Mounds View 2024
April 11, 2024
Ramsey County Judge issues scheduling order. See order here.
Contrary to what some elected officials in Mounds View may be implying to the public in long winded speeches or lengthy social media posts, the lawsuit between solid waste haulers and the city continues.
Today, the judge issued a scheduling order. It sets deadlines for discovery from July through September 2024, motions for October and December 2024, and a trial to occur in March and April of 2025.
Who will be forced to sit for depositions and/or be required to testify under oath in court is not identified in the order.
April 11, 2024
Ramsey County Judge issues scheduling order. See order here.
Contrary to what some elected officials in Mounds View may be implying to the public in long winded speeches or lengthy social media posts, the lawsuit between solid waste haulers and the city continues.
Today, the judge issued a scheduling order. It sets deadlines for discovery from July through September 2024, motions for October and December 2024, and a trial to occur in March and April of 2025.
Who will be forced to sit for depositions and/or be required to testify under oath in court is not identified in the order.
April 10, 2024
Citizens Win - City Council Loses
This sums up the election results from the April 9, 2024 special election on the question of "Should organized solid waste collection be subject to voter approval?"
Overall, YES voters won with 83% of the vote, which is likely a record in the State of Minnesota for the passage of a city charter amendment.
Voting YES = 1140
Voting NO = 191
In politics, winning 70/30 is considered a landslide. Winning 83/17 is something beyond this and citizens of Mounds View should be patting themselves on the back for a job well done.
The election statistics show that this vote was far more important that filling the 5th seat on the city council, which was also on the ballot. 152 people voting on the ballot question left the city council race blank.
The breakdown is as follows:
Precinct 1: NW corner of the city - 78%
Precinct 2: NE corner of the city - 83%
Precinct 3: SW corner of the city - 86%
Precinct 4: SE corner of the city - 87%
1/3 voted through early voting, while 2/3 voted on election day.
Voter turnout was approximately 18%.
Citizens Win - City Council Loses
This sums up the election results from the April 9, 2024 special election on the question of "Should organized solid waste collection be subject to voter approval?"
Overall, YES voters won with 83% of the vote, which is likely a record in the State of Minnesota for the passage of a city charter amendment.
Voting YES = 1140
Voting NO = 191
In politics, winning 70/30 is considered a landslide. Winning 83/17 is something beyond this and citizens of Mounds View should be patting themselves on the back for a job well done.
The election statistics show that this vote was far more important that filling the 5th seat on the city council, which was also on the ballot. 152 people voting on the ballot question left the city council race blank.
The breakdown is as follows:
Precinct 1: NW corner of the city - 78%
Precinct 2: NE corner of the city - 83%
Precinct 3: SW corner of the city - 86%
Precinct 4: SE corner of the city - 87%
1/3 voted through early voting, while 2/3 voted on election day.
Voter turnout was approximately 18%.
Explanation of April 9, 2024 Ballot Question
This page contains basic information Mounds View residents need in order to Vote YES on the Tuesday, April 9, 2024 ballot question.
The complete wording of the April 9, 2024 ballot question titled, "Should Organized Solid Waste Collection be Subject to Voter Approval?" can be viewed here.
While Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice (GHCC) could easily write a book about the city council's efforts over the past decade to take away your right to choose your own hauler, what Mounds View residents actually need is specific information on why one should Vote YES on the April 9, 2024 ballot question.
Yes, it is true that over the past 10 years, the city council has discussed taking away your right to choose your own hauler at city council meetings, without first placing public notice on the council agenda.
Yes, it is also true that the city council has not placed ALL public hauler provided documents on the city website for viewing. This includes the most recent letter from haulers dated March 11, 2024, where haulers requested it be shared with the public. The city council also has not posted any of the related public court documents on the city's website (Court file number 62-CV-24-360).
Yes, the rumor is true that the city illegally scheduled a meeting with haulers on presidential primary night in violation of state law. Then they moved the meeting ahead by one day, with only a 24 hour notice. When only one hauler could attend the hastily rescheduled meeting, it is true that the mayor verbally reprimanded the other haulers, without honestly disclosing that the city created the scheduling mess.
Also true is that neither the mayor, nor any member of the city council, have bothered showing up to even one of the city/hauler negotiation sessions, which is part of the reason why they are clueless as to what is actually going on at city hall.
While the city's bungling of the process, along with a certain amount of laziness and ineptness on their part is certainly noteworthy, it isn't the primary issue before the voters at this specific point in time.
