Williston, ND Active Issues

Sue Evans · Senior Member

RE: Sue's ideas

Sue Evans · Senior Member

I found a reply in the Herald. CJ writes they do not make things transparent for the world to see. Evidently not even for Williston to see. If it involves our tax dollars, which as I recall are not donated, I would like to know.

http://www.willistonherald.com/articles/2010/06/13/news/doc4c145d842b1af655878915.txt

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Steve Powell wrote:

Are you referring to Doc Hagens land?

I looked on Williams county tax site and can not find either hagen or cybaluk owning land in that area. I don't know. I did find reference in the city plan to that area being priority. First the cimmeron trailer court being put back into play then that property. In the city plan it states it as 90 acres. The plan is on the commission thread.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

No, from what my source says, and my understanding, it is land that belongs to Cymbaluk.

Steve Powell · Guru

Are you referring to Doc Hagens land?

Sue Evans · Senior Member

hmmm. Cymbaluk sold many acres for development west of town. Off of 26th past Pheasant run area..If my source is correct, 80 acres...

Sue Evans · Senior Member

No, the new one. They are already digging up over there.

NDGirl · Veteran Member

Origionally the company that bought it was planning on putting apartments for the elderly into the school. Possibly they are acting on this plan now. My guess is they are attempting to get the aspestus (spelling?) out of the building, since this is the reason we needed a new Jr High in the first place.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

What is going on at the Jr. High/ High School? Looks like they have quite a line going in? Was something not completed or faulty already?

Sue Evans · Senior Member

I see our parks president logged on rather often. No response as to the "Friends of the Parks and Rec" question.

I suggest either the parks work toward a full plan by the general election and disclose it to the citizens for a proper vote in November or be prepared to drop the issue until the next general election.

I want to see the master plan our city is working on. Perhaps we do not fully desire so many taxes. If we need to eliminate a couple small parks so that the parks and rec may manage better, then so be it. With the current expansion plans for the walking trails and the new playground donation by the Community Builders, we could stand to delete out dated areas. This would help to eliminate the constant emergency issues the parks have had lately. Perhaps we just learn to operate within a realm of what we know we can afford. Begin a new concept of managing with what we have instead of looking for more, bigger, better, and what the everyone else has.

Just because we have to operate in a budget does not mean we do not care about children.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Once again, I have to ask. Who are the "Friends of the Parks and Rec" that have stated they would pay for a special election for the Parks to obtain a penny tax? Is the money they use private funds? I did try a minor research of the Parks and Rec web site and really could not locate any reference to this. Any help out there to answer my questions?

If private people are that motivated to pay for an election, pay for employees to run the election, pay for the time the county would require to count the ballots...What is the cost?

Steve Powell · Guru

Sigma, you provide good insight...what are your thoughts on the one cent tax?

vko · Senior Member

Sue, keep up your good works. We all get to busy to stay on top of thing's. Especially when you move out of town. Although our Business keeps on paying the taxes, and rightfully so, but we just get taxed and forget why we are taxed. Your information has been a great source of new information. Thank You.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Who are the "friends of the parks and rec"? Is this total private money?

I would like to see if the parks and rec could accomplish their goals on a half cent. I am asking this because they have expressed the desire to keep this as a regular source of revenue. Our property would still fund other needs for the park such as pension and social security. I may be missing some here.

With "what if" ideals being tossed at us, the parks and rec still will have the ability to place mills upon our property.

I would also like to see if the parks want a full penny for a specific purpose or a list of needed projects, could we see that this would have an end once the list is complete?

I will support the tax if it can be put into a time limit for a specific need, such as the school did with the promise to dismiss upon completion or visit the half cent such as the county did with the building of the law enforcement center.

