White Bear Lake Watchdog
Fair, balanced, and keeping a watchful eye on things!
DFL Tax Cheat Took Public Subsidy Money, WBL Cronies Continue Support
Ask people if they were aware that
Welcome to the gravy train of The poster child for the need to close the glaring disclosure loophole allowing character cheats and tax deadbeats to run for elected office or be an appointed official “serving” the public, is Jim Berry of White Bear Lake. In 2006,
Those who knew or should have known about
Berry was also endorsed and received financial support from current DFL State Senator Sandy Rummel, who even unbiased experts agree ran a dirty, nasty, distortion-filled campaign fueled by “independent” expenditures in her 2006 state senate run.
Berry’s history begs the question of how many of our state legislators are making important decisions regarding financial issues involving income, property, sales, gas and other tax revenues, as well as health, transportation, education, and environmental spending, while failing to keep their own personal financial responsibilities in order. As in
Equally concerning is how many of our city, county and school board elected and appointed officials may be delinquent in paying their taxes, yet are making financial and other judgments for the public. We believe it is imperative that elected and appointed officials are held to a higher standard when privileged to serve the public.
After McFarlane or one of her supporters “anonymously” provided the information of
To illustrate the corruptive effects of cronyism based on a lack of simple disclosure requirements, one needs only to look at Mayor Paul Auger’s appointment of his friend and crony Berry to the White Bear Lake Variance Board in May 2007, despite his knowledge that Berry was a tax fugitive from Wisconsin for over 15 years. In his appointment letter to
We have since come to learn what Auger also knew; that Berry does not own a home in White Bear Lake, he has lived in his mother’s home while eluding the State of Wisconsin; that Berry’s Minnesota independent insurance adjuster’s license was inactivated by the Commerce Department on March 20, 2007 after the Minnesota Department of Revenue notified them of, guess what, Berry’s failure to pay Minnesota taxes! Is it any surprise that
If
We challenge anyone with a degree in economics or finance to send us an email, going on the record supporting Auger and
Despite
Will one of their council members have the backbone to put this on an upcoming meeting agenda to take a vote to have
While personal integrity, honesty, intelligence and good judgment have never been Auger’s strengths, this example of cronyism should serve as a wake-up call to what is happening in many of our communities. Appointing a person with
With respect to the public subsidy program, the legislature could easily make the necessary statutory changes to require all legislative candidates to supply a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, certifying that the payment of state income taxes is current. A similar system involving tax clearance certificates already exists (Minnesota Statutes 270C.72) and applies to professions including doctors, physician assistants, dentists, chiropractors, insurance and real estate licensees, building and other trades people, barbers and hairstylists, vendors at the Minnesota State Fair, even those who “operate concessions or rides at county and local fairs, festivals or events”. Since this system applies to the licensees above, why shouldn’t it apply to legislators we give “license” to make and change state laws?
All candidates should be disqualified from participation in the public subsidy program if they have any current tax liens or are delinquent in the payment of income, property, withholding, sales or other taxes owed to any governmental entity, whether in the State of Minnesota or outside the State of Minnesota.
Because the character and financially challenged legislative candidate would attempt to avoid the disclosure laid out above by “opting out” of the public subsidy program, updated disclosure statutes need to include all state legislative candidates and expanded to all candidates for elected office, including city, county, school board, judges, etc., as well as all appointees to any state, city, county, commissions or boards.
This disclosure can easily be added to the Minnesota Affidavit of Candidacy form for those seeking elective office and to a Citizen Advisory Application form for anyone appointed to any government or school board related commissions or other boards by simply adding “Yes” or “No” checkboxes, followed by these questions:
1. “Has the candidate or appointee applicant ever filed for bankruptcy in the
2. “Does the candidate or appointee applicant currently owe to a government entity in the
These disclosures do not limit any person from running for elective office or being appointed to a board or commission, they simply give pertinent information to the public, which provides a window into important character traits, including, honesty, integrity, responsibility, accountability, etc.
It just makes sense.
WBLWatchdog.com has been formed to promote honesty, integrity, responsibility, accountability and disclosure by elected, appointed and government officials through the exposure of facts and issues which are often not reported to the public. We present a responsible perspective into the machinations of the government entities who are supposed to serve us.
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Did WBL Inspector’s “Moonlighting” Contribute To Near Collapse?
Could city building official Ben Eggan’s “moonlighting” in his non-city inspection services business played a part in the near collapse of the Avalon Mall building in downtown
According to sources, Eggan may have been busy with his side business and failed to perform necessary and critical inspections of the excavation work being done on the adjacent property. If Eggan properly performed the necessary multiple daily inspections, the fact that the northwest corner of the building had no footings should have been easily identified and addressed before a weekend of rain that possibly eroded the soil underneath the floor.
Older buildings with no footings is nothing new in White Bear Lake, as was found to be the case a couple years ago with the city-owned White Bear Bar building (that's right, the city leases a taxpayer asset to a bar which has the most serious calls for police service, year in and year out!) just a couple blocks away from the Avalon.
Eggan’s moonlighting work has been well known to city staff for several years, despite city employment policies that appear to prohibit such outside activities by department heads and others. Sources say that Eggan may have used city time for such activities.
The Watchdog believes the city should provide the following information and answers to the questions below by posting on the city’s website at www.whitebearlake.org and WBLWatchdog.com:
1. Complete inspection records, including the dates, times and persons who inspected the construction site from the April 9th groundbreaking through the buckling of the building’s west wall on April 14th.
2. Why has the city manager allowed Mr. Eggan to “moonlight”, if it is prohibited by city employment policies?
3. What are the penalties for violating the city’s employment policies?
4. What are the educational background and professional credentials of Mr. Eggan and other WBL city inspectors? Do any have structural engineering credentials?
5. Who is responsible for the cost of structural engineers and/or other consultants brought in by the city to examine the situation after the wall buckled on April 14th?
Since the owner of the Avalon Mall, architect and White Bear resident Bill Rust, has long been the recipient of city contracts without having to participate in a competitive bidding process (last no-bid contract was awarded to Rust on March 25, 2008 for a $170,000 restroom at Matoska Park), don't expect an answer to the questions above anytime soon.
After all, what good are undisclosed personal and civic relationships with Mayor Paul Auger, City Manager Mark Sather, City Engineer Mark Burch, Councilman Tom Frazer and Councilman Dan Jones' parents' worth if the "good old boys" aren't there to help Mr. Rust continue to line his pockets and give the boys a little free architectural advice in return? Hey, this is White Bear Lake, where the lemmings have no courage to demand common sense ethics of city officials!
