Comment: Local election article. Craig Brooks
As an owner of nearly 40 acres of bluffland within the city limits of Winona I would like to start a discussion about the proposed ordinances by the city and county. What are your feelings? Are these ordinances too much? not enough? And how do they affect me? Jay Burros
Greetings Everyone, Just a reminder that all posts must be signed with your full actual name. Please make sure to do that with each message you send. And a second, friendly, reminder that while no one has said anything that breaks the rules - just remember that it is helpful to keep the discussion focused on issues and avoid general "critiques" of individuals. The discussion is much more productive that way and it encourages maximum participation by everyone. Thanks, Steve Kranz, List Manager.
Linda, Whether or not it's "for you" the GRSF, the Beethoven Festival, and the Frozen River Film Festival, among other things, do just that. Those of us who have been there see the tourists. I think our local hotel man sees them too. Look what's going up next to the Holiday Inn. Now perhaps we could add some things, such as biker activities or Country Western musical events. That would be great. But let's not ignore what has been happening. This town is getting to become a really GREAT late winter and summer destination (and we haven't even begun to capitalize on our great out-of-doors). -Leslie Hittner
Not quite, Tim. I believe I only said that a gun on a citizen's hip would not result in more courtesy. With respect to crime, I did not make a correlation between crime and guns. The basic question remains, "... how to control access to guns in order to make our society safer and to do so without violating a fundamental constitutional right." Basically, we want to keep guns from the criminal element - some of whom have not been identified as such at the time they make the purchase - and "good" citizens. That's not an easy question to answer. This last supreme court ruling is not an answer. I believe it is a rather extreme position that frames the logical playing field for the answer. The answer - if indeed it resolves - will likely be arrived at in case law over the next decade or so. -Leslie Hittner ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Slade To: Steve Kranz Cc: <email obscured> Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 15:14 Subject: Re: [Winona] Supreme Court Ruling on the 2nd Ammendment [Winona Online Democracy]
As to Monta's comment on the highway - I'll assume she refers to 14/61, since 43 has passed through downtown since the 1800s, before it was designated a state highway. 14/61 was never routed through what we now know as the Historic Downtown District - it followed Mankato to Sarnia then split at what it now the intersection of Gilmore and Junction - 14 following Gilmore west and up the hill past Saint Mary's and 61 following Junction, through what is now Goodview to Minnesota City and points north. As for the highway's value to Red Wing and Lake City - to me and my family it only means annoying traffic lights and a couple of speed traps on the way to the airport. I believe their tourist-kitsch downtowns owe more to being an hour closer to Edina than we are than to annoyed travelers trying to get on with our lives. Bob makes good points - Winona is developing solid events that appeal to an up-market clientele spread throughout the year - having passed (very patiently) through Richland Center last weekend better a month of Beethoven than one day of the country crazies. Jerome Christenson Online Editor Winona Daily News 601 Franklin St. Winona, MN 55987 (507) 453-3522 www.winonadailynews.com
Since there were no specific comments in Paul posting I thought that Paul was just throwing out a topic for discussion. I apologize if he was referring to the selection of specific committees and non-resident members. I was referring to talent in general in the Winona Area! I agree with Bob that we have several new venues that have been added to the activities in our area recently and they are fine additions. I think Linda is correct however that we should broaden our options and include some activities that appeal to different types of people. Much of what we have is theater/music etc and not everyone is interested in that. It takes hard work to organize these events however and just wishing won't make it happen. Joliene Olson
To Bob, Your "*or did you specifically want a Tractor Pull, Linda?*" nearly qualifies as argumentum ad hominem. I think that all the events you mention are wonderful in and of themselves. However I wonder - with the possible exception of Steamboat Days - if they bring much in the way of tourist dollars into the community in general. Is information on this issue gathered? Does anyone have verifiable numbers on local business cash flows during these events? I can understand Linda's point very well. As a relative newcomer to Winona (only 12 years in the area and 5 in town) I have always wondered about the decision back when the highway was built, to bypass the downtown district. With the highway routed outside of the downtown area there is little incentive for the "Sunday drivers" to stop in Winona as they wind their way up or down the river, as opposed to towns like Lake City or Redwing which have the highway pass through the downtown areas and seem to have fairly vibrant downtowns. Although with gasoline prices as high as they are now, perhaps the Sunday drive tourists are staying closer to home.
As mentioned before, the question of talent in Winona starts at the top with the leadership of the town. Now there is talent... Talent to screw things up and chase away the tourist dollar. Miller and his lackeys are doing whatever they can to chase away the best form of economic stimulation this town has... Tourism.... Their lack of leadership in all areas is what keeps the talent this town has, hidden. Their lack foresight, ability to keep to their word and ability to develop a real plan of action, will keep great people from getting involved in anything this town does. Locals will take their talent and their ideas to other towns, events and places where they are appreciated. Leaving their money elsewhere. This also drives people away from here. Planning an event? a trip? Skip Winona and go to ____ Fill in the blank _____, where tourists are wanted and appreciated. Winona has a lot of talented people who want to get involved. Who want to bring new ideas and new events to Winona... But nobody in their right mind will do it if the leadership of the community (Mayor and city hall) can not be trusted to support and back them up 100% Add to that the people who follow blindly, the elected leaders and bury their heads in the sand right along with the leadership.... Wanting to live on past glories and past memories... Not wanting to rock the boat or live in the present.
I doubt a tractor pull would be popular in Winona, I will go to the Houston Hoedown for that :-) Do the events you mention bring in a large number of tourists though? If so, it is not mentioned in the local news. Linda Fort
I don't know...Great River Shakespeare...Gilmore Creek...Beethoven Festival...Dakota Homecoming...Steamboat Days...Frozen River Film Festival... or did you specifically want a Tractor Pull, Linda?