-- Edited by Sue Evans on Wednesday 9th of June 2010 08:45:54 PM

Steve Powell · Guru

I do believe Sue is right, however Darcy, that a special election will not receive the vote count that the March 2012 primary would receive. I don't think it will get a fair shake in a special election one way or the other. If it's voted down, it's all because of the decision to hold a special election. If it get's voted in, controversy is abound because someone knew it would slip past more of the taxpayers. Just suggesting to prevent hardship either way.

Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT against the one cent tax. However, I am more in favor of something that is not going to last forever and that is specific to certain projects and not merely for a budget.

Show me what you guys are going to do with the money, specifically what projects and when I can expect the 1 cent to come back up to re-vote, and I'm totally on your side and will be one of your biggest advocates.

DC · Member

I understand you are against the 1 cent sales tax idea...That is fine...but just so you know it wont cost the tax payers one red cent to have a special election...The Friends of Parks and Recreation will pay for it.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

I have to get back on track.

It looks as if our group which is looking to garner the penny tax for our park is tending more towards a special election. The parks board is capable of having the issue ready by the November elections so that we may have it on the ballot. They are getting advice to hold off until possibly next March and use a special election.

Special Election draws less voters than a primary.

The current penny for the school is due to retire late 2011 or early 2012 per my conversation with Dave Hanson, School Board President.

We are due for another general election in 2012. Perhaps if the park is in no hurry at this point in time to secure it in the current election, they would be willing to wait until at least the next primary. If this sales tax is not able to be retired until sometime in early 2012 anyway, then the primary election in June of 2012 would be a good time to seek the funds.
This would also save our tax dollars from being applied towards hosting an extra election.

NDGirl · Veteran Member

Sue,
I dont think getting to the truth is a problem. I think it is a great idea. I wish more people would seek the truth about rumors in town. Thanks!

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Steve Powell wrote:

Sue, who did you get the call from? EOG? What was the discussion?

NDGirl, let's not assume this is merely heresay from Sue as she may have recieved the phone call directly herself, in which case would not have been third party, relieving the idea that this is merely a rumor.

-- Edited by Steve Powell on Tuesday 8th of June 2010 09:18:16 AM

Steve,
I got the call from the President of the Citizens 4 Responsible Gov't. He had rec'd a couple calls from individuals asking about the calls they had rec'd.

He said the caller was identified as associated with EOG and encouraged a vote for Mayor Koeser.

I was asked if I knew anything about this. I said I had an excellent source to either verify or eliminate this issue. I felt since I was able to get such a quick answer on the Marcil group question, this was a perfect venue to check with. Many people visit here. I could get a better response and a quicker reply as to validate the conversations he had. Thus far...I have not had the result I had hoped for. I was neither able to verify nor eliminate. (this was my ultimate goal)

I am sorry for any problems the post may have posed.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

VOTE TODAY AT THE RAYMOND CENTER

Sue Evans · Senior Member

ND Girl,

Just checking to see if anyone here had heard the same thing. This forum is a great source to verify things. I can get passed the rumor mill much faster on here. Thank you

Steve Powell · Guru

Sue, who did you get the call from? EOG? What was the discussion?

NDGirl, let's not assume this is merely heresay from Sue as she may have recieved the phone call directly herself, in which case would not have been third party, relieving the idea that this is merely a rumor.

-- Edited by Steve Powell on Tuesday 8th of June 2010 09:18:16 AM

NDGirl · Veteran Member

Sue Evans wrote:

Now, odd, just a question, I got a call and wondering...
Is EOG Resources calling on behalf of Mayor Koeser around Williston? If this is true, why is an oil company interested in this? I was just told, it was EOG. The phone issue is a great tactic. It is the company that is conducting it that has me puzzled.

