City of Anoka
City of Anoka November 5, 2024 General Election Results
Congratulations to Anoka voters for striking down City Hall's attempt to override your city charter in their attempt to institute government managed trash hauling.
Should Anoka Implement an Organized Garbage, Recycling, Yardwaste Collection System?
Voting YES - 4,329 - 48%
Voting NO - 4,686 - 52%
NO Wins !!!
Should Anoka Implement an Organized Garbage, Recycling, Yardwaste Collection System?
Voting YES - 4,329 - 48%
Voting NO - 4,686 - 52%
NO Wins !!!
City of Anoka November 5, 2024 General Election Information
Starting in 2023, the Anoka city council took action to force a government managed single-hauler trash program onto the people of the city. This is their third attempt since 2015.
This time, citizens collected signatures and placed a question on the ballot to strip the city council of its power to institute any government managed trash program. This was all possible due to citizens in Bloomington plowing a path to the MN Supreme Court twice, winning both times, ruling that citizens had the authority to take this action.
In August 2024, 75% of citizens approved stripping the city council of this power.
Not taking the hint, the city council decided on their own to place a question on the November 5, 2024 ballot asking the people to give them back this power.
To protect your rights, Vote NO.
Informational mailers were sent to residents in Anoka about this issue.
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
This time, citizens collected signatures and placed a question on the ballot to strip the city council of its power to institute any government managed trash program. This was all possible due to citizens in Bloomington plowing a path to the MN Supreme Court twice, winning both times, ruling that citizens had the authority to take this action.
In August 2024, 75% of citizens approved stripping the city council of this power.
Not taking the hint, the city council decided on their own to place a question on the November 5, 2024 ballot asking the people to give them back this power.
To protect your rights, Vote NO.
Informational mailers were sent to residents in Anoka about this issue.
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
November 5, 2024 Ballot Question
The sample ballot pictured here is the complete wording of the November 5, 2024 ballot question titled, "Should Anoka Implement An Organized Garbage, Recycling, Yardwaste Collection System?
Early voting now at City Hall during regular business hours.
On Election Day at your local precinct:
7am - 8pm, Tuesday, November 5th.
Call the City Clerk at (763) 576-2712 for additional voting information.
The sample ballot pictured here is the complete wording of the November 5, 2024 ballot question titled, "Should Anoka Implement An Organized Garbage, Recycling, Yardwaste Collection System?
Early voting now at City Hall during regular business hours.
On Election Day at your local precinct:
7am - 8pm, Tuesday, November 5th.
Call the City Clerk at (763) 576-2712 for additional voting information.
What Powers Does the Ballot Question Give City Hall?
Voting Yes on this ballot question would give City Hall back all the powers the voters stripped them of in August 2024.
It would give City Hall unchecked and unlimited authority to pick any hauler they choose, sign contracts for any length of time, and sign as many contracts with haulers as they wish, forever into the future. The right to pick your own hauler ends, and the ability of the citizens ever getting back these powers would be almost impossible.
City Hall would have the power to eliminate all competition and hire its favored hauler. City officials could also create a new City of Anoka trash and recycling department, which you would pay for with property tax and/or fee increases.
City Hall could easily issue revenue bonds (borrow money), and spend millions on building a new city department. Revenue bonds do not require voter approval.
Voting NO will assure that you will keep your current rights to make solid waste decisions for yourself.
Voting NO will block City Hall from eliminating competition or starting a city solid waste department now or anytime in the future.
Voting Yes on this ballot question would give City Hall back all the powers the voters stripped them of in August 2024.
It would give City Hall unchecked and unlimited authority to pick any hauler they choose, sign contracts for any length of time, and sign as many contracts with haulers as they wish, forever into the future. The right to pick your own hauler ends, and the ability of the citizens ever getting back these powers would be almost impossible.
City Hall would have the power to eliminate all competition and hire its favored hauler. City officials could also create a new City of Anoka trash and recycling department, which you would pay for with property tax and/or fee increases.
City Hall could easily issue revenue bonds (borrow money), and spend millions on building a new city department. Revenue bonds do not require voter approval.
Voting NO will assure that you will keep your current rights to make solid waste decisions for yourself.
Voting NO will block City Hall from eliminating competition or starting a city solid waste department now or anytime in the future.
