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| Isanti Council changes mayoral term to four years |
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| Wednesday, 18 November 2009 | |
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By Rachel Kytonen rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com When the next mayor of Isanti takes the oath of office in January 2011, he or she will begin serving a four-year term. Following a public hearing, by a 3-2 vote, the Isanti City Council approved an ordinance changing the mayoral term from a two-year term to four years. The change will take effect after the next mayoral election in November 2010. Council members Jeff Kolb and Sue Larson voted against the motion during the council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 17. Mayor George Wimmer, whose term ends Dec. 31, 2010, first brought up the ordinance change in October and the council called for a public hearing on the matter at its Nov. 4 meeting. At the previous meeting, Wimmer explained several reasons for changing the mayoral term such as: out of the 32 locally elected positions, only the mayors of Braham and Isanti occupy two-year terms; a majority of responses from the Mayoral Association leaned toward a four-year term and thought changing it would attract better candidates; and economic development and major city projects, such as Ever Cat Fuels and the wastewater treatment plant, took around three years to complete. Resident John Bettendorf, who said at the Nov. 4 meeting the public should have a voice on the proposed term change, was the first to speak at the public hearing. “I’m concerned about changing the mayor’s term from two to four years,” Bettendorf said. “It limits the citizens’ ability to bring in a new majority...As far as a four-year term attracting more candidates, largely this is a volunteer position, even though you’re paid a small salary. I think for a community of this size, our spare time is precious and the amount of time we have to volunteer is even more precious and a four-year term is a long commitment. Four years is a much longer commitment and it will be more difficult to attract quality candidates,” Bettendorf said. Bettendorf was also concerned changing the mayoral term would take away control of the direction of the city away from the citizens. “All of you have done very good things for the city, but I feel the citizens need to remain with the control,” Bettendorf said. Mark Reller of Isanti thanked the council for lowering the city’s taxes, prior to voicing his support for changing the mayoral term. “I think the term should be a four-year term,” Reller said “The mayor doesn’t have more power than any other council persons. I think the power should be with the council, not the city staff. The council should be directing city staff. “I feel you would get more qualified people if they didn’t have to run every two years,” Reller said. Kolb said he heard a lot of good arguments on both sides of the issue. “It really comes down to the size of our city; are we a big city or a small city,” Kolb said. “Both Cambridge and Elk River are four-year cities. It really comes down to control of the system. “I’m still in favor of a two-year term, even though I know the reasons for changing it, especially with economic development. But if the mayor is doing a good job, they’ll get re-elected and continue on with economic development,” Kolb added. Wimmer noted the city of Cambridge changed its mayoral term to a four-year term four years ago. “Once a city gets to a certain complexity, it takes a considerably long time to get up to speed, and you do need extra time,” Wimmer said. Council Member Ross Lorinser voiced his reasons for voting in favor. “With this position there is an extreme learning curve and you have to learn how to work with the public, city staff and the council,” Lorinser said. “I’ve been here nine months and I’m still learning something new everyday. “It’s a lot of work in these positions, and double with the mayor. Almost every other term in politics is four years. I saw both sides on this, but it makes sense with continuity. Your vote is not being taken away and your democracy is not being taken away. Your vote still counts,” Lorinser concluded. Isanti Villa Apts. The council continued a discussion from its Nov. 4 meeting regarding the parking situation at Isanti Villa Apartments. Bob Brama, with Isanti Villa Apartments, 102 Dahlin Ave., talked at the Nov. 4 meeting about the impact a garage fire has had on his tenants during citizen’s input. Brama explained his tenants lost the use of their garages due to a fire that happened about a six weeks ago. Nine units were damaged and every garage door was kicked in to check for fire. None of the 22 garages are usable, and 17 cars are now having to park elsewhere, he added. Brama said at the meeting parking had become a problem for tenants due to the loss of garage space, and some have been parking on Dahlin Avenue and getting ticketed due to winter parking restrictions. At the Nov. 17 meeting, Lieutenant Gene Hill said he was notified the parking garages should be completed by next Tuesday. Following discussion, by a 4-1 vote, with Lorinser voting against, the council approved a motion allowing on-street parking in the segment by Dahlin Ave, in between Broadway and Main Street until Dec. 1. The motion states prior to a snowfall, the apartment building should get notified so residents can move their cars off the streets. The council’s motion also forgives any tickets any residents of the building might have received due to winter parking restrictions. Lorinser voted against the motion indicating he felt a hardship needed to be proven, and wanted to see apartment building management try to work with adjacent property owners. “I don’t see it being a hardship because there have been very few tickets written in that area, so it means others have found a place to park,” Lorinser said. |
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