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Did WBL Police Give Break to Mayor? Was White Bear Lake Mayor Paul Auger recently stopped by police for traffic-related violation(s) but not cited? Has Police Chief Lynn Bankes been completely forthcoming to the public on this? Full public disclosure by the police department and Auger (including the release of his complete driving record) regarding this alleged incident will set the record straight. Contact Chief Bankes at 651-429-8551 or email (lbankes@whitebearlake.org), and Paul Auger at 651-429-9234 or email (augergarage@hotmail.com) and encourage them to provide the information for posting at WBLWatchdog.com. WBL’s Dan Jones & the
The
Led by acknowledged Unification members and The radical and extreme right-wing church is led by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, whose followers have been dubbed as “Moonies”. Moon, who claims to have met Jesus on a mountain in Reminiscent of the Reverend Jim Jones-led People’s In 2007, Mary Jane Anderson was Dan Jones’ campaign manager and, according to a posting in a newspaper blog, said Jones’ “values” were in harmony with hers. Jones used Paragon House Publishing (a Moonie business front operated by Gordon Anderson) to produce campaign literature. Mary Jane Anderson is also the regional director of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (a Moonie non-profit front operation), former president of the White Bear Lake Women’s Club and former chair of the Partnership for the Education of Children of Afghanistan. Jones, who sells discount kitchen countertops and cabinets, has never publicly denied his affiliation with the Jones even allowed local attorney and Vail also conveniently failed to mention that the concerned citizen group specifically stated, “Mr. Jones has every right to associate himself with this cult and their extreme right-wing philosophy, just as we have the right to point out what is at the very least extraordinarily bad judgment by Mr. Jones in his choices”. We believe the citizen group’s concerns about the Jones-Anderson cult connection are important and commend them for their fact-based information. Moreover, we salute them for stating that Jones and the Andersons are entitled to exercise their religious philosophy. On the other hand, it’s the dogpile for Jones, Frazer, Sather, Auger and Vail for choosing to neglect stating that the citizen group is entitled to exercise their free speech rights by disclosing this pertinent information about the Jones-Anderson cult connection. Jones and his wife are also local distributors in Arbonne International, which, according to the Consumer Awareness Institute, is a multi-level marketing pyramid scheme. Multi-level marketing schemes like Arbonne reward those at the top of their local distributor pyramid. The Jones’ received a Mercedes-Benz for their efforts in recruiting a “downline” of additional distributors under their pyramid organization. Regarding the possible attempt to influence our children, a benefit concert was held on May 27th for the Partnership for the Education of Children of Afghanistan (PECA), which Mary Jane Anderson formally chaired and is still an active member. The concert was held at White Bear Lake Area High School, North Campus and was billed as “featuring the talent of students and staff of North Campus”, with proceeds stated as going to PECA. The school staff who coordinated the event with PECA claimed they were unaware of Mary Jane Anderson’s connection to PECA. PECA has not returned calls regarding the organization’s knowledge of Mary Jane Anderson’s connection to the cult. Besides operating the Moonie controlled Paragon House Publishing, Gordon Anderson is the President of the Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota, Inc. Also known as LEA, it ranks the voting performance of state legislators on various issues and honors them at an annual banquet. Turns out LEA is a Moonie non-profit front controlled by the
LEA uses a typical tactic of the Moonies, which is to invite politicians to banquets under the guise of honoring them with awards from their myriad of non-profit front groups. While no excuse, many of the politicians who attend these banquets don’t know the background and character of the individuals running groups like LEA. Like Jones, Frazer, Sather and Auger, there are too many character-challenged individuals who choose to “deal with the devil” if it helps them get what they want. Search "Unification Church", "Moon Organization", "Moonies", etc. at the following links for more details on this cult and their business, civic and social "fronts": WBL City Council Violates Open Meeting Law
In a widening display of stupidity and incompetence, some members of the White Bear Lake City Council openly violated According to Mike Crary, co-founder of the White Bear Lake Historic Preservation Foundation, Councilmembers Renee Tessier and Pam Johnson stopped at the Washington Square Bar after the July 8th city council meeting.
WBL’s RINO in the Crosshairs of DFL & GOP DFL party sources tell us the party is salivating at their chances to take the 53B House seat from Republican Carol McFarlane in November. They are pinning their hopes on DFL-endorsed candidate Chris Knopf, an environmental attorney living in North Oaks. *Thomas Jefferson Jones Temperament, Judgment at Issue Bully since childhood, adolescent steroid use exposes deep character flaws In a rambling, incoherent tirade, White Bear Lake Councilman Dan Jones verbally attacked Jason and Angie Brown and a roomful of their supporters at a September 9th city council meeting. The Browns, owners of White Bear Boat Works, have been leasing the 160-slip marina, along with several buildings, since the city purchased the property and marina from Jason Brown’s stepfather Skip Johnson, in 1998. Jason grew up working at Johnson Boat Works, which was started by Skip Johnson’s grandfather in 1896. Johnson Boat Works went on to become a world-renowned builder and designer of sailboats. See www.whitebearboatworks.com for a complete history of this longstanding family business. Bully, Sports Cheat & Hothead Jones has been described as a bully in grade school, constantly threatening other kids with his larger physical size and being a wiseass to boot. In order to play high school football, Jones is said to have taken, with the full knowledge and support of his parents, anabolic steroids to turn his bully fat into bulk. Besides always being illegal, most athletes and sports fans agree that taking steroids is cheating. Think baseball cheats Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, and former track cheat Marion Jones, to name a few. According to the National Institutes of Health (www.nida.nih.gov), anabolic steroid abuse can exacerbate personality disorders. Researchers have observed effects from steroid use include “roid rage”, impaired judgment, delusions, extreme irritability, and paranoid feelings of suspicion and mistrust. Once a Bully always a Bully Jones’ sarcastic, verbally abusive behavior has a direct link to his childhood bullying. According to studies, bullies often operate through verbal abuse and “as a tool to conceal and boost self esteem: by demeaning others, the abuser feels empowered”. See references under “bullying” at www.wikipedia.org. Experts also point out that individuals with personality disorders use “social aggression” bullying tactics such as purposely-spreading intentional lies, misinformation, half-truths, rumor, innuendo and every other form of gossip in the character assassination playbook. Jones, whose only credentials were his parents’ connection to cronies like City Manager Mark Sather, self-proclaimed uber volunteer State Representative Carol McFarlane and other good ol’ boys cronies, made good use of these character-challenged people and their character assassination playbook to win election last fall. See related story, WBL’s RINO in the Crosshairs of DFL & GOP, under the Issues tab at WBLWatchdog.com. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”. Thomas Jefferson We need to be vigilant to those with limited principles and low character who surround themselves with like-minded cronies, thereby corrupting government, whether they are democrats, republicans, independents, or whatever. WBL Mayor Has Tax Liens Over $300K Tax Cheat Extraordinaire According to Minnesota Department of Revenue and Internal Revenue Service records obtained by WBLWatchdog.com, Auger owes the IRS over $147,000 in personal income taxes stretching back to 1998. His business, Auger Garage, an auto repair operation, owes the IRS an additional $120,000+ in taxes from 2000 forward and owes over $36,000 to the Minnesota Department of Revenue for failing to forward state sales tax receipts and employee withholding taxes to the state. Click here to view the filed tax liens against Auger personally and his business. Several sources have also confirmed that tax officials closed Auger’s business for several days in early August, we assume as leverage to get some payment out of our favorite tax cheat, er “favorite son”. We understand that owner Gene Johnson and others at the White Bear Press heard the same information as we did and chose not to investigate one of the good ol’boys with whom they fraternize. So much for journalistic integrity and the forgotten tradition of the Fourth Estate being the “public press”. This should be of no surprise as Johnson and the White Bear Press recently eliminated the “Revolving Door” column, which allowed citizens to express their opinions in an unedited and more detailed fashion than the limitations of a letter to the editor. Auger Should Resign and Be Criminally Prosecuted The duty of elected and appointed officials is to serve the public trust and to observe and enforce federal, state and local laws. Auger has violated the law by taking and using sales tax and employee withholding tax money, violated the public trust, his oath and duties as a public official, and should resign immediately. The Criminal Code contained in Minnesota Statutes, specifically Chapter 609.445, states that “Whoever receives money on behalf of or for the account of the state or any of its agencies or subdivisions and intentionally refuses or omits to pay the same to the state or its agency or subdivision entitled thereto, or to an officer or agent authorized to receive the same, may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine or not more than $10,000, or both”. Auger literally stole and used sales tax and employee withholding tax money that did not belong to him. He should be criminally prosecuted under 609.445 and other applicable provisions of the statutes. Oh, What A Tangled Web We Allow Them To Weave… WBLWatchdog.com calls on Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner to refer this matter immediately for prosecution to another county attorney with a “less active” political affiliation than she currently boasts. Ms. Gaertner has a conflict of interest due to her known ties to the DFL Party and her publicly stated interest in being the next DFL-endorsed candidate for governor. She is also a White Bear Lake resident and has more than casual relationships with various city officials like Auger and other cronies, including Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt and her husband, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General J.P.Barone, also White Bear Lake residents. Gaertner, Reinhardt and Barone were recently fined for campaign violations stemming from their participation in the same DFL fundraiser. See “Campaign agency fines four Dem VIPs,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, Auger’s ties to the DFL Party include previous DFL endorsements in failed attempts to be elected a state legislator and, along with Reinhardt, co-chaired tax cheat Jim Berry’s 2006 campaign for state representative. Investigate Other Criminal Activities or Violations We’ve heard that the Ramsey County Sheriff has been asked to investigate Auger and some members of city staff for statutory misconduct regarding another matter. With the huge amount Auger owes in taxes, we call on the Sheriff to expand that investigation into looking at whether Auger converted those sales tax and withholding tax monies to his personal use. Those exotic trips Auger and his wife love to take and heating his swimming pool from May to November gets pretty expensive. Auger’s personal and business financial records need to be checked to see if there are any payments from companies who have had business with the city or applicants who sought approval of some matter with the city. With a history of awarding no-bid city contracts to cronies, it is appropriate and necessary to investigate this possibility immediately. See related story, Did WBL Inspector’s “Moonlighting” Contribute to Near Collapse?, under the Issues tab at WBLWatchdog.com. Cover-Up To Maintain Crony System City Manager Mark Sather should also be investigated as to when he first learned of Auger’s tax problems. We believe it is highly likely that Sather has known about this for years. An investigation would put Sather on the record as to what he knew and when or face a future perjury charge if he is not truthful. Sources have confirmed that Sather knew tax officials closed Auger’s business in early August. We believe that Sather had a duty and responsibility to disclose Auger’s use of sales and withholding tax money and the obvious violation of the public’s trust. Instead, he chose to cover-up these facts in order to protect the crony system he has built with Auger over the past dozen years. We haven’t heard of any personal or political relationships between Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher and the individuals mentioned above which would be a potential conflict of interest. If there are, we assume the Sheriff will refer the matter to another law enforcement agency rather than getting caught-up in this tangled web himself. Don’t Be Bamboozled We can imagine a possible Auger sob story saying his financial problems are a result of the current Wall Street financial crisis and claiming he is a victim. Don’t be bamboozled by a serial liar with a pattern of not paying his taxes since 1998 and stealing money from taxpayers to fund a lifestyle beyond his financial means. For these and so many other reasons stated in stories posted on WBLWatchdog.com, Paul Auger is unfit for public office. Wake up Another WBLWatchdog.com Exclusive WBL Mayor, State Rep & City Officials Owe Property Taxes Unpaid and delinquent taxes appear to be the norm in “Cronyville” First, WBLWatchdog.com exposed Mayor Paul Auger’s appointment of his tax cheat crony Jim Berry to the White Bear Lake Planning Commission, who had hidden his secret from the public for some 15 years. Next, we exposed the fact that Auger is a tax cheat himself, who hid his secret and deceived the public for some 10 years. NOTE TO PROSECUTORS: Beside the fact that stealing sales and withholding taxes for business and/or personal use is on the books as a crime in Minnesota, fraud is defined as the “intentional misrepresentation, concealment, or omission of the truth for the purpose of deception or manipulation to the detriment of a person, organization or the public”. NOTE TO TAX COLLECTORS: We assume that Auger’s salary as mayor is being garnished. Whether this assumption is correct or not, the confirmation either way should be public information. Hold Public Officials To A Higher Standard With tax liens of over $300,000, including stealing sales and withholding taxes from the state, Auger has supplanted Jim Berry, his tax cheat crony, as the new poster child for the need to enact a law to close the glaring disclosure loophole allowing character cheats and tax deadbeats to serve in elective office or be appointed to a board or commission, all without having to reveal pertinent character background information about themselves. Keep reading and we’ll get back to the solution we laid out in March 2008, which would go a long way to rid government of character cheats posing as “public servants”. If you just can’t wait to read our original ideas, go to DFL Tax Cheat Took Public Subsidy Money, WBL Cronies Continue Support, under the Issues tab at WBLWatchdog.com. Poor Examples of “Public Servants” What do State Representative Carol McFarlane(R), White Bear Lake Mayor Paul Auger, White Bear Lake Councilmembers Tom Frazer, Dan Jones, Bryan Belisle and City Manager Mark Sather have in common? Besides being the benefactors or beneficiaries of a crony-based nepotistic-like patronage system, they all have failed to pay property taxes by the October 15th deadline, with Paul Auger and Dan Jones continuing their pattern of being considered delinquent (not fully paying a tax obligation in the year the obligation is due) by the county for several years running. Auger’s unpaid property taxes are in addition to the $300,000+ in taxes he and his business owe federal and state tax authorities, including the sales tax and withholding taxes he literally stole from hardworking taxpayers who play by the rules. McFarlane Owes $20,000 According to Have McFarlane & Frazer Paid Sales/Withholding Taxes On Time? In order to insure that White Bear Lake doesn’t have another Paul Auger or Jim Berry sales and/or withholding tax cheat in its midst, we ask McFarlane and Frazer to publicly confirm that since the time each was first appointed to a public board, commission or sought elective office, Venburg Tire Co. and Frazer Automotive has always paid its sales and/or withholding taxes on time, and that both have never had sales tax or withholding tax liens filed against their respective companies. McFarlane can post her confirmation on her website, www.carolmcfarlane.org. Auger & Jones Play a Shell Game Auger and Jones are experts in playing the system. One of their shell games is making the first half payment after the October 15th second half payment is due and waiting to make the second half payment until after the county sends its standard delinquency notice in January of the next year. A Do As We Say, Not As We Do The ultimate hypocrisy is that Auger, McFarlane, Frazer, Jones, Belisle and Sather are a part of the preparation, discussion and implementation of government into our lives, yet their own lives don’t conform to their actions as government officials. According to a Using the simplest of math, just imagine if 56% of all property owners didn’t pay their property taxes on time, the same percentage as the elected officials listed above. That would amount to $140,000,000 million in uncollected revenues. A Systemic Solution Are the number of tax cheats in We propose that the legislature expand the application of Minnesota Statutes 270C.72 to apply to elected, appointed and department head or higher government employees. Click here to view This statute directs the Minnesota Department of Revenue to inform various state licensing agencies if a licensee is not current in tax payments to the State. If not current, the licensing agency cannot renew or issue a license until the Department of Revenue issues a Tax Clearance Certificate, which signifies that the licensee has either paid the past due obligation with penalties and interest, or entered into a formal agreement to pay the obligation with penalties and interest. The statute currently applies to professions including doctors, physician assistants, dentists, chiropractors, insurance and real estate licensees, building and other trades people, barbers and hairstylists, vendors at the Minnesota State Fair, even those who “operate concessions or rides at county and local fairs, festivals or events”. The state legislature could easily make the necessary statutory changes to make public officials subject to this statute by requiring “registration” pursuant to the statute, which would trigger the process described in 270C.72. Since the Office of the State Auditor (www.auditor.state.mn.us) states that it “serves as a watchdog for Minnesota taxpayers and helps to assure integrity, accountability, and cost-effectiveness in government in the state”, they could act as the agency responsible in collecting the names of public officials from “county and local boards or governing bodies” as referenced in the statute. “Eternal Vigilance Is The Price of We need to be vigilant to those with limited principles and low character who surround themselves with like-minded cronies, thereby corrupting government, whether they are democrats, republicans, independents, or whatever, As we have stated before, forcing accountability through the exposure of character-challenged people participating in government will ultimately lead to a change of behavior, resulting in a better society in our view, We have to begin somewhere, and since government is supposed to be the heart and soul of our liberty and freedom, we think it’s a good place to start. Tax Cheat Dan “Homer” Jones Seeks City Funds to Bailout Arts Group Cronies Undisclosed membership, relationships and Homer Simpson-like deficiencies Among the several hundred e-mails we’ve received in the past few weeks, it’s interesting to note that dozens of our readers have independently pointed out that White Bear Lake City Councilmember Dan Jones not only looks like cartoon character Homer Simpson, he’s proving to be as mentally and ethically deficient as the TV muttonhead. Go to www.youtube.com and type “ Arts Group Wants Money Despite $40,000 Cash On Hand & Poor Management The latest example is Jones’ attempt to use city funds to bailout the Jones also failed to disclose to the public that the arts group had a $40,000 cash fund balance as of January 1, 2008 and that their financial problems were in large part a result of unrealistic revenue projections approved by their board of directors in late 2007. Click here to view the 2007 It is obvious that Jones doesn’t understand how to interpret basic financial statements and that, with the aid of City Manager Mark Sather, purposely chose to keep important and necessary financial information, such as the $40,000 cash fund balance and poor management decisions, from the public and certain councilmembers. Jones: You Mean I Should Disclose Instead of Deceive? Jones, an unapologetic tax cheat, sports cheat and supporter of the Moonies religious cult, told the city council at its NOTE: We have learned that the council was provided with a copy of the arts group’s 2008 Budget and year-to-date financials through October. We understand that while it shows contributions and membership revenues were about $12,000 less than budget, it doesn’t include the revenue that will be booked from November and December receipts. Knowing that many nonprofits book a sizable amount of revenue through “year-end” tax deductible contributions in the November/December timeframe, these 2 additional months of revenue will certainly reduce the $12,000 difference and may in fact provide revenue that exceeds the projected budget. When Jones did not state a specific amount or provide even basic information or rationale for supporting his November 12th request for city funds to bailout the arts group, we knew in a moment that there was deception of some kind operating in the minds of the character-challenged Jones and his cronies See related stories, WBL’s Dan Jones & the Temple of Moon; Jones Temperament, Judgment at Issue; WBL Mayor, State Rep & City Officials Owe Property Taxes, under the Issues tab at WBLWatchdog.com. Arts Group Already Receives Free City Resources Any cash payment to the arts group would be on top of $200,000 to $250,000 in free rent and operating expenses that they have received from the city for its offices and event use in the city-owned Armory since 1996. By reviewing their tax returns, we estimate that the current amount comes to $20,000 to $25,000 annually. According to city sources, the Armory Fund has run at a deficit for years and requires internal cash transfers from the city’s general fund in order offset annual operational losses. This ends up costing taxpayers even more than the free rent and operating expenses already given to the arts group. Jones’ Crony & Family Plan After putting in motion the arts center bailout at the November 12th meeting, at the November 25th meeting Jones had fellow tax cheat Mayor Paul Auger “disclose” that pictures of Jones’ mother and that of Jones and his wife were on the arts group’s brochure and joked that Jones may have a conflict of interest. Both simply laughed at the underlying truth of the obvious conflict. It was like watching a surreal exchange between the “real” Homer Simpson and Goober from Mayberry as they rationalize some unprincipled and bizarre new scheme. Never mind that the bailout amount had gone from an “unknown” amount on November 12th to the November 25th request for $25,000 in 2008 and an additional $25,000 commitment for 2009. Unchallenged by other councilmembers, Jones participated in the ensuing discussion, failing to disclose relevant information about the extent of his personal connections to the arts group, including his mother Jane’s involvement and his own membership and immediate family’s participation in the art group’s various classes. Any city funds provided to the arts group financially benefits Jones and other members of the arts group personally by virtue of not having to pay increased membership and class fees, which interestingly wasn’t offered by the arts group as part of the solution to their self-inflicted financial problem. If you can call having money in the bank, while at the same time asking for a free handout, a “problem”. We should all be so lucky! More Undisclosed Cronies, Including Planning Commission Member Other undisclosed facts to the public include the possible conflict of interest involving one of the board members of the arts group, Robert Cuerden. Cuerden is currently a member of the White Bear Lake Planning Commission, appointed by tax cheat Mayor Paul Auger. Cuerden is also listed as a paid class instructor and local artist promoting himself through the arts group. We also know he has long-time personal relationships with Jane Jones, Dan Jones’ mother, and City Manager Mark Sather. Cuerden has also taken an active role, behind the scene, in lobbying councilmembers and the City Manager for city funds to cover the board’s inept projections and seemingly to maintain a little “on the side” class instructor income. In reviewing the arts group’s 2007 tax return, we see on Page 6 that they have a written conflict of interest policy. We think the answer is clear but ask the question: Why wasn’t this policy disclosed to the public and the city council as part of their bailout request? We believe the public would like easy access to review the content of this policy by having it posted on their website at www.whitebeararts.org. Arts Group Should Use $40,000 Fund Balance, Reduce Expenses, Raise Fees It seems reasonable to us that the arts group utilize its $40,000 cash fund balance, reduce its expenses and raise membership and class fees before asking for city cash. After all, shouldn’t the people who choose to be members and/or choose to use the services and facilities of the arts group take responsibility for their group? We also suggest that they post on their website current Balance Sheets, Income Statements, line-item budget breakdowns (including year-to-date monthly or 6-month interim information), the approved 2009 Budget, along with their conflict of interest policy. We believe easy access to this important information would be a beneficial tool in retaining and expanding their membership and donor pool. If Needed, If the council decides to provide any bailout funds for the arts group, we believe it should be structured as a loan from the city and repaid monthly with interest payments over a 2 to 5 year period. In fact, monies provided to other groups like Marketfest, which is owned and run by a downtown business organization, not the city, should be repaid with interest. “Free” money doesn’t often result in wise and pragmatic spending in our view. “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of We need to be vigilant to those with limited principles and low character who surround themselves with like-minded cronies, thereby corrupting government, whether they are democrats, republicans, independents, or whatever. Forcing accountability through exposure of character-challenged people participating in government will ultimately lead to a change of behavior, resulting in a better society in our view. We have to begin somewhere, and since government is supposed to be the heart and soul of our liberty and freedom, we think it’s a good place to start. Back to Issues List WBL’s Own “Pay-to-Play” Uncovered GOP legislator McFarlane fails to disclose State Board finding of campaign violation involving city councilmember, more to come? Newly uncovered documents confirm a “pay-to-play” connection showing the participation of State Representative Carol McFarlane (R) with White Bear Lake City Councilmember Dan Jones in Jones’ disgusting campaign of lies, innuendo and character assassination of Councilman Tony Feffer during the city council election in 2007. 211A.13 PROHIBITED TRANSFERS. A candidate for political subdivision office must not make contributions to a principal campaign committee, unless the contribution is made from the personal funds of the candidate for political subdivision office. 211A.11 PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS. A violation of this chapter for which no other penalty is provided is a misdemeanor. Two more defining examples of Jones’ incredible lack of character: · He fails to take responsibility for the clear campaign laws which applied to him as a political subdivision candidate under Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 211A and 211B, and; · During a discussion about a code of conduct at an October 28, 2008 City Council meeting, the minutes reflect Jones as saying that he “found it hard to believe that the Council needed to be more transparent than society already is”. He conveniently neglects to disclose that the CF Board found, just 7 days before, that he had participated in a campaign violation! So much for transparency in Jones’ world. This guy is the hypocrite of hypocrites. He just doesn’t get it.
