St. Croix River Crossing
Washington County to Partner With Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing
Stillwater River Crossing Supporters to Launch Advocacy Coalition
Making the Case for the St. Croix River Crossing
Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing Receives Public Policy Achievement Award
Ripple in Stillwater: Coalition 'Muddies the St. Croix Waters with More Misinformation'
St. Croix River Crossing: 'We'll Just Have to Agree to Disagree'
Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing to Give $80K Donation Back to Stillwater
St. Croix County has also contributed $20,000 to the Coalition.
According to the Jan. 10 Stillwater Township Board minutes, the Coalition asked the township for a $1,000 contribution, but the Board’s consensus was to “respectfully decline as we do not see a clear community benefit.”
A discussion about the contribution is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday during the City Council meeting at Oak Park Heights City Hall.
Click here to see the full agenda.
I have gone through a few articles here to try and get a handle on how much has been paid to The Coalition and lobbyists in the last year and a half, and who has made these payments. This is the information I have found so far, but if there are errors, they are mine alone, and please feel free to correct me: Washington County: ($10,000 in 2011 and $15,000 in 2012) TOTAL: $25,000 St Croix County: ($10,000 in 2011 and $10,000 in 2012) TOTAL: $20,000 Hudson: $2,500 New Richmond: $2,500 Stillwater: $40,000 lost in a botched attempt to improperly give The Coalition TIF money $10,000 September 2012 to The Coalition $15,000 Approved to pay lobbyist in February 2012 $18,000 total for $1500/month for a year paid to the Conach Group for lobbying ------------- $83,000 paid (or lost) by the city of Stillwater From the article above: "In order for the coalition to be successful, the letter says, it is important to raise “half its budget from the public sector, equally between Minnesota and Wisconsin.”" First, I don't know that it is the public's responsibility to make the COALITION successful and yes, we certainly need this to be more "equal" being as this is supposed to be a "regional benefit". I am grateful that at least one of our new council members has said that he will not vote to give this group any more money.
What the heck are they doing with this money? Supposedly their agenda is to educate the public at this point but of-course I believe that they continue to pay their preferred (cough, cough) lobbyists. Before anyone or any entity donates, they really should be asking for a tally of where the money is going. As a tax payer in Stillwater and Washington County, I certainly want to know how it's being spent. How on earth can this bridge be stopped if the last obstruction (OPH's mayor) has been removed?
I'm curious and may do some checking into how many Sunnyside condos and townhouses have been put up for sale since last March when the president signed it. I certainly feel for them.
As an aside, the council still gets full medical, if they wish. Those who take such largesse should be ashamed. They all have careers offering such a thing. Even the Mayor, who pretends fiscal frugality has his face in that trough. But I digress...
I can say that I have corresponded with Ted Kozlowski since the election. I look forward to seeing how he will vote going forward, and I have hopes that he will not be so free with the checkbook. I agree that a part-time, temporary job should not allow for benefits for the individual (and family?) for life. This is one area where I strongly agreed with Mr. Corbett. I guess we will see, it's going to be interesting.
Sec. 22-3. - Salaries established. Each council person of the City of Stillwater shall, during the term of office, be paid the sum of $600.00 per month, said sum to be paid monthly. The mayor of the City of Stillwater shall, during the term of office, receive the sum of $750.00 per month, payable monthly. Total salaries for the five members of the council for 2011: $37,800. Total for health benefits paid in 2011 for council members: $19,766: This breaks down to $1,647 per month so I doubt that the council members continue to get health insurance after their term....I stand corrected. I would be curious to know which council members and if we are paying for family members as well. Mike is right, I find it ludicrous that we are paying health benefits for part time, temporary positions.
Just build the dang thing already. Before the old one collapses and people get killed.