I have heard it asked many times:
Who does the mayor answer to?
There has to be some agency that oversees our small village. There has to be a way to make sure our "leaders" are doing as they are supposed to, or somewhere to go when you are unhappy with something in a village system.
The State Attorney General's Office? That's the closest I get.
And at that point, what's at stake? Our incorporation? Do we become the next New Rome, Ohio if we complain? No one wants that (except perhaps a very boisterous audience member at the 2011 Candidate's Night).
The answer given to a resident who asked at Coffee with Council last year was: The Mayor. Or write a letter to the President of Council.
So if you have a problem with the way council or the mayor handles something, according to them the way to approach it is to write a letter to them. Once that doesn't work...I'm not sure what residents are supposed to do.
Thoughts?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
February Council Meeting - Garage Sale Ordinance
The February Council Meeting is tomorrow night, 7pm. I am unable to attend due to previous obligations, but I wanted to share something with everyone, and I hope that more people will attend.
On the Minerva Park Website, there is an Ordinance to be read tomorrow about Garage Sales.
The legislation is available here: http://minervapark.org/legislation/2012/01-2012_garage-sales.doc
This includes limiting sales to 3 days maximum, 9am to 6pm, permits (with fee) required 3 days in advance, which includes giving permission to any Minerva Park personnel to inspect the sale, signs are restricted in size and format in that they must be free-standing and not have balloons, streamers, or other attention catching attachments.
The list goes on, so I encourage residents to read the legislation. Speak up if you are dissatisfied with it. Not just here, either!! Go to the meetings, send e-mails, talk to "your" council members. Document it, if you can, because that's the only way to keep them honest at this point. That's why I do it.
I do see the value in limiting sales to keep our neighborhood from becoming a swap meet, but really, is this an issue at present? Do we need to limit the specific hours residents can have sales? What about summer time when it's daylight until 9pm and maybe people have to work until 5, and people are out and about in the evening? And two per year? That's it, even if you co-host?
And what about the MPCA garage sale? Does that count as one of your two per year??
These rules seem a little invasive to me, and I know I am not alone in thinking that.
-Jessica Rhoads
On the Minerva Park Website, there is an Ordinance to be read tomorrow about Garage Sales.
The legislation is available here: http://minervapark.org/legislation/2012/01-2012_garage-sales.doc
This includes limiting sales to 3 days maximum, 9am to 6pm, permits (with fee) required 3 days in advance, which includes giving permission to any Minerva Park personnel to inspect the sale, signs are restricted in size and format in that they must be free-standing and not have balloons, streamers, or other attention catching attachments.
The list goes on, so I encourage residents to read the legislation. Speak up if you are dissatisfied with it. Not just here, either!! Go to the meetings, send e-mails, talk to "your" council members. Document it, if you can, because that's the only way to keep them honest at this point. That's why I do it.
I do see the value in limiting sales to keep our neighborhood from becoming a swap meet, but really, is this an issue at present? Do we need to limit the specific hours residents can have sales? What about summer time when it's daylight until 9pm and maybe people have to work until 5, and people are out and about in the evening? And two per year? That's it, even if you co-host?
And what about the MPCA garage sale? Does that count as one of your two per year??
These rules seem a little invasive to me, and I know I am not alone in thinking that.
-Jessica Rhoads
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Cardinal in Minerva Park
I happened to catch this cardinal in my lens the other day, and I wanted to share with everyone.
These photos were taken in my backyard, here in Minerva Park.
I'm sorry I couldn't get more photos of him or a better angle, he was running from me while I tried to get a shot so I let him go.
Cardinals are fairly common here in winter, as they are our state bird and all.
These photos were taken in my backyard, here in Minerva Park.
Cardinals are fairly common here in winter, as they are our state bird and all.
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