Mayor vetoes rejection of funding for controversial housing plan department of employment and economic development

Mike J.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:42 PM

good point joyce c

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John S.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:39 PM

Joyce C. Yes, the applications that Beth is talking about is the grant application submitted to the state that Mr. Christianson obtained a copy of which has started this whole debate right or wrong. This has nothing to do with the CUP application it's approval or denial. I also have a copy of it for my own reading. It again has nothing to do with the granting of the CUP by the Planning Commission and subsequent approval of the appeal.

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Mike J.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:36 PM

How about fixing up that house with the blue roof on hwy. 12 with that grant money? Fix up existing houses and get the new tax money from them and then you can solve willmars storm water problem.

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Deron A.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:28 PM

There's gotta be some pocket money for the mayor and his cronies in all this. They wouldn't want to break their own citizens' backs for nothing...would they?

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Brian M.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:22 PM

To me it looks like it's 50/50 - by looking over this blog, the Tribune polls that have been conducted and the City Council. What do you mean by that "Type".

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Brian M.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:10 PM

Maybe because they support it but don't want the harrassment from those that are against it.

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Beth H.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 8:08 PM

Why hasn't the Chamber of Commerce said anything about this issue? Could it be that one of Willmar's largest employers sees this as a sensitive issue??

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Beth H.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 7:53 PM

Have any of you gone to city hall and requested a copy of the grant application and questionarie that was filled out by SWMHP for this project? It is very revealing. Take the time to read these two applications and a lot of your questions will be answered. It's all about the money to this non-profit organization. Can anybody tell who will be paying the taxes for these properties? If you ask city hall or any council members they don't know the answer. This is a community land trust and nobody owns the lands below the homes that they are eligible to buy after residing in them for 15 years. How can you grow equity in a home that sits on land that you don't own. You sign a lease for the land in two 99 year leases. Is this something that you would do and expect to get ahead in life? The exectutive director of SWMHP intends to build this project, leave town, and laugh all the way to the bank! His job is done and has no further respondsibility. SWMHP has done this in many southwestern Minnesota areas.

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John S.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 7:43 PM

Dan J and Jerry M, Again, what didn't SWMNHP not provide to the city that was necessary under the process and application for the CUP that they were requesting? Councilman Christianson was looking for anything he could to help his agenda, and I don't fault him for that, as he has that right. Some times he doesn't always do things right as do others on the council including the mayor. But I am waiting for you to tell me and the others what was missing that they were required to submit? You should be after the city to change the process for a CUP, which is what I am attempting to do. If the council wants to ask if they have any skeletons in their closet, so be it. If they want to see the application they made to the finance agency for the house, project or whatever, so be it. This council has been seated for over 80 years and they as far as I can find not one of them has proposed one ordinance that would enhance the growth in Willmar the way the citizens would like to see it. Nor have I seen any of them offer a new CUP ordinance when I personally called it to their attention last year. Did you know that the Planning Commission doesn't even see the original application or process approvals? This problem needs to be fixed now not later. So if either of you can provide any prove that SWMNHP did not do what was required of them, DO IT, as I have asked repeatedly today.

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Vicki B.
Willmar, MN     04/16/2008 7:23 PM

Not one comment on the fact that the city of Willmar loss of a large sum of money? We all know that this is about money....."free" grant money to the city coffers....Everyone knows that this is about race. Race is behind everything, from the workplace to schools. Get over it. Deal with the root of the problem....money.

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