City of Anoka
December 9, 2019 Council Meeting
On December 9, 2019, the city council continued plotting how they were going to "educate" the people about their wise decision to take over management of the city's trash system and go to a single hauler.
The city will pick your trash hauler, your level of service, your price, and order you to pay them whether you need their services or not.
The same as the October meeting, the meeting audio and transcript in the December meeting show city council members have already made up their minds on this issue before hearing one word from the people.
At this meeting, Mayor Phil Rice and Councilmember Mark Freeburg clearly stated that this was a done deal and that the city was going to single hauler.
Mayor Phil Rice stated, "...I’ve said it before, it’s not a question of if we’re going to go to organized hauling. It’s just a question of when we’re going to do it..." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
Mayor Phil Rice stated, "We are biased because our bias is what's best for the city." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
Councilmember Mark Freeburg stated, "Well, the information that you give them is going to be slanted towards one hauler, because we’re going to be telling them how bad garbage trucks are." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
City manager Greg Lee stated, "I truly believe the writing’s on the wall. I think, Mr. Mayor, you said it right, that it’s not a question of if we go to organized hauling, it’s a matter of when." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
City Manager Greg Lee also admitted that his actions back in 2015 were not appreciated by former City Manager Tim Cruikshank, saying, "I was kind of muted five years ago on purpose. I was told to stand down on some of these things..." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
(open the PDF file below and then follow along while listening to the audio)
December 9, 2019 Anoka City Council meeting transcript (PDF file)
December 9, 2019 Council Meeting
On December 9, 2019, the city council continued plotting how they were going to "educate" the people about their wise decision to take over management of the city's trash system and go to a single hauler.
The city will pick your trash hauler, your level of service, your price, and order you to pay them whether you need their services or not.
The same as the October meeting, the meeting audio and transcript in the December meeting show city council members have already made up their minds on this issue before hearing one word from the people.
At this meeting, Mayor Phil Rice and Councilmember Mark Freeburg clearly stated that this was a done deal and that the city was going to single hauler.
Mayor Phil Rice stated, "...I’ve said it before, it’s not a question of if we’re going to go to organized hauling. It’s just a question of when we’re going to do it..." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
Mayor Phil Rice stated, "We are biased because our bias is what's best for the city." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
Councilmember Mark Freeburg stated, "Well, the information that you give them is going to be slanted towards one hauler, because we’re going to be telling them how bad garbage trucks are." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
City manager Greg Lee stated, "I truly believe the writing’s on the wall. I think, Mr. Mayor, you said it right, that it’s not a question of if we go to organized hauling, it’s a matter of when." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
City Manager Greg Lee also admitted that his actions back in 2015 were not appreciated by former City Manager Tim Cruikshank, saying, "I was kind of muted five years ago on purpose. I was told to stand down on some of these things..." (see 12/9/19 city council meeting)
(open the PDF file below and then follow along while listening to the audio)
December 9, 2019 Anoka City Council meeting transcript (PDF file)
Updated 1/30/20