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Wikipedia cites critics concerns with schemes like Arbonne as “being cult-like in nature”, that “intense motivational programs (like being rewarded with a $75,000 Mercedes) can be hard to distinguish from cult propaganda”, and that “so-called corporate cults are businesses whose techniques to gain associate commitment and loyalty are in some ways similar to those used by traditional cults”.
We believe character matters, more so than most things that can be seen, measured or documented. Character is what we have to depend on when we entrust power over our children, our society and ourselves to government officials or anyone with authority.
Sources:
Under
Advice from the Village Idiot
Instead of Belisle and Jones leaving the bar, or at least going to a table in a separate part of the premises, they showed a complete lack of common sense when relying on Auger’s advice.
We’ve referred to Auger before as Goober, the simpleton garage mechanic and “village idiot” from Mayberry fame. To Auger’s advice we say, “Hey Goober, many times it is simply the appearance of a violation that creates the problem and makes the public cynical about government”. How does the public know for sure that they didn’t talk city business in some way? None of them would certainly admit it when the penalties include fines and removal from office. Our advice is certainly better than Goober’s.
Vote Counting is Illegal
What is more concerning is Crary’s assertion of vote counting by Jones and Councilmember Tom Frazer outside the view of the public and the council meeting process. This is without question a violation of the Open Meeting Law.
We understand that while both Jones and Frazer contact Belisle by telephone in order to influence his thinking on an issue, it is primarily Jones making most of the calls. With knowledge of which way Belisle is “leaning” or will vote, additional pressure can be applied or comfort is gained by Jones and Frazer knowing that they have the third vote bagged.
Jones: “Belisle is my “bitch”
Jones has bragged that Belisle, the acknowledged swing vote on the council, “is my “bitch”. For their part, Frazer and Auger have been practicing this telephone procedure for years, in effect getting Jones to be their “bitch”. Oh, what wonderful examples of character and integrity we have in Dan Jones, Tom Frazer and Paul Auger.
Should Know Better
While we will give benefit of the doubt to Tessier and Johnson for leaving the bar quite a while before the rest of them, they should have known better and simply left straightaway. Same goes for Belisle, who appears to be an unwitting pawn in an “honor among thieves” code that the character-challenged Auger, Frazer, Jones and Sather practice.
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McFarlane Edges DFL Criminal Tax Cheat
McFarlane barely edged out DFL opponent Jim Berry in 2006, despite acknowledgment by
Berry is a part-time school bus driver and independent insurance adjuster who has had his insurance license inactivated in the past for failure to pay
“If we could come so close with a guy like
McFarlane, the ultimate RINO?
The term “RINO” is an acronym for “Republican in Name Only”. It is considered a disparaging term for a member of the Republican Party whose political views or actions are perceived as insufficiently conservative or otherwise outside the party mainstream.
After two years in the legislature, McFarlane, a self-proclaimed “uber”volunteer, doesn’t rate high with mainstream Republican voters, many believing she is the ultimate RINO. Local Republican leaders obviously didn’t do much checking on McFarlane’s record on the White Bear School Board before endorsing her, or they would have found that her credentials included voting for every spending increase proposed.
McFarlane Votes Pork & Tax Increases
In the 2008 legislative session, McFarlane voted to increase a wide-array of taxes and spending, including the billion-dollar Central Corridor light rail line and millions more for statewide pork projects like local arenas, hockey rinks, parks and trails, rather than road and bridge construction priorities.
According to the nonpartisan, nonprofit Taxpayers League of Minnesota, McFarlane voted a pro-taxpayer position only 36% of the time. Her score was slightly higher than five out of the “Override Six”, the six Republicans who voted to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of the $6.6 billion transportation tax increase. With three other legislators tied at the Number 5 ranking, McFarlane’s rating places her at Number 6 from the bottom of Taxpayers League scorecard.
Pandering for the Environmental Vote
According to campaign sources, McFarlane became extremely alarmed when she learned around the first of the year that environmental attorney Chris Knopf was considering running against her. In an effort to counter Knopf’s certain appeal to one-issue “environmental” independents, McFarlane again ditched her party’s main core principles of reducing taxes, spending and regulation, and voted for placing a constitutional amendment on the November ballot, which will increase the state sales tax, increase spending and add another level of bureaucracy in order to implement.
The proposed amendment will provide funding for outdoor programs and to “preserve our arts and cultural heritage” at a taxpayers cost of $300 million annually to start and going up from there over 25 years. It would duplicate many programs already covered in a 1988 constitutional amendment, whose funding source is the Minnesota State Lottery.
Uff da Museum!
We can only imagine what the taxpayers would be getting in exchange for funding “arts and cultural heritage”. Perhaps that means subsidizing the Guthrie Theater, the
Better yet, we’d like to see an “Uff da” museum featuring demonstrations on making lutefisk and hotdish casseroles, followed by one big potluck and your choice of watching the movie Fargo, a discussion group on the book How to talk Minnesotan, or visiting the glass enclosed cryogenic containers of famous Minnesotans, like Jesse Ventura, Bob Dylan, Winona Ryder…after they’ve passed of course. Maybe we could get Ted Williams’ container to make a special guest appearance. We could really compete with Lenin’s Tomb for the tourist dollars!
Good Character Is Based on Firm Principles
We believe character affects principles and vice versa. Having high standards and sticking to them can be difficult, and often lonely. Whether its politics, business, morality, honesty, integrity, etc., abandoning one’s core principles cannot be rationalized away or temporarily set aside.
McFarlane’s close connection to character-challenged people in White Bear Lake (Mayor Paul Auger, City Manager Mark Sather, Councilmen Tom Frazer and Dan Jones and other cronies), along with her penchant for character assassination gossip and self-congratulations on her “volunteer” activities, should have been an obvious character indicator. The facts are clear that she is not what she claims to be, either personally or politically. It’s the dogpile for McFarlane.
Eternal Vigilance is the Price of
Forcing accountability through the exposure of character-challenged people participating in government will ultimately lead to a change of behavior, resulting in a better society in our view. We have to begin somewhere, and since government is supposed to be the heart and soul of our liberty and freedom, we think it’s a good place to start.