Why one should vote YES on the April 9, 2024 ballot question:
The April 9, 2024 ballot question is simple. "Should Organized Solid Waste Collection be Subject to Voter Approval?"
For the past 6 months, the city council has been attempting to confuse people, by continually parroting the erroneous claim that this ballot question is about hauler pricing sheets and boring contract information. It is not.
Currently, the city council has the sole authority to take away your right to choose your own hauler, impose one hauler on residents, and sign 7+ year contracts for service. If a majority of Mounds View residents Vote YES on this ballot question, that power will instead be given to the people.
A victory for those Voting YES, means that if any major changes in the solid waste system are proposed in the future, the people must first be asked for their consent at the ballot box.
The April 9, 2024 ballot question really comes down to what your personal values are about government.
Most people believe that elected officials should have the authority to make most government decision, but not all. Most believe that "major issues" should be decided by a public vote.
Examples of "major issues" are school district referendums, construction of new school buildings, or imposing a new sales tax for a community center. Certainly the elimination of free market trash collection, imposing one hauler on residents, allowing 7+ year contracts for service, and eliminating your right to choose your own hauler, is a "major issue".
If this is how you believe government should work. If your personal values are that "major issues" should be decided by a public vote, then you should Vote YES.
Again, the April 9, 2024 ballot question isn't about pricing sheets or boring long winded contracts, it is about your personal values on how government decisions should be made, and when public input at the ballot box should be required.
It is really that simple. Vote YES with early voting at city hall or on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the community center.
Revised 9/25/24
This page contains basic information Mounds View residents need in order to Vote YES on the Tuesday, April 9, 2024 ballot question.
The complete wording of the April 9, 2024 ballot question titled, "Should Organized Solid Waste Collection be Subject to Voter Approval?" can be viewed here.
While Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice (GHCC) could easily write a book about the city council's efforts over the past decade to take away your right to choose your own hauler, what Mounds View residents actually need is specific information on why one should Vote YES on the April 9, 2024 ballot question.
Yes, it is true that over the past 10 years, the city council has discussed taking away your right to choose your own hauler at city council meetings, without first placing public notice on the council agenda.
Yes, it is also true that the city council has not placed ALL public hauler provided documents on the city website for viewing. This includes the most recent letter from haulers dated March 11, 2024, where haulers requested it be shared with the public. The city council also has not posted any of the related public court documents on the city's website (Court file number 62-CV-24-360).
Yes, the rumor is true that the city illegally scheduled a meeting with haulers on presidential primary night in violation of state law. Then they moved the meeting ahead by one day, with only a 24 hour notice. When only one hauler could attend the hastily rescheduled meeting, it is true that the mayor verbally reprimanded the other haulers, without honestly disclosing that the city created the scheduling mess.
Also true is that neither the mayor, nor any member of the city council, have bothered showing up to even one of the city/hauler negotiation sessions, which is part of the reason why they are clueless as to what is actually going on at city hall.
While the city's bungling of the process, along with a certain amount of laziness and ineptness on their part is certainly noteworthy, it isn't the primary issue before the voters at this specific point in time.
Why one should vote YES on the April 9, 2024 ballot question:
The April 9, 2024 ballot question is simple. "Should Organized Solid Waste Collection be Subject to Voter Approval?"
For the past 6 months, the city council has been attempting to confuse people, by continually parroting the erroneous claim that this ballot question is about hauler pricing sheets and boring contract information. It is not.
Currently, the city council has the sole authority to take away your right to choose your own hauler, impose one hauler on residents, and sign 7+ year contracts for service. If a majority of Mounds View residents Vote YES on this ballot question, that power will instead be given to the people.
A victory for those Voting YES, means that if any major changes in the solid waste system are proposed in the future, the people must first be asked for their consent at the ballot box.
The April 9, 2024 ballot question really comes down to what your personal values are about government.
Most people believe that elected officials should have the authority to make most government decision, but not all. Most believe that "major issues" should be decided by a public vote.
Examples of "major issues" are school district referendums, construction of new school buildings, or imposing a new sales tax for a community center. Certainly the elimination of free market trash collection, imposing one hauler on residents, allowing 7+ year contracts for service, and eliminating your right to choose your own hauler, is a "major issue".
If this is how you believe government should work. If your personal values are that "major issues" should be decided by a public vote, then you should Vote YES.
Again, the April 9, 2024 ballot question isn't about pricing sheets or boring long winded contracts, it is about your personal values on how government decisions should be made, and when public input at the ballot box should be required.
It is really that simple. Vote YES with early voting at city hall or on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the community center.
Revised 9/25/24