Did you go to last week’s council meeting? Did you watch the video? I think we saw the results of some bullying. Both Burt Fjerstad and Councilman Coleman said they had been bullied by the mayor. Okay, they didn’t use the word “bully,” but the stories they told were just that. Why does the mayor care if Coleman goes out to Public Works and talks to the guys?? That is his job! He represents the people. If he needs a question answered, he has to go to the source. I’m sure it used to be if a councilperson needed a question answered they would contact the City Administrator. I guess that isn’t an option any more. There is no reason for the Public Works Supervisor to get those kinds of calls from the mayor either.
Next topic. Conflict of Interest. This was brought up at the last meeting. Doug Buck should not be allowed to vote on the Streets Supervisor position. Plan and simple. There is a definite conflict of interest here. It is well publicized, very well publicized, that his step-son was not selected for the position. This is a personal vendetta on Buck’s part. He should not vote. There will be anther vote on August 12 regarding this position. Please call Buck and tell him to abstain. Please call the mayor and have the mayor instruct Buck to abstain. If he doesn’t, I think we’ll see a lawsuit coming our way. That won’t save us any money, will it? Please make those calls!
Saving money. Another good topic. Wasn’t it Borgstrom who said, “We need to stop the bleeding.” He thinks the city isn’t doing a good job of handling the finances. Funny, wasn’t it Borgstrom who couldn’t pay his bills? And he is giving us a lecture on finances? Come on! When I hear an auditor say the city is in poor shape, then I’ll believe it, but I think the last audit came back in very good shape. Can someone read that to Borgstrom?
Everything that has happened since January 1 has been for a reason. Paybacks and personal vendettas. It is painfully obvious the three amigos had a list. They are working their way down it. First was the city administrator. Second was the city engineer, then the Streets Supervisor. Next will be the Fire Chief. I have actually heard that Borgstrom is going around town saying this is Chief Fitch’s last parade as fire chief!! SERIOUSLY?!?!?! He is saying this out loud?? That proves my point. I wouldn’t relay it here except I have heard it from multiple people. Not one or two, multiple! We deserve better than this. We deserve a lot better.
These are not elected officials who care about Kasson’s long term outlook. These are people with an axe to grind. Meanwhile communities around us are preparing themselves for DMC and rapid growth. No growth in Kasson anymore. This will take years to fix.
Kasson Train wreck 
Can they just sue the 3 stooges themselves not the city of Kasson ?
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Would love to hear some commentary on how the mayor said we’re $17 mil in debt and wouldn’t elaborate on the debt…..Except to throw Mantorville under the bus……
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I’m not sure where this comment should go, so I’m putting it here.
The reason the city debt is being scrutinized to the degree it is, is because the new council members and mayor haven’t been educated on utility accounting practice. Bonding projects for new water, sewer, storm water and electric utility infrastructure is not just common practice, but is widely regarded as best practice.
When the city upgrades the sewer plant, who should pay for it? The people who use it? To do that you need to charge people for the use of the plant over the course of it’s life. The way to do that is to bond the project, and collect the revenue needed to make the bond payments each year from the people who used the system over the year. This method matches the depreciation of the sewer plant asset to the revenue collected to pay for the sewer plant asset. The same concept holds for electric, water and storm water. Recognizing this is not a perfect process due to bonds not usually extending beyond 30 years and these types of assets having lives that can exceed 60 years, it is still a better approach than charging utility rates that allow you to pay cash for major infrastructure.
It’s an easy concept that I’m sure has been explained to prior councils and city administration by both the cities auditors and financial advisors. When no one steps up to explain why the debt is what it is, people are likely going to arrive at an incorrect conclusion.
The problem is council members who don’t have the experience or knowledge to conduct the cities business responsibly, council members who have the experience and knowledge and choose not to share it, and city administration that finds staying quiet as an easier alternative to doing their jobs.
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