I must share a public thank you to a gentleman named Eric Zaetsch (someone else from the far end of the alphabet) from Ramsey, who kindly alerted me that he had posted about this blog page on his blog, "Developers are Crabgrass." I appreciate the feedback on my blogsite, Eric, and best wishes to you as a blogger - I've added your blog as one I'm planning to follow regularly.
One bit of pleasant news this week - I was officially endorsed by my union for the Andover City Council. AFSCME Council 5 has endorsed me (for a list of their endorsements, check the AFSCME Council 5 site at http://www.afscmemn.org/). For partisan races, the lists includes both Democrats and Republicans (though fewer, certainly). This next week, I'll be attending my first Council 5 Executive Board meeting in South St. Paul.
Cheryl and I took Friday off from work to do some driving lit drops in Andover. We've covered most of the 1st precinct in northwest Andover - following Julie Trude last weekend - and finding much of her literature remaining in the boxes out there - and Tony Howard, who's out with his own campaign literature throughout the city. Many of Tony's brochures, as well as those of Commissioner candidate Matt Look, are landing on the street and yards, unfortunately, after another couple of breezy days. Matt Look's group should be alerted that the Post Office does not want these brochures pinned by the red flags on the box - quite a few of Matt's were, in the Tulip St./7th Ave. areas of town.
I've finished door-knocking in my own neighborhood. I started last Sunday, and over four evenings this week - about an hour or so at supper time each night - finished walking my own neighborhood. Besides my own short block on 158th Ln, I walked Drake from 156th Ln to 159th Ave, then up to 160th. Off of 160th, I met neighbors living on Eagle St., including the original owners of the entire parcel, who I discussed the changes in the past five-or-so years, and the need for work on Hanson Boulevard - including a suggestion to expand the four lanes to City Hall for better traffic flow in the rush hours. I visited the Avocet St. circle off of 156th Ln, and Avocet St. where Oak View Park is located. I talked to neighbors on Crane St. from south of my block up to County Road 20, then crossed over into the newer development north of 161st Ave. And I talked to folks living on 156th Ln. to where it intersects with Yellow Pine St. and 159th Ave. between Hanson Blvd. and Crane St.
I never realized how many dogs were in my neighborhood - well over half the homes have dogs; big dogs, little dogs, dogs with big barks, dogs with little yips. I have a brand new appreciation of the need for a dog park in our community. And a brand new appreciation for the need for a pet store - like a Petco or Pet Smart - in this vicinity. Wow!
And I have a new appreciation for my own neighborhood. It goes beyond people being pleasant when I pointed out I'm a neighbor - or someone living nearby. I was genuinely wished well in this venture of running for the Council. I was asked good questions - informed questions. One neighbor asked for the environmental implications of my candidacy. Where do I stand on our use of the Elk River site for trash and refuse? I've got a new topic to read and learn more about. It was a great questuion, and my neighbor knows a lot more about it than I do, and I now have a new source to go and discuss this with, when I want to know more about the topic.
So, this weekend, I need to finish my League of Women Voter's guide answers, prepare opening and closing remarks for Monday night's candidate forum at City Hall, and get out to do some more door-knocking and lit-dropping. I'm coloring in my map to represent where we've been - over a 1/3 is filled in; by the end of the weekend, it has to be over half-filled. We're getting there!
We also bought pumpkins today and candy last weekend. Halloween approaches (and I have seen some great decorations, already - including the early prep that my neighbors Shawn and Rochelle have started - they have the "Halloween house" on our block every year!), so we got a giant pumpkin and some others this year, and Cheryl and I have to make time for some important carving work, too.
Finally, I'm a history buff! Not only did I teach history once upon a time, but I buy history books and biographies by the boatload, and for the last several years, I've been an annual subsciber to the Minnesota Historical Society's History Forum series hosted by Danielle Dart. Well, tomorrow I call a campaign timeout in the afternoon. Professor John Ferling, author of "The Ascent of George Washington" will be speaking about the first President, Saturday at the Minnesota History Center, at 2:00. Dr. Ferling has also written two other books I own, "Almost a Miracle" (Revolutionary War) and "A Leap in the Dark" (the early years of the new American Republic). I'm looking forward to hearing his lecture on Washington - after a morning (and later an evening) of campaign activity. An early start is necessary on Saturday!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Anoka County Union Candidate Questionnaire
Here's a preview of my answers for the voter's guide that will be appearing in the October 22nd issue. Eric Hagen, of the Union, who covers Andover news and Council and Commission meetings is coordinating the responses from the Andover candidates.