As someone who has lived in this town my entire life, I find this hard to belive. As anyone who has lived in this town for even a couple of months knows, this town is always talking about someone. Perhaps it is someone who works for EOG who is on his campaign. For how fast the rumors (true or not) fly around this town, people are going to hear it and believe it. Halibuton has gotten a bad rap in the past few months for untrue rumors that have been flying around town. While having people call you to voice their concerns is a great way to get the community involved in the city, you must also take a look at what is rumor and what you can prove based on facts. Many people have had their lives destroyed due to the "gossip queens" in this town. And while I will raise my family here, I will also instill in them not to believe everything they hear unless it is backed up by facts.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Now, odd, just a question, I got a call and wondering...
Is EOG Resources calling on behalf of Mayor Koeser around Williston? If this is true, why is an oil company interested in this? I was just told, it was EOG. The phone issue is a great tactic. It is the company that is conducting it that has me puzzled.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Thank you for explaining the Marcil group one. I knew I needed that one better explained. It was quite a different explanation I got from a person. I put it out there hoping some individual could give me a bit more valid info before I dedicated effort there. I will trust your word. THANK YOU.

-- Edited by Sue Evans on Monday 7th of June 2010 11:45:59 AM

NDGirl · Veteran Member

I would check into the Marcil group is not going to renew leases, before you jump the gun. My aunt lives in these apartments, and I called an asked her if she had heard about this with any of her neighbors. Some are moving out due to the high rent prices, and had been able to find other places cheaper, or bought a house recently, but she just renewed her lease the end of May and wasnt told anthing of the sort. I do know that a certain oil company that was paying for all of their workers rents are no longer paying for their rent, the workers have to pay it themselves, so that could be the contracts that people were talking about. A

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Wow for phone calls!

Lots and lots of great ideas coming in. I am also hearing a lot of frustration from people. The election is tomorrow.

If elected, I will need these calls to come into city hall. We can work together. I am thinking a special msg line for ideas, or a email box? I do like the direct calls also.

I was not aware of the new round of evictions. Marcil group is not going to renew leases that are up on many tenants due to a contract they made with ? .. I will need this one better explained.

OMG, so many, so well informed right now! I am proud of Williston!! Great conversations. I promise, even if I don't win this election I will still work towards being an advocate for this community. I will keep my web site going as long as my administrator wants to run it for me and I will continue on this forum.

Please, don't feel you can not email me on my web site or post on here. I know at times it seems rather spirited on the forum, but it is important to be heard. Perhaps Steve can start a thread that is just a guest thread, no one is allowed to rip into anothers post. Just make a statement and leave. A simple hello, I read .... and I had fun.

You can leave me a msg here or on my web site. www.sueevans.net

Sue Evans · Senior Member

I have been asked what do I stand for. Why vote for me. What does Ward stand for? I can not tell you what our Mayor stands for.

I can only hope to shed some light on myself.

1. I want to add a new ordinance that simply states if you are elected/appointed or have inside information, you can not use your private business in any manner to profit from the city while serving on any board. If you want to serve this city, you must do just that.

2. Our Mayor is a part time position. Right now, the Mayor is contacted at his place of business. I want the office brought back to city hall and run there full time. I am not talking a pay increase. I am talking a time issue. Participation issue.

3. I would like to audit our city expenditures.

    a. City officials taking trips. The cost vs. benefits - what could have been handled per
        phone
    b. Ordinance 921 and the allocation of our penny tax. 75% to infrastructure and property
        tax relief. Thus far zero went to property tax relief.
    c. The STAR Fund. We have directives that state matching funds and a primarty goal to
        keep this fund in Williston and Western ND. This has not been done. The commission
        has read this incorrectly and cited it as wording issues. We need to put that in order.
4. I would like to assure no more private board meetings. Special elections should be reserved for extreme cases.

5. I want to see fair treatment for all business and citizens in this city. No fear. I have had people who are aprehensive about rocking the boat due to future projects because the city could make it difficult for them later. We should never fear our elected officials.

6. I want to encourage a transparent and open city government. This is important. It is not good enough to tell the citizens we spent $1800 of your money on a VISA card. What did we charge on that card? Why did we take $100'000 of your penny tax money and give it to the TRE, why are we using the jobs creation fund to rebuild store fronts and help pay rent for a business? Yes these are things that are happening. Your property is levied for a band every year. Should we all take a closer look?

