Tuesday, March 12, 2013
A viewpoint column written by Washington County Commissioner Autumn Lehrke regarding the Red Rock Corridor Alternative Analysis.
- OPINION
-
Tuesday, March 12
The Red Rock Corridor is a 30-mile transit way that connects the southeast suburbs to the Twin Cities along US Highway 61. In 2007, the Red Rock Corridor Commission completed an Alternatives Analysis that analyzed the potential transit way alternatives. At the end of that study, Commuter Rail was determined to be the long-term solution, with a short-term plan to increase ridership through express bus service. (Please note: Commuter Rail is not Light Rail. Commuter Rail only services first shift commuters, whereas Light Rail has all day service.) Several things have changed since the Alternatives Analysis was completed in 2007. First, there are several corridors that are up and running in the region that we can evaluate the performance. The…
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Ted Bearth will be sworn in on Jan. 8, 2012; Bill Pulkrabek plans for the future.
After 13 years, there will be a new county commissioner representing District 2 of Washington County. Longtime Washington County Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek was defeated by challenger Ted Bearth—the results came in early Wednesday morning, with Bearth taking 52 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Pulkrabek. Pulkrabek, 42, has served as a county commissioner since 1999. Before that he was the mayor of Oakdale from 1995 to 1998, a title he received in his mid-20s. Bearth said he has been encouraged to run for the Washington County Board since he first retired from the city council in 2004, but he often dismissed the idea and opted for retirement instead. "It finally got to the point where I was unhappy with what we got so I decided I …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Former colleague Mary Rose Cossi touts the District 5 Washington County Board candidate’s public-service experience.
- OPINION
-
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
There is nothing more important than the application of rigorous common sense to the tough issues that face elected officials today. Nancy Remakel will bring her common-sense experiences to the Washington County Board of Commissioners. I have known Nancy for 30 years. For that entire time, the two of us were colleagues in South Washington County District 833. We both taught at Lake Middle School in Woodbury, and Nancy also taught at Woodbury High School. In addition to being a dedicated and hard-working science teacher, Nancy has been a continuing voice in the community regarding issues of public policy. Here are some of the many positions of trust she has held for the past 17 years: In all of her professional activities, and in her life …
Monday, October 15, 2012
The District 5 Washington County Board candidate says, “We must get more out of our tax dollars, and we must develop and implement strategic planning to accomplish our goals.”
In response to Tom Spencer’s letter to the editor on Oct. 12, 2012: First, I served as a member of the Woodbury City Council from 1995-2000. State Farm closed its Woodbury campus in 2004, four years after I retired from the Woodbury City Council position. The Woodbury mayor, city council, and staff have been working diligently on redevelopment of the State Farm property. No formal proposal to redevelop the State Farm property has come before the Woodbury Planning Commission since I have been chairperson (2005 to present). Tom Spencer letter to the editor stated: “Sadly, the most devastating economic loss for Washington County over the past seven years was the closure of State Farm’s Woodbury operations and the 1,500 jobs that went …
Saturday, September 1, 2012
The basics about the Washington County Board candidate.
- ELECTIONS
-
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Name: Ms. Lisa Ann Weik Also known as: The Commish Age: 54 Place of residence: Watertower Place, Woodbury Attended college: Yes College: College of Biological Sciences, Saint Paul, MN Degree: B.S. biology Year of graduation: 1996 Job titles held: Sr. Compliance Specialist; Regulatory Affairs Associate; Safety Director; Clinical Laboratory Technician Employers: Medtronic Neuromodulation & Cardiac Surgery Divisions; Guidant Cardiac Rhythm Management Division; Smith Kline Beecham (Lufkin Medical Labs) Party affiliation: Other Party affiliation: Local government, Non-partisan office Running for a: Local office Running for position: Washington County Commissioner Chamber/district: District 5 Incumbent: Yes First elected: 04 November 2008 …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
“We must have a bigger vision that includes working with other counties, cities, business owners, and developers to attract jobs to our communities,” says Nancy Remakel, District 5 Washington County Board candidate.
During the three days I spent at my Woodbury Days booth, I talked with many citizens. Frequently the question, “What do county commissioners do?” came up. County commissioners are policy makers looking at the “big picture” and long-term vision for the county. They oversee the budget for county roads, libraries, county parks, the environmental center, licensing services, corrections, property records and taxpayer services, public health, environment and county services. The county is an arm of state government and 75-80 percent of county services are mandates from the state. The county commissioners have broad responsibilities and it is important that there be a long-range strategic plan, which has not been done since 2001-03. Part of …
fb.com/WCwatchdog
3:10 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
For being the most fiscal conservative Commissioner I'm surprised you are 100% backing this. We of course appreciate the update; however, the biggest disappointment is the end cost to the local tax payers. The Alternative Analysis study was $1,000,000. The Environmental impact DEIS study is going to be $3,000,000.00. These are all costs before even one shovel is lifted. Look at the other failed … more ›