America's Small City Mayor

A Letter To The Small City Editor: Health Care Reform

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (Nathan) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:35:55 +0000

To The Editor Dear Sir or Madam: It seems to me appropriate, during the debate on paying for national healthcare, to question the immense sums spent for defense. Is discussion of that budget...

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Commissioner Dan Weighs In On Health Care Reform

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (Dan Laatsch) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:31:49 +0000

As I write this today, both houses of Congress and the Whitehouse are putting together healthcare reform legislation. I am deeply concerned regarding pieces of these plans that are being...

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Building Churches & Families

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:26:19 +0000

I work for FARMS International and thought I would cross-post on my personal blog: America's Small City Mayor. Most of you do not know that I produce material for our FARMS International website,...

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Sheriff Mikkelson Nominates Deputy John Decock For Award

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:29:09 +0000

Law Enforcement is a unique profession and employee's of the Sheriff's Office are frequently criticized for different aspects of how they do their job. Although employee's are sometimes...

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Meet Marty Seifert

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:07:00 +0000

Here is an opportunity to meet Marty Seifert as he kicks off his Campaign For Governor. We will be attending the Alexandria Event and would encourage you to stop by one of...

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Number 100 Out Of 100

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net ( The Mayor) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:04:16 +0000

Senator Franken was sworn in earlier today ending the 2008 election season.............FINALLY!! I will admit that I am still shocked Franken was able to defeat Norm Coleman. I have concerns...

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A Tribute To Mom & Speaking German

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:27:12 +0000

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Hitler's Eagles Nest

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (Nathan) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:20:17 +0000

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A Castle & A City Hall

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:33:19 +0000

We had a great time in Germany. We stayed in a small town along the French border. Our host showed us how the city restored a castle built 600 years ago. The city turned it into a...

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Advice For The Gubernatorial Prospects

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:32:11 +0000

I was reading a Telegraph.CO.UK article this morning and thought of our upcoming election for Governor of Minnesota. With the field wide open I thought I would give just a bit of campaign...

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Off To Rwanda

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:31:06 +0000

Yes!!! I have been tardy in getting new content published on my website. I apologize for the lack of new material, but I thought I should bring everyone up to speed on my plans for June and why...

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Clarissa & Eagle Bend Approved For DEED Grant

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:23:52 +0000

Housing Repair Funds Available The Cities of Eagle Bend and Clarissa recently received notice from the MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development that their application for home rehabilitation...

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A Prayer For Coty

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:05:02 +0000

A best friend of my son, Nolan, was in a bad farming accident tonight. We do not have all the details but know he has been airlifted to Minneapolis, and has sustained a number of injuries that...

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A Todd County Power Grab?

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:08:29 +0000

The Browerville Mayor gave me a call this morning and pointed out an interesting section in his local paper: The Browerville Blade (May 14th, 2009 Edition). It states: Plats for new property...

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Links for 2009-05-07 [Digg]

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT

You Be The Judge: Small City Crime
Be on the lookout for these children casing properties and acting suspicious. Signs of this behavior might include putting up a bigger fuss than usual to avoid bedtime, claiming items are “mine”, and other obvious bad behavior symptoms.

You Be The Judge: Small City Crime

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:13:37 +0000

I wanted to make everyone in the surrounding area aware of the thefts that have recently taken place. I would encourage you to lock up your items overnight so they do not disappear and report...

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House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson Rejects Climate Bill

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:36:19 +0000

It just hit the wire services that the Democratic Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, a very powerful committee stacked with 23 members of the Blue Dog caucus, slammed the...

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Like Father...... Like 6th Grade Son (Alt. Energy)

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:57:37 +0000

There are days when you are proud to be a father. First son, Caleb, had a class presentation in wind energy presented by Mortenson Construction. The FAQ sheet handed out had some great...

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Links for 2009-04-28 [Digg]

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT

We Shall See...... Budget Bills, The DFL & The McCain Fourte
The real theater will begin when, and if, an override of a Pawlenty veto is required. If you remember last year Otremba voted "NO" on the gas tax increase only to turn around a few days later and vote "YES". I assume this current "NO" was approved by the Twin Cities DFL Leadership.
The 21st Century Patti Davis: Meghan McCain
It should not come as a shock to anyone that a McCain is going around bashing the Republican Party. It is refreshing, somewhat, that her first name is not John. However, Meghan McCain has apparently become the Republican’s new Patti Davis. Meghan has discovered that if you trash other Republican’s on mainstream media outlets they will love you.
Colbert: The Enemy Within
The Colbert report and one city's law on hedgehogs.
Legislature To Homes: There Is No Housing Crisis!
Never mind the economic principles of supply and demand. Never mind that sales of homes in Minnesota are way up (see below). Politicians simply have to stop at your home and give it a pep talk or some positive reenforcement.