Back to Issues List
The city council was considering the Brown’s continued operation of the oldest marina on
Back to Issues List
Amount includes using customer sales tax receipts and failure to pay employee withholding taxes to State
WBLWatchdog.com has uncovered information showing White Bear Lake Mayor Paul Auger owes over $300,000 in unpaid state and federal taxes involving his business and personal finances. The amount does not include interest and penalties.
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We’ve scooped the
According to campaign documents, McFarlane received a campaign contribution from Jones’ campaign committee on
The payback is as obvious as the nose on your face”, said one source involved in both campaigns. “Politicians don’t give money to other politicians unless there is some quid pro quo involved, its that simple”.
Click here to view the February 3, 2009 McFarlane Campaign Report showing the Jones contribution and contributions from others, including Dennis Trooien and his wife, Sue Ahlcrona.
Trooien has submitted offers to purchase the Boat Works property from the city, which Feffer opposed, believing the property should be available for the public’s use and enjoyment for generations, not developed by private developers with connections to city hall.
Ahlcrona is the former Executive Director and current Emeritus Director of the White Bear Center for the Arts, which, despite $40,000 of cash on hand and obvious poor management practices, recently received $9,000 from city taxpayer funds on top of free rent valued around $25,000 per year for the use of space in the city’s Armory property. See related story, Tax Cheat Dan “Homer” Jones Seeks Funds to Bailout Arts Group Cronies, at WBLWatchdog.com.
McFarlane and Cronies Intimidated by Feffer’s High Ethical Standards
McFarlane is said to have backed Jones based on her friendship with Jones’ parents for the past 30 years or so, but also at the behest of longtime personal friend and City Manager Mark Sather, who wanted Feffer gone because he continually exposed malfeasance on the part of Sather, Mayor Paul Auger, City Attorney Roger Jensen, along with city councilmembers Tom Frazer, Chuck DeVore and Darryl LeMire.
One source said, “Feffer is so smart and has such high personal and professional integrity and ethics that all these guys could think of was getting him off the council. They systematically labeled him a troublemaker and worse for asking the right questions and doing the right thing. Talk about character assassination. It was like watching organized crime without the guns. They were really disgusting and just plain vile. There ought to be a law”.
McFarlane was also said to be intimated by Feffer’s command of city and state issues and jealous of the significant grass roots buzz he was getting, and continues to get, to run for higher office.
FYI to Feffer: There is a groundswell of support for you to replace tax cheat Paul Auger as mayor this year, but suggest that you consider running for state senate in 2010. Actually, a smart, honest guy like you should be in
FYI to the Public: We agree wholeheartedly with Feffer’s quest on the White Bear Lake City Council and now on the White Bear Lake Charter Commission in bringing disclosure requirements and a code of ethics to WBL government. In fact, Feffer’s publicly stated positions of “challenging the status quo” and principles demanding disclosure, ethics and accountability in government were the inspiration in launching this website. It is his original ideas that should be credited. We just add a little “edge” that he is too classy to use.
We note that Feffer was calling for these principles far before now President Obama came on the scene and extolled the same. Feffer has stuck to his principles. We can’t say the same for Obama when you consider the ethical or tax related issues involving Bill Richardson, Tim Geithner, Nancy Killefer, Tom Daschle and others.
FYI to the Charter Commission: We look forward to reporting on the vote of the various commission members, who are mostly cronies of the good ol’ boys.
Interestingly, some of the cronies include Pat McFarlane, husband of Carol McFarlane; Elisabeth Hiniker, mother of Ellen Richter, who is an assistant to City Manager Mark Sather; and Jim Berry, tax cheat,
Either they are for ethics or against ethics. We will be organizing a boycott of any business whose owner or employee commission member votes against a code of ethics. Our e-mail list of people in and around WBL is quite large and growing every day. We thank the responders for the information we have received which confirms that this local government is quite corrupt. As investigative citizen journalists, we will always keep our promise that you and your information is always confidential.
McFarlane Campaign Violation Finding Goes Undisclosed to the Public
Beside the pay-to-play we’ve uncovered, we have also located documents which show that the campaign contribution McFarlane accepted from Jones was illegal and violated Minnesota Statutes.
Obviously both of these ethically and character-challenged individuals didn’t want this information to be disclosed or they would done the honest thing and made them public by notifying the media and posting it on their websites.
According to the documents, on October 21, 2008, the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CF Board) issued findings that McFarlane “violated Minnesota Statutes”, specifically Section 10A.27, subdivision 9, clause (d), when she accepted an illegal contribution from the Dan Jones for White Bear City Council Committee.
Click here to view a copy of the
McFarlane Ordered to Disgorge Illegal Contribution and Pay Civil Penalty
The CF Board ordered McFarlane to forward the illegal Jones campaign contribution she accepted to the state’s general fund and for McFarlane to pay a Civil Penalty for the campaign violation.
McFarlane: Ignorantia Juris Non Execusat Doesn’t Apply to Me
What is amazing is the response of McFarlane and her campaign treasurer, Christopher Wachtler, who, along with McFarlane, is legally responsible for information contained in the campaign filings. Wachtler, a
In a response letter dated October 13, 2008 to the CF Board on behalf of McFarlane, Wachtler arrogantly claims that “we were unaware that receiving such a donation was inappropriate or in violation of state law”, the adult equivalent of “the dog ate my homework” excuse.
WOW! And McFarlane is on the K-12 Education and Higher Education committees in the legislature, using the excuse that she didn’t bother to read something that is important to her job! What a wonderful example for set for children, not to mention the constituents she was elected to serve! As a further show of her pretentious arrogance toward the law and the rules, the response letter to the CF Board was 11 days late.
With respect to our legal system, we have to be greatly concerned when an attorney disavows the basic legal principle learned in the first year of law school known as ignorantia juris non excusat, or Latin for “ignorance of the law does not excuse”. We think that attorney should pay a hefty fine, be ordered to a Legal 101 remedial training class and have their license suspended for 3 to 6 months.
After all, if any of us tried to use ignorance as an excuse in a legal matter, the opposing attorney would be whipping the judge or jury into a frenzy to “throw the book” against such an irresponsible and idiotic excuse. And they would win, unless of course you are an elected or appointed official living in
Why are attorneys and politicians with equally irresponsible and idiotic excuses not treated the same? The system is broken and in need of repair.
We believe the repair is simple. We need to hold elected officials to a higher standard by making examples of people like McFarlane, Jones and others accountable for violating the public trust. We believe it wouldn’t take long to see positive results.
Click here to view the McFarlane/Wachtler response letter to the CF Board and the CF Board notification letter to the McFarlane Volunteer Campaign Committee.
Additional Campaign Violations By McFarlane
Things that make you go hmmm….
McFarlane, who owns Venburg Tire in
We checked in 2008 and found her chubby cheeks appeared in White Bear Press ads only from
We had to go back to
The pattern is clear that the only time her piggy pug has been placed before us in Venburg Tire ads is related to politics. According to campaign finance laws, these ads should be a campaign expense.
Since we’ve now exposed this pattern, be prepared to see more of McFarlane’s mug in the Venburg Tire ads in order for her to claim the pattern was just another….coincidence!
Jones: I Will “Plead Ignorance” to the Stuff that Applies to McFarlane and Hope They Don’t Tell Anyone About the Stuff that Applies to Me
For his part in the illegal campaign contribution he made to McFarlane, Jones, an unapologetic tax cheat, steroid cheat and overall character cheat, tells the CF Board on October 2, 2008, “I plead ignorance” and claims that an unnamed person at the Ramsey County Elections Department told him the could give his campaign funds to another campaign.
