Local view: Proctor annexation raises questions
April 2, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
As a Midway Township supervisor, I attend Proctor City Council meetings in an effort to keep communication lines open between our communities and to avoid misunderstandings that often have led to annexation disputes. The following is my view and may or may not represent the views of the entire Town Board.
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What an utter load of hogwash.
1. “I understand”? Err, no. The Olivers’ plans for that property was not made known to the City of Proctor. “I understand” must be a euphemism for “I’m about to misrepresent the facts for my own benefit”.
2. Aird attends Proctor City Council meetings because the Town Board for Midway is paranoid, not because they want to keep the lines of communication open. Moreover, he is paid for attending the meetings, which is a complete waste of taxpayer money.
3. The legal arguments they used taxpayer money to pay for are complete bunk. Get a copy of the court order if you want to confirm that for yourselves. The judge called their arguments “untenable” and “unsupported by the law.”
4. The town board members keep attacking the City of Proctor. This request for annexation came from the proeprty owner, not the City. They’re being dishonest by doing so.
5. The law is what it is. They’re throwing money away for their own selfish purposes without once thinking about the property owner or the citizens of Midway.
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It’s difficult to take comments such as these seriously when they appear to be predicated on the writer’s personal biases. Why is it paranoid to attend the council meetings of a neighboring community, particularly if the outcome of their actions affects Midway? Why is defending your township’s position an attack on the city of Proctor? Mr. Aird states that the request for annexation came from Mr. Oliver; I see no intent to deceive. There exists a reasonable cause for concern on the Midway Board of Supervisors, and it is not incumbent upon them to back down because standing up is unpopular with the city of Proctor. With better communication from all quarters, a more equitable solution might have been reached.
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My comments are predicated upon facts determined by two separate tribunals. It’s amusing how my comments are “biased”, according to you, and Aird’s comments are “factual”, according to you. Here is the unvarnished truth, whether you want it our not:
1. Aird attends the meetings to keep tabs on Proctor, not to ‘communicate’ with the city. How many other township officials attend every city council meeting from a neighboring city? You don’t have to be at every city council meeting for 2 straight years in order to “keep the lines open”. That’s a pure fabrication to justify doing so and being paid to do so.
2. Fabricating phony arguments that have been rejected by 2 tribunals now is not “standing up” for the town you represent. It’s being obstructionist, especially since it is the property owner’s desire to be annexed.
3. “Communication” isn’t the issue here; it’s the law, and going on a media blitz with innuendo and half-truths will not change that. Read the court order—maybe you’ll learn something about the real facts here.
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Hermantown incorporated as a chartered city to fend off annexation by Duluth decades ago. Pity the founding fathers didn’t adopt a more pleasing name like Ridgewood. Of course, Ridgewood shopping center was killed by Duluth and the name died with it. With overspill from Duluth and continued urbanisation in the surrounding townships, perhaps it’s time that Lakewood, Duluth (twp), Rice Lake and Midway townships incorporated as cities and a regional council of government was established on the Minnesota side of the Twin Ports. There’s already the Metro Interstate Comm and WLSSD. That way everyone could work toward a common goal to the benefit of greater Duluth. Each constituent municipality could continue to govern its sovereign matters while contributing to the planning and collective interests of the whole. Midway, please consider calling yourself Eldes Corner or another such name borrowed from the various localities in the township.
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The wall reads: “Either go with Proctor, who is willing to combine all of Midway and all of Proctor, or get your nice “Tenderloin” of land snipped off by Duluth and the rest cast aside”. Hermantown knew what they were doing and why they were doing it.
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