We Shall See...... Budget Bills, The DFL & The McCain Fourteen

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:16:50 +0000

The tax bills coming out of the House & Senate are certainly something everyone should be paying attention too. The most interesting aspect of the House bill is that the deduction for...

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The 21st Century Patti Davis: Meghan McCain

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:59:30 +0000

It should not come as a shock to anyone that a McCain is going around bashing the Republican Party. It is refreshing, somewhat, that her first name is not John. However, Meghan McCain has...

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Colbert: The Enemy Within

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:37:59 +0000

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c The Enemy Within - Hedgehogs colbertnation.com ...

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Legislature To Homes: There Is No Housing Crisis!

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:54:29 +0000

Leave it to the legislators in St. Paul to have a solution for everything. All this time we have had the housing and banking crisis needlessly. It need not have been. The magic bullet...

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Links for 2009-04-14 [Digg]

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT

A Small City Mayor Public Service: Tax Day
Every morning, just like you, I have my staff and assistants put my pants on one leg at a time, pour me my cup of coffee, and fetch me that morning paper. All that before noon!!In that same spirit, and in an effort to help the busy and politically connected, I am offering this reminder. Tomorrow (April 15th 2009) is tax day.
The Anti-Peterson: Representative Henry Waxman
Rural farmers and economies had better begin to familiarize themselves with Representative Henry Waxman. He is what I will call The Anti-Peterson. Waxman represents a significant shift in focus for empowered liberal Democrats in Washington. Representative Collin Peterson is known as a blue-dog democrat and holds the "once" powerful......

A Small City Mayor Public Service: Tax Day

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:51:15 +0000

Many people write asking about the personal side of being an influential member of the political establishment. Sure it seems like small city mayors have it all: …..the slush funds,...

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The Anti-Peterson: Representative Henry Waxman

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:56:09 +0000

Rural farmers and economies had better begin to familiarize themselves with Representative Henry Waxman. He is what I will call The Anti-Peterson. Waxman represents a significant shift in focus...

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Links for 2009-04-02 [Digg]

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT

City Governments Are Out Of Touch; Have Good Intentions
The “Restore The Partnership” campaigns I find troubling. One because it is asking for redistribution of taxpayer dollars from one community to the next depending on what politician has seniority down at the capital. Most importantly it reflects a denial of a new political reality.

City & Local Governments Are Often Out Of Touch But Have Good Intentions.

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:48:48 +0000

I cannot number the times a citizen has approached me with a good idea of doing something in the City of Clarissa. We are a small city with “A” gas station, “A”...

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Links for 2009-03-25 [Digg]

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Just How Big Is The Deficit?
We had a town-hall meeting this past weekend and this flier was handed out by Representative Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long Prairie). One bright observer asked if this was intended to scare voters into demanding more taxes, or was this the DFL solution to the current budget deficit? Kudos to that citizen on framing the question properly.

Just How Big Is The Deficit?

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:23:57 +0000

Shut down the entire state government ($4.4 billion) Let all sex offenders out ($127 million) Cut all kids from health care ($139 million) Shut down 20% of nursing homes ($191 million) ...

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Links for 2009-03-21 [Digg]

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Legislators Gone WIld: Otremba Signs Off On Hemp Legislation
The Mayors Comment: This is another example of special interests gone wild and the legislators who follow. How much time was spent on a bill that the Federal Government will shoot down anyways. Additionally, what become a boon for agriculture becomes a bust for local law enforcement.

Links for 2009-03-19 [Digg]

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PDT

A Great Clinton Gaffe
She handed a palm-sized box wrapped with a bow. He pulled out the gift: a red button on a black base with a Russian word peregruzka printed on top. “We worked hard to get the right Russian word. Do you think we got it?” Clinton asked. “You got it wrong,” Lavrov said. Instead of "reset," Lavrov said the word on the box meant “overcharge".
So Collin Peterson Wished Hed Voted
Without passing the federal stimulus bill, Peterson added, things could have been much worse for the states.
DFLers Education Cuts Offer Public Relations Nightmare
They hope by proposing a drastic budget cut to school districts it will create an outcry for larger tax increases. I think the logic for this idea was probably concocted during the session following the hemp legislation bill. Gives a whole new meaning to that "smoke filled room" in which power brokers decide on the direction of government.
Putting A Price On Privacy
The Mayor Comment: Union members should pay attention to this legislation. I have been a part of a union early on in my career. I can not imagine having my secret ballot taken away from me. That congress, again, feels it needs to insert itself into an area where there has been no issue is another attempt to overreach.