7. We do understand the incredible need for infrastucture and housing. How about the road blocks? Do most of you understand what happened with the housing project behind McVay off of University? It needed more oversight than what it had. It should have been done by now. Our city signed as the sub recipient for the federal funds and should have assured the bills were getting paid. We needed that housing yesterday.

8. I stand for term limits. For all elected officials.

In April the Governor was here and we needed help developing up to 250 lots for infrastructure to grow.

In May I was corrected and told we had 2 lots left and alerted to the fact they had been sold.

June, Senator Conrad is here and Mayor Koeser reports to him we have less than 50 lots left.

What do we - the tax payer - own?

This city is ours. I want to include all of us.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

The Herald is allowing me to speak again. They sent me 10 questions. The answers are due by 3pm on Wednesday. Mayor Koeser, The commissioners up for election and myself will all be asked the same questions. I was told we are limited to 100 word responses. Anything more will be edited by Nick Smith. It has been difficult to answer questions for people. I have been told my blogs on the Herald are not allowed. I did not violate policy. They were to political. The limited space for response will be difficult to state what is needed for the comprehensive type of questions asked. If there are more questions that need to be addressed I am open to talk on here or my web site. www.sueevans.net

Sue Evans · Senior Member

http://www.sorumdesignbuild.com/index.html

If any of you remember me talking to you about Paul Sorum and housing, here is a project from his web site he is working on in Stanley. I want to bring this type of project to Williston.

This could be done with even less cost. Block grants, City grants, (NO TIF districts) using property such as they used with the Waters Edge housing project behind McVay, that was commercial and was changed to residential, sell it for a buck, we could bring down many of the costs for this type of project. Paul Sorum could help us. Grants and decreased land purchase prices, would greatly reduce the over all development costs. The tenants may also opt on a 5% return. This would reduce the rents. There are many ways to control the costs.

Just take a look.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

I have been reading different blogs and find many statements that hmmmmm.(not just this forum)

No, I don't think we should build on a cemetary. I am talking empty lots that gather weeds and mosquitos. Empty being the key word.

I did post the 2006 study on this forum that does reveal how to obtain funds for building. It is 80 pages. The City of Williston paid for this study. It was well done.

I do understand our business community has a percentage of income from visitors. Our city also awarded a grant for a tour that can come through our area. It would be great. I do question if we had an occasional tour bus come through, do we have a place for these wonderful visitors to stay?

I am not just pointing out the facts. I am trying to show the community how we may also use our existing tax dollars, for now, and then they can go back to the nature in which they were intended if need be, or in the case of the Jobs Creation fund, if possible deleted and our taxes can be decreased. Just concentrate on the issues at hand. Housing. AFFORDABLE. I do not want to see an up swing in taxes but ways to correct the problems we are having. We have many many intelligent citizens in our city. What are your ideas? We Can do this together.

romoisajedi · Senior Member

good discussion here,

as soon as I have a yard to put it in I'll need one of your signs! :)

Sue Evans · Senior Member

1. Visitor Promotion Fund.

It is at $315'056. I am not against visitors nor am I telling visitors to stay away. I feel we are bursting in this town right now. This money could be allocated to a better use. Housing is more important for those who are here now.

2. The Jobs Creationg Fund.

It is at $985'000. We have jobs. For the year 2010 this is the amount appropriated from our penny tax. It still reads Jobs creation. I understand what we voted on in ordinance 921. It isn't working, nor the new idea, to apply this money to pay the rent for a business or buy them a new sign or aid in a new store front for a business. We need housing for all.

Affordable housing is the goal. The governor was here in early April discussing the infrastructure and the development of 250 lots.