This “dog ate my homework” excuse is another unbelievable fairytale since the laws are crystal clear to the contrary. Jones is simply an unabashed serial liar.
Click her to view Dan Jones’
Unbelievably, we have learned that the CF Board does not pass along its findings to other government agencies, so the findings involving the McFarlane/Jones campaign violation was not forwarded to the Office of Administrative Hearings, which is the responsible authority for the campaign violations on the part of Jones involving Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 211A and 211B.
Here are Minnesota Statutes, specifically Chapter 211A.13 and 211A.11, which Jones would have us believe that some unnamed person at the Ramsey County Elections Department was not familiar:
211B.02 False Claim Of Support. A person or candidate may not state in written campaign material that the candidate or ballot question has the support or endorsement of an individual without first getting written permission from the individual to do so.
211B.06 False Political And Campaign Material; Penalty; Exceptions.
Subdivision 1. Gross misdemeanor. A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who intentionally participates in the preparation, dissemination, or broadcast of paid political advertising or campaign material with respect to the personal or political character or acts of a candidate, or with respect to the effect of a ballot question, that is designed or tends to elect, injure, promote, or defeat a candidate for nomination or election to a public office or to promote or defeat a ballot question, that is false, and that the person knows is false or communicates to others with reckless disregard of whether it is false.
Based on other information we have not yet exposed about the ethically and character-challenged Jones, we do not believe that Jones ever received the required written permission required under Chapter 211B.02 from the six former mayors who “endorsed” him.
In fact, we challenge Jones to provide to the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the White Bear Press, by February 19th, dated copies from 2007 of the written permission he received from each of the six former mayors who “endorsed” him. We remind each of the former mayors that the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, that lying is perjury, and backdating documents is illegal.
If Jones provides so-called permission letters to the newspapers, we ask them to e-mail us, acknowledging that they are in possession of the documents. We will provide additional information and sources that they can checkout as part of the final story to the public.
More Pay-To-Play and Funny Money
The McFarlane Campaign Report also shows payments of $1,500 from her campaign committee to the HRCC, which we believe stands for the House Republican Caucus Committee. HRCC filings shows McFarlane and her husband Pat contributed an additional $250 to HRCC.
With McFarlane’s reputation as a RINO (Republican In Name Only), these contributions certainly lead us to believe that this was the only reason she was recently appointed as one of several “assistants” for the House Republicans. Looks like another pay-to-play to us.
While we’re on the issue of funny money, why is it appropriate for McFarlane, who received almost $8,000 in public funding, to give $1,500 to political pals? Sounds a lot like the banks that have taken taxpayer bailout funds, only to turn around and reward their executive pals with fat bonuses and expensive trips to Vegas, doesn’t it?
Ethically and Character-Challenged People Need to Go
We know one thing for certain. McFarlane and Jones, along with fellow ethically and character-challenged tax cheat cronies Mayor Paul Auger and Councilmember Tom Frazer are prime examples of what is wrong in government and society today.
To cover-up and rationalize obvious criminal or ethical violations when caught, ethically and character-challenged people claim they were unaware of the rules, in essence embracing stupidity and ignorance, which they can sell as a “defense” to the large and growing percentage of the population who are truly stupid and ignorant.
Ethically and character-challenged people rely on the fact that the stupid and ignorant will only remember the latter (the stupidity and ignorance) and not the former (the crime or ethical violation) because that is what their simple brains can identify with.
People with ethics and morality need to stand-up and reassert basic values or we will continue to see the eroding of our government and society to its very core.
February 2009
A WBLWatchdog Investigative Report
Lack Of Ethics, Conflicts Of Interest Permeate WBL
In a stunning display showing a lack of personal integrity, character and basic ethics, White Bear Lake City Councilmember Bryan Belisle voted on June 2nd to give taxpayer funds to the Northeast Family YMCA, despite a public promise that he would not vote because of a previously acknowledged conflict of interest based on being a past Board Member and Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee.
YMCA Uses WBL Cronies For Taxpayer Funding Scheme
With over $16.3 million in “profits” in 2007 alone and $157 million in cash and net assets as of their 2007 year end, the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis used local crony connections to get the White Bear Lake City Council to pony-up $2.5 million dollars in taxpayer funds for a $6.9 million dollar expansion of the Northeast Family YMCA recreational facility located in the city. The city also pledged to match, up to an additional $500,000, in contributions from White Bear Township, the City of
Hugo has already declined to participate in the funding scheme and the rest of these municipalities have indicated publicly that they will not make a financial commitment at this time, not only because of current economic conditions, but because it may be illegal for them to participate under state statutes.
“Free” Taxpayer Money And Job Security For Highly Paid YMCA Executives
The YMCA has hit on a slick funding scheme the past several years which has resulted in receiving taxpayer funding to renovate and expand existing facilities or add new facilities, while competing not only against private recreational facilities like Life Time Fitness, but publicly financed and subsidized community centers. The proposed Northeast Family YMCA expansion would directly compete against the White Bear Lake Life Time Fitness and public community centers in
The “Y’s” funding scheme for new development and expansion helps to justify executive compensation that the private sector would envy. In 2007, Greater St. Paul YMCA President and CEO Thomas Brinsko had total compensation of over $306,000, while YMCA Metropolitan Minneapolis President and CEO Harold Mezille had total compensation of over $333,000. 15 other executives enjoyed average compensation of over $124,000 for the same period. See 2007 IRS Form 990 filings under Annual Reports and Financial Information at www.ymcatwincities.org.
Under the guise of community “partnerships”, the “Y” enlisted the swim teams of
Part of the snow job (sorry “marketing”) includes providing 8 “water safety” lessons to students, which would necessitate the additional cost of busing students to and from the “Y” during the school day. Is it just us, but shouldn’t kids be concentrating on educational fundamentals during the school day and leaving the responsibility, and cost, of swimming lessons to parents? What’s next, iPods for every kid?
The snow job appears to have worked since the White Bear Lake Area School Board recently has “preliminarily” agreed to a 10-year lease commitment, increasing its current payment to the Northeast Family YMCA from $85,000 to $139,000 per year with further escalations during the lease. The Mahtomedi School Board is considering a 10-year lease commitment, increasing its current payment for swim time from $10,000 to $60,000 per year with further escalations during the lease.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to put that additional money toward a teacher’s salary or school security that would protect our kids from growing in-school violence, especially in
Something Smells Fishy In
As reported in the June 3rd edition of the White Bear Press, “Belisle said that he and City Attorney Roger Jensen researched if a conflict of interest was indeed a reality concerning the YMCA. Their study found a conflict did not exist”.
Do you smell it? Does it make you gag? These guys are quite sickening in their feeble attempt to rationalize what should be simple and straightforward ethics.
You’ve Got To Be F**king Kidding Me!
From a table of four at Washington Square Bar & Grill, we recently overheard someone reference Belisle’s claim that he didn’t have a conflict of interest in the YMCA matter. Almost simultaneously we heard the three other people say, “You’ve got to be f**king kidding me! There’s no question Belisle has a conflict of interest” and “Belisle is weak and the “bitch” of Sather (City Manager Mark Sather) and his cronies”. They must be reading WBLWatchdog since that is how we reported Councilmember Dan Jones referred to Belisle in our story, WBL City Council Violates Open Meeting Law.
