East Grand Forks mayor’s plan to fund nonprofits raise questions
November 13, 2012 at 4:02 pm in Grand Forks Herald
East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss wants to give profits from the city’s 125th celebration back to local nonprofit organizations. However, he first needs to find chores for the groups and receive City Council approval. Continue Reading
“East Grand Forks recipients of the profits under his plan would be… …Sacred Heart Education Foundation”
Perfect. Kickbacks from Government to Religion. Why would I expect politicians to honor the Constitution?
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i’d like to see exactly where the money came from. don’t they have to record stuff like that? did the city actually make a profit? they didn’t seem to be selling much for products or services that i saw during the weekend. i saw restaurants and vendors selling things, but not the city. and unless those fireworks (which were awesome) were completely donated… i bet those were a pretty penny. and the bands could not have been free. must be some of that East Side Math the mayor is using.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Don’t assume everyone in EGF uses that math. He’s got a method that’s all his own.
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I would like to see proof there was a profit also….and why choose non-profits that already have well established fund raising programs. Why not the soccer club or youth basketball association, both of which are trying to get established to expand opportunities in EGF (not everyone plays hockey)
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There’s probably a remaining fund balance of $34,000. Why not transfer the funds to the General Fund and be done with it. That’s what every other city on the planet would do. There’s a reason donations by gov’ts are illegal. EGF will end up spending $5,000 in staff time baby sitting a bunch of volunteers, opening another of their many cans of worms. Hey, put it in the pool repair fund. Somebody tell your well-intended mayor that not every idea is a good idea. Tell him NO once in a while. My goodness, people.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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We tried to tell him no, but not enough of us were on board on Nov. 6. Now he thinks he has a blank check to do whatever he wants. We’ll see if the city council can reign him in….
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I agree with Alvin. The money should go into the general fund.
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I hoped EGF was going to get a new mayor but here we go again… And thanks Lynn for that monstrosity in the midddle of the river.
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I agree, the money should go back into the general fund. It gives the city back its $26,000 investment. Use the money for the pool. Why give it to non profits? In the scope of things $1,000 or $2,000 really isn’t going to make or break this organizations. I would however like to see the money be put to good use instead of funneled back into the city funded Boardwalk Restaurant and buying them a new Cadillac Escalde.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Exactly what does “kicked in” mean? Loaned $26,000 to the non-profit Heritage Foundation? Gave money? And the mayor wants to give “profits” back to local nonprofit organizations, but is having trouble finding a legal way to do this. What profits? Can a non-profit earn a profit? Something smells really bad here.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Grand Forks–East Grand Forks. Sister Cities united by local government corruption.
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For goodness sake! There’s no corruption here. This is public and wide open. Of course a city can help fund a 125th city anniversary. No auditor would frown on such a cooperative effort. Kicked in means they shared in the cost of a worthy event that’s city business everywhere. Donating to boy scouts or other things that are not city business is not legal use of public funds. I like Mayor Stauss. He’s just too much of a dreamer to me. I’ve probably disagreed with a lot of his promotions over the years. Crying corruption is unfounded and just odd. It’s sad that people agree with your cliche approach. I do think it was time for a change, though.
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I do not believe any of this is corruption either. To me it sounds like the event was a great success and he wants to put the “profit” back into the community instead of the city taking more from the citizens. There are some legal issues with his proprosal which will lead to it’s failure. The problem with his proprosal is every other non profit will want in on the proceeds and it will be hard to fairly distribute it evenly. Personally I do not where the profit could go but don’t criminalize someone for trying to do something good for the community.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Ron: we have to realize that there are certain bloggers who would cry about a deficit or a surplus. Budgets are always going to have one or the other. These “corruption” sound bytes come from lazy thinkers who can’t see good in anything. By any measure, this celebration was a success, but not to a few who think everyone is in on some “take.” It’s way beyond tiresome. I don’t share your level of loyalty to the mayor, but I do respect him. The city’s ponds deteriorated under his watch. It’s not his fault, but who ever heard of the maintenance budget for a several million dollar sewer pond not being funded in the sewer rate?
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Alvin,
I’ve read your posts many times and you are certainly levelheaded. But you may not have always followed EGF politics. Stauss isn’t necessarily corrupt, but he is self-serving. He will back projects that are better for his own interests. They may not be horrible for the community, but all other options are often “swept under the carpet” before people even know they are an option.
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I’ll give you that. I haven’t watched EGF politics that closely, but I’m hoping the council has made an honest effort in spite of some of the mistakes. I’m hoping the mayor’s motivation only comes off as self-serving. He seems to be a guy who has to have his way, especially on some of the artsy/craftsy things that have little value. I just tire of some of the strong language from posters who would cower in the corner if those things were said about them or if this was not an anonymous site.
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It’s not “anonymous” when the “user name” is a REAL name.
Not cowering in the corner. Still convinced that politics–and the supporting politician(s)–are crooked and defiant of the Constitution when the Government kicks back money to Religion.
Stauss ought to have his ass handed to him for that.
Schurkey WF Swanke
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Alvin, I’ve lived in this community a long time…even voted for Stauss at the beginning. He has a passion for politics and a bold, charismatic personality, I will give him that. The problem is, he has been there so long that he believes no one else can “do” anything…that he’s the only one that has the ideas that can make EGF shine. When that kind of thinking starts happening, people with honest-to-goodness thoughtful and innovative ideas are often pushed aside for fear of someone else being in control. I’ve witnessed it. As far as not using a real name…you yourself said awhile ago that you use an alias. I would use my real name, however, I am friends with his relatives and I cherish those friendships. EGF is just too small to be completely open with some of these opinions.
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What an honest and terrific post. You must have noticed that I agreed that it was time for a change in EGF. We are not exactly on the same page, but pretty darned close. Shurkey, on the other hand, is a complete paranoid goof. Good times, though.
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“Shurkey, on the other hand, is a complete paranoid goof. ”
Sorry, can’t respond. Too busy cowering in the corner.
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Alvin if Schurkey’s comments bother you than you shouldn’t read them. I would like to give you the same advice regarding alwayscorrect. Frankly I think your behavior rivals the flyingnurse’s. Both of you have a very high opinion of yourselves and your contributions to these threads.
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I have no idea why two people dislike your comment. I am a little overconfident and nurse is probably more so, but how can I unread one of Shurkey’s comments? I suppose I could just click dislike before I read it, but if you look at his body of work vs. mine, my goodness, you’re on the wrong side (in my extremely vain opinion). You and Shurkey like cliché sound bytes based on innuendo. I just don’t happen to. Free country, friend.
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You often complain about the tone on these threads. As I see it you are right in there with the worst of them. I may not agree with Schurkey or Alwayscorrect but I don’t need to slam them. It’s rude. There is no way around that.
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I agree, but I’m polite to 99.9%. I tend to treat rude and unfair with rude and obnoxious….no doubt about it. On other occasions, though, I’ll get 45 to 2 likes (see nov 14 above). Some people rub me the wrong way and I handle it like junior high.
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I was out of line. I’m was cranky due to the rude comment flyingnurse made to Gene a few days ago. I apologize.
The tone on these threads is depressing. I’m going to stop reading them.
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