My ad was designed to demonstrate how others are living. I do feel rents are insane. Perhaps there are people who do not understand this. I will not say I am sorry for my statement. This is my belief. Rent in MY opinion is high. I did call the motel/hotels listed and asked the clerks for rates. I did inquire about weekly and monthly discounts. There is a hospitality tax for this industry. So it is my understanding the tax is higher then. I used my cell phone so that I would not show up on caller ID. This was done on the afternoon of May 5th. It was done to demonstrate the cost of living in this manner. Not to shame an industry. My goal is not to hurt business, but to push towards housing that the average person in the service sector may afford.

Williston residents pay higher for grocery, gas, and many other products. Our sales tax is higher. Wages in the service sector can not keep up. There are many hot heads and lots of fingers pointing and blaming industry workers. We need to work together to cool this down. If we have the information as to where the money can come from, no new tax, use what we have, this can work. NO malice intended.

I am not trying to out drive the headlights. Paul Sorum has shown me a way that the people can participate in an LLC owning their own apartment buildings. We can be proactive. The developer will pay for the infrastructure through assessments. The LLC can then determine the rent, rate of return on investment and design a functional building that can accomodate their needs. We can find the contractors. This is a can do project.

If we can form grants with our tax dollars for new signs for a business, could we apply that money instead towards housing? We have paid the rent, $5'000 for one business, I would rather vote for money towards a housing complex.

We have other projects that are in the works. Overly grand signs that say Welcome to Williston. A portion to be paid by the Feds. The Feds get their money from us also. We are responsible for the $8'000 design fee on one sign, not to forget our percentage and the cost to care for it in the future. I am just saying think of what is more important first. Our share cost of a $50'000 welcome sign or perhaps we should look at a traffic signal. Stick with the ol' green reflective sign for now.

Yes, I am conservative, and I don't want to see a raise in any taxes. I would like to see a way to lower them. I think this could be done.

-- Edited by Sue Evans on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 11:03:53 PM

Sue Evans · Senior Member

If anyone would like, I have yard signs ready. Leave me a msg here or on www.sueevans.net and I will get one to you. Thank you.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

The text of the Declaration of Independence. We were born with our rights. Our rights are not issues under the constitution.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=1&oq=declara&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4TSHB_enUS286US292&q=declaration+of+independence+text

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text.html

-- Edited by Sue Evans on Thursday 8th of April 2010 03:41:50 PM

Sue Evans · Senior Member

New web site under construction by a wonderful person

www.sueevans.net

Sue Evans · Senior Member

VKO
your posts are just fine. I have gotten busy again. I finally got back here today. My grand kids will color eggs with me this afternoon.

I have gotten much information and passed it on to the State. I wish I knew how to convey it on here. Transparency is so important.

Gov. Hoeven will be here on the 6th. Call the chamber and secure a seat at the El Rancho for the luncheon. Our city will be going into a rather large bond debt. We all must be informed the full amounts, and what the full intent of our city is with this money. We already have our penny tax bonded until 2020 for infrastructure along with other bond debts. It would be nice to have a full accounting of all debt prior to obligating our city into further issue. I have not found how much we still owe on our water plant. If this is a hundred million as I had heard we need to know what we are doing. ALL OF US.

vko · Senior Member

Sue please keep posting, and people you know. If I could post better I would. You bring great information I keep looking at. I do not have the energy or time to gather this information you bring. Please.

rwaitman · Senior Member

Sue Evans wrote:

I had one individual contact me. They had called city hall. This person was referred to the Auditor who I had given my petition to in order to be placed on the ballot. Our Auditor claimed no knowledge of how to contact me. It should be recorded now. hmmm. Perhaps they just don't hand out the info. Many others have found me. I see this board has gone rather quiet. Does anyone on here have any questions?

Keep posting Sue....it (comments, and discussion) comes in flurries....I am more than happy to help continue serving as one of the sources of cheap entertainment that at least encourages some information sharing on the internet and to multiple places it would not get to otherwise....