A Great Clinton Gaffe

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:17:22 +0000

HILLARY IS OFF TO AN EVEN BETTER START THAN GEITHNER My DC-insider friend "Mick Danger" says of this pathetic gaffe by Hillary Clinton, "Imagine the overdone uproar if some...

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So Collin Peterson Wished He'd Voted "YES"?

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:13:31 +0000

“I am determined to do whatever I can,” Peterson said. “I’m not going to be very popular. I’m already not very popular on Wall Street.” Without passing the...

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I Am Sorry Hank Paulson

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:37:24 +0000

I am one who has held out support for fixing the banking system since the crisis broke out last year in full force. In my college days our professors had those of us...

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DFLers Education Cuts Offer Public Relations Nightmare

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:20:34 +0000

The DFL has been under attack for not coming out with a budget solution of their own. Today in an effort to quiet the criticism they have come out with a budget solution of their own. The...

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Putting A Price On Privacy

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:26:07 +0000

From today’s Politico … EFCA sponsors got $1.7m each from labor The nonpartisan watchdog Center for Responsive Politics reports that the main Democratic sponsors of the Employee Free...

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Legislators Gone WIld: Otremba Signs Off On Hemp Legislation

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:30:20 +0000

It can be made into paper, rope, food, biodegradable plastic and even low-carbon concrete, but in Minnesota it is illegal to grow hemp. A bipartisan group of legislators is hoping hemp production...

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The American Form Of Government

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (Dan Laatsch) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:40:12 +0000

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On The Lighter Side: Rock Soup On Food Network

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:58:41 +0000

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Thank You Collin Peterson

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:39:11 +0000

I would like to thank Representative Collin Peterson for renewing my faith in him. I have had a few bad days because I hate being wrong. Peterson and I have...

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Imagines All The People

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Most of you probably did not watch Senator Gregg’s strange reversal as he decided against accepting the Secretary of Commerce position under an Obama Presidency. Senator Gregg, a Republican,...

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Farewell Brett Favre.......Again!!

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:56:22 +0000

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Power Line: A Timely Reminder....

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:23:13 +0000

Source: Power Line

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Stimulating Conversation On The Stimulus

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (Dan Laatsch) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:03:02 +0000

Commissioner Dan over in the Department of Revenue gives us some of the math and detail of what is in the current “economic stimulus” bill. First, the bill is loaded...

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The Policy Bubble: Revisited

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:04:14 +0000

A reader forwarded a past article on "The Policy Bubble" I published in March 2008. He wanted portions of it republished today to show how smart my...

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Housing Affordability At 20+ Year High

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:24:26 +0000

Comment: Housing affordability is at the highest point in the last 20+ years. It is one of the positive signs that we may be at a bottom in the housing market this...

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Colbert: The End Of Racism & NAACP

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:20:23 +0000

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Officials: Obama to reverse abortion policy

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:01:12 +0000

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions, officials told The Associated...

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Wanted: A Gang Of Fourteen In Minnesota

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:00:09 +0000

The eye rolling and sighs continue down at the legislature with Representative Mary Ellen Otremba. The sighs do not come from the Republican side of the isle, but rather Otremba’s own...

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The Mayor’s Mind Is In The Gutter

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:50:37 +0000

If you clicked on this link I know you were interested in water and sewer maintenance issues. Good for you!! I promise you will not be disappointed with my tip at the end of the article that...

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The 44th President: Barack Obama

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:31:47 +0000

Congratulations to President Obama and my Democrat friends who are celebrating today. Obama ran an excellent campaign. As always, our President will be in my prayers as he leads our nation. The...

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Why Pawlenty Will Be Around For A Long Time

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:13:48 +0000

Gov. Pawlenty has that Reaganesqe ability to make a good opening remark. It is why if he runs again for Governor he will win, and why he will be a formidable national candidate if he decides to head...

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Let Them Eat Cake

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:08:52 +0000

A great key to how the Minnesota Senate leadership views the world shows up in the first round of bills they submit. However, Senate File 1 is basically a bill that says any Obama stimulus package...

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On The Lighter Side

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:05:48 +0000

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Startribune: Iron Range Cities Look To Combine Police

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:24:06 +0000

GILBERT, Minn. - The Iron Range cities of Gilbert and Biwabik may merge their separate police departments into one as they look to trim costs ahead of expected local aid cuts from the state. The...

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We Have Balanced Our Budgets For Years

nathan@eaglevalleytel.net (The Mayor) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:00:00 +0000

Comment: I posted the interesting parts, but you can follow the link for the entire article. I agree with Mayor Ness in pointing out that out-state cities get to pay into the transit system and...

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