1. Biographical Information:
Name: Wes Volkenant
Age: 54
Years Lived in Andover: 10
Family: Wife – Cheryl Volkenant
Education: Graduate – Anoka High School; St. Cloud State University (B.S. – Secondary Education – Social Studies Major); post-graduate work in Special Education (St. Cloud State and Mankato State Universities)
Occupation and Civic Involvement: Training Specialist in the Human Services & Public Health Department of Hennepin County; former member of City of Anoka Charter Commission; Vice President and Newsletter Editor of AFSCME Local 34 (Hennepin County Social Services); member of the statewide AFSCME Council 5 Executive Board; former Vice President of the Jackson, MN Education Association; former Finance Committee Chair of United Methodist Church of Anoka
2. What are two of my biggest issues?
First, as Andover continues to work with issues that balance both its traditional rural roots and its more recent identity as a suburban commuter community, transit and road concerns have become very apparent. Key arterial roads in the city – north of Bunker Lake Blvd. – such as parts of Crosstown and Hanson Boulevards and 161st and 181st Avenues have deteriorated and become dangerously worn. Many of our neighborhoods need safer, marked right-turn lanes to exit off those higher-speed main roads. Despite the potential financial costs to the City, Andover’s 30,000+ residents would benefit from a transit line or extended MTC routes from Anoka or Coon Rapids along Bunker Lake and Hanson Boulevards.
Second, Andover continues to face economic development struggles, and the City should reduce barriers that have limited restaurant and retail opportunities in the city. Driving the large square that most city businesses exist along, Andover needs to upgrade the image it presents visitors and residents headed to City Hall/Community Center along Hanson Boulevard. Andover needs to consider industrial opportunities along its north-south rail line and in Station North, and it needs to address the lack of any businesses in the northwest portion of the city.
3. What ideas do I have to further reduce the city budget or are there services you feel have been reduced too much?
As a public employee, I strongly value government services, and I appreciate and value our City of Andover employees. This city operates a very lean budget, as it has regularly limited property taxes and reduced city services. This summer, residents were now responsible for disposing of storm-damaged trees. Last winter, snowplowing was only done during heavier snowfalls. City employees regularly cover for each other at City Hall, and sometimes no one is available to help. The first priority in the 2011 budget, if added funds are found, is to restore one Public Works position that was laid off. What services are limited without that position being filled? I wouldn’t favor further involuntary furloughs and lay-offs.
My first choice isn’t to raise taxes, but it isn’t to pronounce “no more taxes” either. Instead of a maximum levy of 0% this September, a more responsible choice would have been 1 - 2%. This would have provided a safety net for unexpected budget expenses, such as the October request to offset the hockey warming house shortfall, instead of massaging the 2010-2011 Park & Rec. Commission budget. City Administrator Dickinson could still have submitted a lean 0% levy-based budget in December.
4. Should the city council be granting exemptions to the hunting ordinance? What is my opinion about the city’s hunting ordinance and the prohibitive and restricted zone map?
This question stems from the Council’s decision to permit two weekends of deer bow hunting in December, within the Restricted Zone South. I agree with the Council’s summertime vote, which placed definitive time and location restrictions on the activity, and which was both sought – and agreed to – by the residents affected by the decision.
In some parts of Andover, residents awaken to the sound of a gunshot this fall, just as others will enjoy the sounds of nature and the occasional sight of pheasants and deer in our neighborhoods. Those are not common sights and sounds everywhere in the metro area, but often are in Andover. Parts of our community remain rural. We still have dirt roads in Andover, such as Ward Lake Drive, 167th Ave. and Butternut south of Andover Blvd.
Restricted hunting is permitted north of County Road 20, as well as in two large, relatively open spaces south of 20. I’m not a hunter, but I believe those residents provided appropriate evidence for receiving their exemption. I’ve read Ordinance 394. It defines our city’s hunting rules very well. We should not neglect the traditional areas of Andover, or change them forever through the encroachment of suburban commuter neighborhoods.
Calls from Voters
I've had a couple of calls from voters who've received my campaign literature the past week or so. Mark from the Rum River Elementary area does not plan to vote for me - Mark does not seem to want any government services, and especially does not want to pay for any of the things that help make this a better world - particularly if they're intended to help what he perceives as other parts of town. I understand that Mark took a strong stance against the assessments his neighborhood received for the road improvements the City did in his area. The result of that work however, speaks for itself. That neighborhood has got a fine road system in place, now - and the neighborhood looks clean and attractive.
