The Office of the State Auditor became aware of concerns regarding the City of Maple Lake’s (“City”) employment of John Meyer as its Economic Development Coordinator. Specifically, a newspaper article stated that Mr. Meyer was working for the City while working full-time as the City of Centerville’s Finance Director and full-time with the architectural and engineering firm Lightowler Johnson Associates. LINK HERE
Newspaper article mentioned above Star Tribune 5/2/2009
The Citizen 4/15/2009 Here
Previous Press Here
Quote Centerville Mayor Mary Capra
“Mr. Meyer is a professional and he would never compromise any of our grants,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that a small group out there is trying to find problems that are not problems.”
Quad Press 4/21/2009
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14 comments:
Mary Capra totally defended John Meyer and is on record stating that he was great for Centerville.
Thank you for the State audit!
Looks like our sleepy little town is waking up to what is going on!
Maple Lake cut ties with Meyer, yet all our elected officials continue to praise him and even passed a resolution to bring him back if he could produce a MD statement that he was healthy enough.
Wake up Centerville!
Over 650 petitioners is considered a small group? Looking forward to the audit release.
It's unfortunate that we have a mayor and council that disrespects the residents and their opinions.
Remember all this when election time comes next year!
have you people even read this letter from the State? They did not uncover any mass coruption. The State simply makes recommendations to the City of Maple Lake.....so what's the big deal?
I don't recall any accusations of "mass corruption" ever being made.
The bar must be extremely low in the minds of people that think the State report is no big deal.
Assistant Legal Counsel for the State Auditor's office states "the invoices the City (Maple Lake)OBTAINED FROM JOHN MEYER DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION for the State Auditor to determine whether the services provided to that City were performed at the same time that Meyer was billing another public entity for his services."
While this letter perhaps does not directly point to "mass corruption", no one can deny that it ABSOLUTELY REEKS of abuse of power, conflict of interest, unethical practices and cause for concern.
Who among us are okay with our City Council hiring persons with such 'checkered' reputations & practices?
Isn't it interesting that the City has just this past July adopted new rules pertaining to bank accounts?
Now all checks require two signatures. Shouldn't that have happened a long, long time ago?
Curious timing just before the audit is released......
"services provided to that City were performed at the same time that Meyer was billing another public entity for his services."
I would assume one must work with a city during the hours the city is open. Typically, most would operate during the same hours.
"Mass corruption"? Likely not. However, I signed the audit petition for 3 simple reasons -
- another check & balance for those that govern us. Centerville consistently ranks in the top highest taxed city in the entire state!! Currently, we are the 3rd highest taxed city.
- to have an impact on slowing down the 'spending spree' of our current mayor, council & administrator. Centerville is over $9 MILLION in debt for a town w/ population over 3,800...that's over $2,368 for every man, woman & child in this town!
- to have an accounting of the books because it's OUR MONEY!! So let's be good stewards of it!!
Let's not forget the new $3.7 million bond the City just approved.
Looks like the City might have been caught with it's pants down. Yet our officials continue to defend the practices of the previous finance director and their own judgment.
Is this the leadership we want? Is this the leadership anyone with half a brain would want?
Who was responsible for overseeing the work of Meyer here in Centerville? Only one person... Dallas Larson, his immediate supervisor.
Centerville City officials are definitely different than those in Maple Lake.
Wonder why?
We may be correct to assume that here in Centerville, the officials are in CYA mode and have been since last fall.
Remember those who spent time in getting the signatures for the audit. We have it now. Maybe nothing illegal but what about unethical? We will find out on Wednesday.
We have basically three groups of people in this town. City Hall, the controllers who want what they want and who manipulate to get it and use others to carry it out. Right or wrong! Do they care? Can’t fight City Hall? City Hall has the power. Those in the “circle of trust” appear to be protected unless pressure is on by the third group.
Then there are those who bury their heads in the sand. They don’t want to know what’s going on because whatever it is, it hasn’t touched them. Whatever is going on, let the third group take care of. Why should they get involved? They don’t question and evaluate the situations. They take the easy way out.
The third group are the people who care what goes on and will step forward and do what they can to set things right. They are not afraid to speak out. They fight for truth and honesty.
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