If you will notice, there has not been any real inflammatory posting, and almost everyone is writing their name when they post. Shoot, if you read the posts on the subjects on the Herald....then you can really see some heat....there are a few people who write on there that I would love to see post on here...and many of them actually have a brain....of course, it is mostly anonymous.. As Larry Grondahl pointed out before he tapped out....many of them are hiding behind a keyboard when they post on the Herald Blog and Email sites.... we are not seeing much of that here.

I would still love to see some of the candidates and leaders in the community post on here...still cannot understand why they have not....uhhh actually, I have a pretty good idea...but faint of heart ne'er won fair maiden did it....

The more you post, the more opportunity for a counterpoint post ....please continue to have at it....

;o)
R

Sue Evans · Senior Member

I had one individual contact me. They had called city hall. This person was referred to the Auditor who I had given my petition to in order to be placed on the ballot. Our Auditor claimed no knowledge of how to contact me. It should be recorded now. hmmm. Perhaps they just don't hand out the info. Many others have found me. I see this board has gone rather quiet. Does anyone on here have any questions?

Sue Evans · Senior Member

http://www.ag.state.nd.us/Opinions/2010/2010L.htm

Here is the letter to our city Attorney pertaining to the oil lease. Transparency, so nice.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

http://www.policynd.org

Here is a web site that I work with often. Curly Haugland is very informed and works with the GOP. He has short videos on property tax and TIF funding that will inform all much better than I can. Please take some time to view this site.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Ward has indeed done many good things in our community. I will not discount that. He has not faced opposition. Voter apathy appears when there ceases to be choice. We loose focus on issues. Mission statements become diluted.

People think our nation was forged as a democracy. WE are a REPUBLIC. Free money from the Feds that our state has accepted is not free. Our fed is broke. OUR reps spents it all, and borrowed from other countries. We are obligated to pay it back. Jim Lawson realized this as he questioned our city accepting grant money. He noted the strings attached. I applaud his boldness to question the taking of the money here.

I may never have the ability to act like a politician. I hope I never forget my roots. My (g) grandfathers homestead this area. My Ward grandfather was killed by a train in 1930 while on his way to help build the Springbrook school. Over 100 years ago my Clay grand parents homesteaded out by the 13 mile corner. For a while my grandma Pauline lived in a log cabin on our main street. My Borgen Grand parents homesteaded Crosby area. My husband's Schmitz family homestead about 6 miles north of town. We are both deeply rooted here.

For my family, this community is extremely important to us. Like many others, this has been, and will always be our home. There will be those of us who stay behind to resolve the debts and carry the burdens when the others leave.

-- Edited by Sue Evans on Monday 22nd of March 2010 09:36:19 AM

-- Edited by Sue Evans on Monday 22nd of March 2010 09:37:08 AM

rwaitman · Senior Member

Look...whether or not you agree with Sue, please show her, and Justin, and anyone else who posts the common courtesy of not replying in a condescending manner. A little sarcasm, a little black humor, a little satire, the occasional ridiculous metaphor or analogy are great, but rather than try to bait someone, and make them leave, go for the civil dialog.

That is probably the most obvious identifier of the worst of liberal thought processes. If you don't believe me, go back and take a look at some of the older postings.

I like Jib, and he does his homework, is obviously well-read, but we disgree on many things, but I respect that. He has much to offer. Nothing better than your own in-house liberal.

I would love to see Kingfisher write something....now there is a good foil for any of us...not necessarily on liberal topics, but life in general.

I would like to see Larry Larsen post on here. We could have so many good discussions.

I know that Sue and Justin are not always coming across to some of the readers as they intend to , but have no doubt...it is coming directly and straightly from the heart and they should be commended not castigated for that. All that it shows is that they are not polished politicians; does NOT mean that they have no brain.

I like the comments about Ward about his positions on issues. For the most part, he has done an admirable job in a most difficult position. What is being said is true, but I don't recall seeing any replies to these posts from him. .....still waiting.

:o)

R

Sue Evans · Senior Member

BBLB.