Mark was also upset that we taped our literature to his mail post, and did not put it in the mailbox. Mark, we're sorry if our tape took off any paint. We purposely purchased blue - and green - painter's tape, with the lower "stick'um" to avoid that. Before we started lit drops, I called the Post Office to understand the rules. Candidates can not put literature inside a US postal box, nor attach it to the box itself, such as rubber-banded on the red flag. But the post is considered acceptable. We've been using the green and black paper boxes wherever possible, and we've attached to wood, where we could. But sometimes, there's been just metal pipes available, or in Mark's case, a beautifully-lacquered post, which we weren't sure would hold onto the tape well-enough.
We were following Julie Trude throughout the northern part of the City - her cards were in many of the boxes, so she or her friends must have been an hour or two ahead of us. This weekend, we drove through most of the area that is just east of Verdin, on across Verdin to Round Lake Blvd., and headed west to Tulip St. I'm surprised by all the dirt roads that remain in that area - 167th Ave.east of Verdin, part of 167th Ln. between Verdin and Round Lake - near opponent Shannen Schmeig's home, and Quay St. off Tulip, to name a few. But with the fall colors at a peak on this gorgeous weekend past, what a beautiful area to drive in. I loved the drive down 174th - what a beautiful street in the fall - I felt like I was in the North Woods off Lake Superior while driving in that neighborhood!
We also have done lit drops in the area south of Station Parkway and south of Bunker the last two weekends. On Saturday, I door-knocked in a couple of those neighborhoods - and on Sunday and this week ahead, I'm door-knocking in my own neighborhood (an odd feeling going to my neighbors' doors yesterday to give them my campaign literature as their candidate, and not just their neighbor...). From the neighborhood south of Tanner's last Sunday, I got a call from John, who wanted to know my position on guns, hunting, and the StarTribune editorial page. As to the editorial page, I used to like it, when it reflected my own liberal-leanings. With new ownership, I find the reporting and editorials much more slanted to the Republicans and conservatives than I'd like to see. The Pioneer Press already offered a conservative editorial page in town.
As to guns and hunting, in my next post, I'll reprint my answers for the Anoka County Union voter guide - the fourth question covers that very topic.
Mark was also upset that we taped our literature to his mail post, and did not put it in the mailbox. Mark, we're sorry if our tape took off any paint. We purposely purchased blue - and green - painter's tape, with the lower "stick'um" to avoid that. Before we started lit drops, I called the Post Office to understand the rules. Candidates can not put literature inside a US postal box, nor attach it to the box itself, such as rubber-banded on the red flag. But the post is considered acceptable. We've been using the green and black paper boxes wherever possible, and we've attached to wood, where we could. But sometimes, there's been just metal pipes available, or in Mark's case, a beautifully-lacquered post, which we weren't sure would hold onto the tape well-enough.
We were following Julie Trude throughout the northern part of the City - her cards were in many of the boxes, so she or her friends must have been an hour or two ahead of us. This weekend, we drove through most of the area that is just east of Verdin, on across Verdin to Round Lake Blvd., and headed west to Tulip St. I'm surprised by all the dirt roads that remain in that area - 167th Ave.east of Verdin, part of 167th Ln. between Verdin and Round Lake - near opponent Shannen Schmeig's home, and Quay St. off Tulip, to name a few. But with the fall colors at a peak on this gorgeous weekend past, what a beautiful area to drive in. I loved the drive down 174th - what a beautiful street in the fall - I felt like I was in the North Woods off Lake Superior while driving in that neighborhood!
We also have done lit drops in the area south of Station Parkway and south of Bunker the last two weekends. On Saturday, I door-knocked in a couple of those neighborhoods - and on Sunday and this week ahead, I'm door-knocking in my own neighborhood (an odd feeling going to my neighbors' doors yesterday to give them my campaign literature as their candidate, and not just their neighbor...). From the neighborhood south of Tanner's last Sunday, I got a call from John, who wanted to know my position on guns, hunting, and the StarTribune editorial page. As to the editorial page, I used to like it, when it reflected my own liberal-leanings. With new ownership, I find the reporting and editorials much more slanted to the Republicans and conservatives than I'd like to see. The Pioneer Press already offered a conservative editorial page in town.
As to guns and hunting, in my next post, I'll reprint my answers for the Anoka County Union voter guide - the fourth question covers that very topic.
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