Apparently, the stubbornness within the halls of Minnesota’s state government and its leaders have shown they have no qualms about ruining vacations and holidays for thousands of instate residents as well as visitors to Minnesota; the majority of them even believe they deserve to be paid for their non-compromising stance. Among them are Republican House Representative Morrie Lanning (district 9-a) and Democratic House Representative Paul Marquart (district 9-b) and Democratic Senate Leader Keith Langseth.

What happens to those who are laid off due to the legislative non-compromising? In Clay County a letter will go out warning of the layoffs.

If Clay County workers are laid off, will their health benefits continue? No. Workers will be eligible for their health care to move into COBRA status. One wonders how anyone pays for their health care through COBRA when the monthly cost for a family ranges anywhere between $900 and $2,000 per family when they have no income coming in?

What are the Clay Commissioners thinking concerning layoffs? Why do it? Consider this: if the county eats the missing revenue normally funded by the state, by continuing the programs and keeping the staff who run the programs, who will eventually pick up and pay the amount the state didn’t pay? CLAY COUNTY CITIZENS. How? Very likely every person in Clay County would see their PROPERTY TAXES go up, and whatever revenue reserves are available could easily be depleted. There are approximately 150 to 160 employees within Social Services of Clay County and Clay County Public Health. Is that what you want to do to enable all the programs and people employed by both state and county funds to continue in Clay County? Each person living in Clay County should think about that, and if you have a strong, passionate feeling, let your representative Commissioner hear how you feel. This is not anything the Clay County Commissioners want to do, or the Administration for Clay County or their Department Directors. This is a position they all regret being placed in, and when shaking your fist, keep in mind this is primarily due to the Republicans of Minnesota who do not want to raise the taxes on anyone making a million dollars or more a year.

In Clay County, what programs will be effected by the stance of non-compromising partisan leaders with their own agendas? According to the Clay County Commissioners who discussed this very topic with administration staff members from Social Services and Public Health Tuesday morning, the programs are Sliding Fee Child Care services; Staff for Child Protection; SELF adolescent Services (summer programs); Child Mental Health Screening-Fast Track & Flex Funds. Also at risk are several programs that are funded by grants, such as: Adult Mental Health BCOW; PATH; CSP; SOAR — all grant funded.

What about all the state-funded projects? Bob Zimmerman, Chief Engineer for the city of Moorhead, tells me there are a couple that are on hold and will remain so until the state shutdown is over and the mega-mess is figured out. One is the completion of 34th Street and also the pedestrian underpass on 40th Avenue. Another is completion of the paving on a portion of the flood mitigation project off the freeway (I-94). Projects such as paving 28th Avenue, scheduled for 2012, will no doubt be delayed, as will the additional lane to be laid on 50th Avenue South and the proposed (and in this writer’s opinion, ill conceived) median construction on 20th Street South from 12th Avenue heading northward to 6th Avenue S.,

I have a question, however, for which I have yet to receive an answer from any of the legislators I contacted. Would any of them be willing to contribute any or all of the money they receive for campaigning back into their respective county coffers to make up for the loss of state revenue while the shutdown is ongoing?

So how about it, Morrie, Paul and Keith? You aren’t letting go of your salaries; what about the pot of gold that gets each of you re-elected term after term? I’m sure there are several organizations who will lose or at least be short on funding within in Clay County due to the political squabbling that has shut down our state and would certainly appreciate any donations from any one of you. Or, perhaps a fund could be started for any and all county employees laid off who will lose their health benefits and have to switch over to Cobra status until the partisan talking heads get things straight and start up the engines running Minnesota once again.

AMERICAN CRYSTAL NEGOTIATIONS

After receiving a few calls from people associated with the American Crystal plants in Moorhead and Hillsboro, I started asking a few questions, and in return got a few more calls.

Deciding it was time to get to the bottom of what I was hearing, I called American Crystal and spoke with the Vice President of Administration, Brian Ingulsrud.

American Crystal’s 1,300 union workers have been negotiating or attempting to negotiate a new contract since May. Their present contract expires on July 31, 2011. Brian Ingulsrud said in the event there is no new contract negotiated and agreed upon by July 31, all union members will not be allowed to work from August 1, 2011 until a new contract between American Crystal and the union has been agreed upon. As to whether American Crystal administration plans on a “lock out” or a layoff in an effort to replace long-time employees, no, there is not a plan for this. I asked if once a contract is agreed upon by all the concerned parties, will all who want to return to their jobs be allowed to without having to reapply, Mr. Ingulsrud replied “yes – once a contract is agreed.” Hopefully, this will dispel the rumor that American Crystal wants to divest itself from “older, long-term” employees.

I asked how the beet crop looked for this year. So far it isn’t promising. Mr. Ingulsrud reports due to the very wet year the valley has experienced, this year’s beet crop will more than likely be less than average years.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

We must not wish for the disappearance of our troubles but for the grace to transform them.

—Simone Weil

Soo can be reached at 701-799-0992 or 218-233-8604 or email: asheimrote@aol.com

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