The conversation at the table continued with all of them agreeing that this was but the latest example of the lack of ethics by the “good ol’ boys” in
As several other tables soon joined in on the discussion, one person mentioned former councilmember Tony Feffer’s longtime efforts to pass a code of ethics and disclosure requirements for public officials and giving voters the right of initiative and referendum. All agreed that Feffer’s ideas would root out a substantial amount of cronyism and backdoor dealings. There was unanimity by more than 20 people that Feffer should be mayor, which we have said before. Run Tony Run.
In WBL, If It Looks Like A Duck And Quacks Like A Duck, It’s Not A Duck
John Adams wrote, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts or evidence”.
Let’s look at the facts and evidence regarding the obvious conflict of interest by Belisle and other cronies who supported giving up to $3 million in taxpayer funds to the cash flush YMCA:
Bryan “The Liar” Belisle:
· Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· Former Board Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· Former Chair, Capital Campaign Committee, Northeast Family YMCA.
· Sales Associate with S & T Office Products, Inc, which has sold thousands of dollars in supplies annually to the Northeast Family YMCA for the past 10 years or more.
· Belisle failed to disclose that he received campaign support in 2007 from Pat McFarlane, Current Board Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· According to
·
First, where is City Attorney Jensen’s written legal opinion and supporting case law documentation that Belisle has no conflict of interest stemming from relationships developed while he was on the YMCA board and serving as the chair of the capital campaign committee? It is obvious Belisle flip-flopped and decided to vote when it looked like his abstention may have resulted in a tie vote, meaning the failure of the funding scheme request pushed by his cronies.
Second, how does Jensen’s written legal opinion find that Belisle has no conflict of interest, and doesn’t benefit personally or financially, when Belisle voted to give himself, and each and every one of the 1,700 member households who live in White Bear Lake, $1,470.59 as their per household share of the $2.5 million dollar funding scheme?
Third, how does Jensen’s written legal opinion find that Belisle has no conflict of interest, and doesn’t benefit personally or financially, when Belisle will have access to a new $6.9 million dollar facility which includes a $2.54 million dollar Aquatic Center; $1.05 million dollars in new fitness equipment and studio space; another $1.05 million dollars in new steam, sauna and locker rooms, and more, all for the same monthly membership fee he is currently paying?
Paul “The Tax Cheat” Auger:
· Current Board Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· In October 2008, we broke the story that Auger owed over $300,000 in federal income taxes and state income, sales and withholding taxes since 1998. See WBLWatchdog story, WBL Mayor, State Rep & City Officials Owe Property Taxes.
· Auger has publicly admitted to taking sales tax receipts and failing to remit those monies to the State of
· According to
· Current White Bear Lake Mayor.
Tom “The Nincompoop” Frazer:
· According to
· Frazer has never disclosed his bankruptcy, which included creditors like the IRS, the Minnesota Department of Revenue, North Star Bank, Matco Tools, Snap On Tools and Vadnais Brothers Partnership. Any city approvals for the Vadnais boys since Frazer has been on the council?
· Frazer, the "financial genius" he’s proven to be, is referenced in the June 3rd edition of the White Bear Press as saying that “the choice to provide millions of dollars to support the YMCA was ‘one of the easiest choices’ he’s made during his tenure on the council”. Hey Tom, we think the easiest choice would be to pay your taxes and keep your inept financial opinions to yourself!
·
Dan “Homer Simpson” Jones:
· Jones failed to disclose that he received campaign support in 2007 from Pat McFarlane, Current Board Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· Jones failed to disclose that he received campaign support in 2007 from Bill Foussard, owner of the White Bear County Inn and Rudy’s Redeye Grill. Foussard, who is described by people who meet him as “Bozo the Clown”, claims to be assisting the Capital Campaign Committee of the Northeast Family YMCA in attempting to raise $1 million dollars in private contributions for the project. Hey Bozo, show us the private money you’ve raised that’s actually in the bank.
· Jones failed to disclose that he received campaign support in 2007 from Chris Wachtler, former White Bear Lake Area School Board Member and Campaign Treasurer for Carol McFarlane, whose connections and campaign violations we exposed in the WBLWatchdog story, WBL’s Own “Pay-to-Play” Uncovered.
· Jones failed to disclose that he received campaign support in 2007 from Rolf Parsons, current White Bear Lake Area School Board Member.
· According to
·
Pat McFarlane:
· Current Board Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· Husband of Carol McFarlane, former White Bear Lake Area School Board Member and current Republican State Representative.
· According to
Bill Rust:
· Current Board Chair, Northeast Family YMCA.
·
Victoria Reinhardt:
· Current Board Member, YMCA of Greater
· Reinhardt served as campaign co-chair with Paul Auger of fellow tax cheat Jim Berry’s 2006 run for state legislature. Like Auger,
·
Ted Blaesing:
· Former Board Member, YMCA of Greater
·
Chris Hiniker:
·
· Hiniker’s sister, Ellen Richter, works for City Manager Mark Sather.
· Hiniker’s mother, Elisabeth, is a crony appointed to the Charter Commission.
· Hiniker’s father, Richard, provided campaign support for Dan Jones in 2007.
Pat Dahl:
· Current Board Member, Northeast Family YMCA.
· Associate Publisher, Press Publications.
Press Publications is the publisher of the White Bear Press, which has failed every journalistic integrity and ethics test by not informing the public of various undisclosed crony connections, as well as the YMCA’s $16.3 million in 2007 profits and $157,000,000 million in cash and net assets.
Either These Guys Are Corrupt Or Smoking Crack
The claim that there is no conflict of interest regarding Belisle’s connections to the YMCA, along with the other crony connections we’ve identified above, underscores the depths of corruption in
Roger Jensen’s reputation as a lackey and protector for the unethical City Manager Mark Sather is well documented. The unelected Sather has been able to assume powers far beyond those allowed by law, primarily through a succession of equally unethical and weak, incompetent mayors, including Harry Mares, Jerry Briggs and Paul Auger over the past twenty years or more.
Sather has also helped coordinate the character assassination of former City Councilmember Tony Feffer and current City Councilmember Renee Tessier, who have courageously exposed the unethical practices of truly corrupt individuals like Sather, Auger, Frazer, Jones and others.
Sather’s Bully Tactics
Sather is known to City Hall employees as an abusive control freak and a bully with huge anger management issues. He has used physical and verbal intimidation tactics to silence employees who have complained about inappropriate and unethical practices, while rewarding inept department heads to maintain and gain power. Sources have pointed out that Sather’s own children moved out of state to escape his controlling and menacing influence.
We’ll have more on Sather in the near future, including a just confirmed story that he physically manhandled a person investigating potential election fraud.
Why Didn’t The Other 87% Have A Say?
The 1,700 Northeast Family YMCA member households from
Why didn’t the other 87% of
The answer is clear. A referendum to provide taxpayer money to the cash flush YMCA and its member cronies would not have been passed by the voters, so the backdoor, behind the scene process was implemented.
With a city-wide election for mayor this fall, placing the YMCA referendum question on the ballot would have been a natural, fair and transparent way to determine the desire of the White Bear Lake residents to provide taxpayer funding to a nonprofit organization that has enough cash and assets to forego pigging out at the public trough.
Keep this in mind when voting for mayor, city council and school board this fall. The public officials who voted to give your taxpayer money away need to be held accountable.
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June 2009