This isn't necessarily about talent but I think Winona often misses the boat so to speak on getting more tourists. Look at all the people that just attended the biker build off in LaCrosse. I was told that was expected to generate $3M for the city. The little city of Richland Center,WI has their country music fest; I have no idea what that event adds to their economy. Eau Claire has their country jam music event. Winona needs a huge event to get tourists to town. The highway passes the city and unless someone was coming for a purpose I don't know if they would even stop. Linda Fort Ridgeway
I really had no intention of wading in on this one, but as Joliene has picked up the ball and run with it I thought I would add my two cents worth. I am a member of this committee...but that is the only possible sign from the group's makeup that Winona might not have enough talent. I asked the City Manager seven months ago if it was approriate to appoint non-city residents to this group. He told me that it was a mayoral adisory committee...created by him alone and not by council action. As such, according to Eric, Jerry is free to appoint anyone from anywhere that he thinks will have the expertise to help the effort succeed. I know he told me he was trying to obtain input from a variety of perspectives and skill sets (my forte being heritage preservation...others came from fields such as landscape architecture, river ecology and the fine arts, among others). The reason I asked Eric about the mayor's selections back in December was that I knew someone would notice the presence of nonresidents on the committee and question it. Paul does not disappoint. That is no surprise as Paul, to the best of my knowledge, has never met a government agency or commission (or government for that matter) of which he approves. Having said that Paul is a terrific guy...he is simply tremendously misguided and challenged politically and philosophically :-) He also sponsors the 7:00 am news so I should shut up now! LOL Let's talk about the bridge some more...I'm less likely to get into trouble FYI...The Downtown Revitalization Committee will, as I understand it, hear brief final oral reports from our group and the Wilkie Group and formally recieve the two sets of written recommendations on July 15 at 7:30am in Council Chambers. The DRC will present their recommendation to the council on August 4. The DRC can, again as I understand it, do whatever they want with both reports...including throwing both out. When a hired landscape architect (which I think is already a fait accompli) comes on the scene in this process and who they work with (DRC?)I don't know. Bob Sebo
My personal opinion is that Winona is NOT lacking in talent. We have access to some of the brightest people in the world through our Universities and Technical College. If not at the College itself, then through their contacts. We have had several groups go through Blandin Foundation Community Development training, just to name a few reasons we have talented people in the area. When one looks at the multiple businesses in this community that have a successful international presence we have to be in awe of the business accumen there is available. Where Winona has it's problems, again in my opinion, is pulling it all together. There are two many folks "satisfied with the way it has always been". There are a lot of "NIMBY" attitudes that keep us from going forward and looking forward to what is possible. Rochester, for example, says we have a problem or here is an idea and everyone asks "how can we make it work". Some one in Winona has an idea or sees a problem and immediately it is a negative response. "It won't work here", "we don't need that", "what we have was good enough for my parents so it's good enough for my kids" are some of the typical responses. No Paul, we don't lack talent. We lack strong enough leadership to move people forward instead of staying stuck in the past. We aren't proactive, we react instead. Joliene Olson
I'll be checking with our city clerk to see how Rollingstone City faired and will report later. Dick Gaffron
With the new round of floods, I think there will be pressure to build more dikes. Dikes will never be tall enough because the contained water will get higher and higher downstream. I think that we should instead plan on building more spillways. All across the state I know we have huge gravel pits, that basically needed to be recovered environmentally. A flood level granite ditch could drain into a old gravel pits. Every spillway would conserve water here as well as solving flooding problems at every area downstream. Spillways could be 1) All across the state I know we have huge gravel pits, that basically needed to be recovered environmentally. A flood level granite ditch could drain into a old gravel pits. Even if the gravel pits are not close enough to a river, perhaps a cities storm drains could be set up to be rerouted there if needed. 2) Before each town or city could be ponds and parks that are specifically set up to flood first. Any structure built on these lands would be first floor flood friendly, the look of being on stilts. Grace Kelly nicknamed Kelly St Paul, MN (I know that I do live in your area, however this idea seems more relevant in your area).
I attended the first meeting of the "bridge coalition" that was convened by Senator Ropes. I don't think another meeting has been scheduled yet . . . at least I haven't received notice of it (and I am on the email list). I did talk at that meeting about Winona Online Democracy as a resource for bringing the discussion into the community. I hope to put together a bridge "wiki" page on e-democracy.org that includes the information from the wod discussion on the topic (and include Les's drawings and any other graphic, photo or video information that might be helpful - and then bring the page to the attention of those doing the planning - assuming that their will be public notice of the planning process. Steve Kranz, List Manager
In his article in the Daily News, Jim Galewski asks the same question I have asked before. Do we know if the powers to be and who are working with MNDOT have gotten these ideas in a written format and are able to use them in their discussions. If anyone knows whether or not this is happening, I would appreciate you just coming on the site and saying so. I understand most of what has been described but not entirely. Les, would you be able to make sure Senator Ropes has copies of your maps that you have contributed? I saw something in the paper about a meeting that is being pulled together by Senator Ropes an am unable to attend so hope those of you who have drawn and analyzed these suggestions will be able to attend or see that she has the information. Thanks everyone Joliene Olson
http://takeactionmn.nonprofitoffice.com This is a web site / group I ran across that seemed of interest and related on what WODis about. Their purpose statementsays: Our Mission To unite the power of diverse individuals, communities, and organizations in active grassroots democracy that builds social, racial, and economic justice. Our Vision We envision a Minnesota dedicated to the principles of strong communities, democracy, and equal opportunity for all. Just sharing in case it seems interesting to others................... Craig Brooks