I don't have any ability with the Herald. If they opt to interview me it could still be heavily edited. I will pay for a full issue in the Shopper. Much easier. I worked for more than 15 years as an independent auditor for charitable gaming in Williston. I retired a couple years ago and focused on politics with ND. Reading laws and corresponding with ND senators. I was unhappy with several bills some of them were working on. I viewed this as our republic slipping away. I was not alone in my efforts. I began working with TEA Party Movement and C4RG. I also keep up with Curly Haugland on the ND Policy Council. I am an Independent and work with the District 1 Republican GOP as the Chair for the finance committee. I also went to college for Business Adm.

I work heavily on Government Transparency. I have noted that with my research and many like me, that an answer often leads to many more questions.

Property Tax is huge with me. At any given time there 60% of the properties that carry the burden for all. TIF abuse, and levies that can be abolished. We have a penny tax that should be assisting us but has not.

Bond debt through city resolutions. I would like to know our total debts. Water treatment plant, added with bond debt for the infrastructure from the sales tax bond debt....I have found resolutions that carry debt for us into the 2020's.

I would love to see a transparency page that was user friendly. One where we could see all debt, all assets, all contracts....

BBLB · Newbie

Sue,

When do we find out who you are? When will your article be in the paper? I have asked so many people "Where does Sue Evans Work?" "What experience does Sue Evans have?" "What has Sue Evens done?"

I am not against change, but I am against change just for the sake of change. Mayor Koeser is not afraid to tell you who he is and where he stands where he stands.

Sue if you want me to vote for you, you had better give me something. I am not going to vote for you just because you are not Ward Koeser.

Steve Powell · Guru

I like threads like this...not necessarily because I agree with what is being said, but because it provides us with information we would like to know about our candidates. Volunteered, unsolicited knowledge/insight on a particular topic that may help us make a better informed decision when it comes time to enter the booth.

Thanks Sue,

ps...spread the word...this board is starting to recieve a larger number of viewers again. I like the chemistry we're seeing in the current membership.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Resolution 08-22, lot 2 of the Bakken Heights subdivion. This is an example of Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Creation of a TIF district freezes property valuations. The status of TIF may be held indefiinitely if bonds are issued. Because bonds may be refinanced, it appears there is no limit it can be held in tax increment status. Cities may use TIF under ND law to renew industrial or commercial property, a slum or blighted area. This type of financing has been a source of misuse in many cities. Fargo and now Bismarck are faced with issues. Bismarck citizens are finding this type of finance used by the Renaissance Zone Authority. I would like to review all TIF projects in our city.

I have reviewed levies placed upon our properties. I do not know the total in the funds, I only know the amount placed per year. I have asked several people if they can recall voting on a "band". ND law states that we are to hold a vote for Municipal Band. Is our "band" levy the municipal band? I would like to review all levies and compare to ND law. I would also like to research further the levy issues that require a vote from the citizens such as pensions. (which I will)

Transparency would allow us all to know the total in these funds. I do not feel anyone is attempting to hide behind a keyboard. I do know when I am researching, I often find an answer leads to more questions. I have traveled often to the court house and made several calls to assure which dept. I must visit to obtain the information I seek. The people I am looking for are not always available and at times take a week to call back. I have used the micro film at the library and I know that when I obtain the information I seek, it is pulled from a computer. I use the library to locate newpaper legals. User friendly internet search would benefit all. NO, I don't mind paying the quarter per copy at the city or the fifty cents per copy at the court house. (not the issue)

I do believe in term limits for all. ND law 16.1-01-13.1 Section 10:
The people of North Dakota Recognize that increased concentration of power in the hands of incumbents has made this state's electoral system less free, less competitive and most importantly, less representative.

I am working on several projects. Many calls per day. I would love to see a left turn signal (east to west) at the Hardee's intersection. Not a lot I can do but listen.

I do know we can work on property tax relief, bond debt and transparency.
I understand there are people that are not on board with any of these issues. What do they want to see?