Informational mailer #1
(Introduction, Ballot question powers, Trusting city Hall, Polling information)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
(Introduction, Ballot question powers, Trusting city Hall, Polling information)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
Informational mailer #2
(Streets, Street repair, Street experts, Public safety)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
(Streets, Street repair, Street experts, Public safety)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
Informational mailer #3
(Your personal data being made public, What you are actually voting on)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
(Your personal data being made public, What you are actually voting on)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
Informational mailer #4
(City Hall lied about picking the lowest cost bidder and why)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
(City Hall lied about picking the lowest cost bidder and why)
(Click here for PDF file of all Anoka mailers)
Let's talk about the 2015 Anoka solution which already addressed citizen concerns about solid waste collection.
After a large town hall meeting, Anoka citizens came together as a community with a compromise solution that was passed unanimously by the city council in 2015.
This public process led to an agreement to keep an open competitive market in solid waste hauling, while reducing the number of haulers and trucks. Read the city ordinance here.
This ordinance has been wildly successful. The number of licensed trucks in Anoka were reduced by 60% to only 15 citywide today! The number of licensed haulers in the city were reduced from 6 to 3 (+1 only in SE Anoka). The city continues to have healthy competition and quality service, but with fewer trucks and haulers.
The current 3-2 city council now wants to throw out the 2015 solution and institute a complete government takeover!
The reasons given by the three council members who want to eliminate the 2015 agreement and replace it with a single hauler government "organized" solid waste collection seem to constantly change. At one council meeting, they said they wanted one hauler. Then they complained about lack of competition with only 3 haulers. Then when presented with a proposal to expand the number of hauler licenses, the three voted no.
Over the past 10+ years, Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice has lost track of the number of excuses certain city council members have given to support their desire to institute government "organized" solid waste collection. The only consistent theme is that they want City Hall to have more power to make decisions that Anoka residents are perfectly capable of making for themselves.
After a large town hall meeting, Anoka citizens came together as a community with a compromise solution that was passed unanimously by the city council in 2015.
This public process led to an agreement to keep an open competitive market in solid waste hauling, while reducing the number of haulers and trucks. Read the city ordinance here.
This ordinance has been wildly successful. The number of licensed trucks in Anoka were reduced by 60% to only 15 citywide today! The number of licensed haulers in the city were reduced from 6 to 3 (+1 only in SE Anoka). The city continues to have healthy competition and quality service, but with fewer trucks and haulers.
The current 3-2 city council now wants to throw out the 2015 solution and institute a complete government takeover!
The reasons given by the three council members who want to eliminate the 2015 agreement and replace it with a single hauler government "organized" solid waste collection seem to constantly change. At one council meeting, they said they wanted one hauler. Then they complained about lack of competition with only 3 haulers. Then when presented with a proposal to expand the number of hauler licenses, the three voted no.
Over the past 10+ years, Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice has lost track of the number of excuses certain city council members have given to support their desire to institute government "organized" solid waste collection. The only consistent theme is that they want City Hall to have more power to make decisions that Anoka residents are perfectly capable of making for themselves.
Don't get fooled by social media. Read Court documents for yourself.
The city council was sued by haulers on June 21, 2024 for violating state law when they voted 3-2 to move forward with the government "organized" solid waste collection process.
Media reports have led to discussions on social media pages, some of which are invitation only and managed by supporters of government "organized" solid waste collection.
Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice cautions about being misled by social media propaganda. When documents are publicly available, take the time to read them for yourself and get educated on the issues.
The court file number is 02-CV-24-3542. Current documents are posted on the court's website at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. Search by case number. Click to download each document. It is as simple as that. The Anoka County District Court can also be contacted at (763) 760-6700 for help. You can even go to the Anoka courthouse and get free printed copies!
As of July 11th, 13 documents have been posted that contain almost 600 pages of affidavits and exhibits.
The city council was sued by haulers on June 21, 2024 for violating state law when they voted 3-2 to move forward with the government "organized" solid waste collection process.
Media reports have led to discussions on social media pages, some of which are invitation only and managed by supporters of government "organized" solid waste collection.
Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice cautions about being misled by social media propaganda. When documents are publicly available, take the time to read them for yourself and get educated on the issues.
The court file number is 02-CV-24-3542. Current documents are posted on the court's website at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. Search by case number. Click to download each document. It is as simple as that. The Anoka County District Court can also be contacted at (763) 760-6700 for help. You can even go to the Anoka courthouse and get free printed copies!
As of July 11th, 13 documents have been posted that contain almost 600 pages of affidavits and exhibits.
Updated 10/30/24