Who Has The Right to Decide What One Can Do With Their Private Property?

CENTERVILLE’S DEBT

2004 $5,710,000
2009 $ 11,272,000
A 97% INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS!
What do we have to show for it?

As the current Mayor & Council continue to push forward a downtown redevelopment vision, they have delegated the Planning & Zoning Board to have a Public Hearing in regards to recently rezoned “nonconforming” downtown resident’s property. Even though the City can no longer legally eminent domain private property (exception being roads, bridges, parking lots and trails ) they are currently holding hostage many residents in the downtown area. The nonconforming designation stops the citizens from making improvements to their property which might increase its value as these homes wait to be purchased by a developer. Although The Beard Group has backed out of the Downtown Redevelopment citing the poor economy and there are STILL NO OFFERS on the table to purchase these properties our four members of Council and the Mayor continue to hold these fellow Citizens at their mercy.
In their glorious wisdom, they have voted to punt the nonconforming issue to the Planning and Zoning Board for a decision. Could it be that the Mayor and Council believe this board is more qualified to make that decision or is it a duck and cover move?
This push is exploding our debt, property taxes and we ALL are paying the price!

The Planning & Zoning meetings are no longer televised. Ironically, in the interest of "saving money" the Council voted to discontinue this important public service last year.
UPDATE 03/03/2010
The entire Council (excluding Jeff Paar) sat in on the Public Hearing/Input Meeting last night. City Attorney Kurt Glaser and City Administrator Dallas Larson were also in attendance. More information to follow soon.

Downtown Lighting/Business Promotion

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on December 9, 2008 at 6 p.m. This will be after the additional lighting on the south side of the street has been installed.
Newspaper ads have been placed in several newspapers and invitations are scheduled to go out by Wednesday (tomorrow) of this week.
The City has updated ALL the council meeting minutes (as of 11/24) but the City still continues to refer to Statz as the "City Engineer" and even lists him as a staff member.
Link Here
Transcribed by Mary Capra, Centerville Mayor...

Hey, What About That 5.5 Million In The Bank?

As stated by Mr. Paar and Ms. Capra during the campaign season, the City of Centerville has 5.5 million in the bank. This statement insinuated there was somehow a savings account.
Apparently the insinuation was incorrect... Go figure!

"Consolidation now would be just as difficult, especially with Centerville's debt," Capra said. It was Centerville's $7.8 million long-term debt that spurred the petition, signed by more than 600 residents, for a state audit of the city's spending. "
"If Lino Lakes absorbs our debt, then that's on the taxpayers of Lino Lakes," Capra said.
Capra is quoted 11/15/2008 in the Pioneer Press
Here

Centerville petition spurs talk of merger with Lino Lakes
The last time around, Lino Lakes officials were concerned about how taking on Centerville would affect its tax base. "They had accumulated a lot of debt per capita," said Sylvia Marier, a Lino Lakes representative on the 1992 consolidation committee. "And we would've absorbed that." Marier doubts enough has changed for another attempt to work.

She's probably right... This blog does not support nor oppose the merger issue. We are dedicated to holding our Centerville City Officials accountable.

WARNING! Residents of Centerville!

This is actually the title of a flier Jeff Paar is dropping on doors around town. The flier goes on to state:
"Do not believe the information going around the city by a supposed watch dog group or some of the other candidates. There is a lot of half-truths and misinformation being provided. I have delivered action with results!"
First, we would like to question what exactly are the half-truths and misinformation Mr. Paar is constantly referring to? He does not point out any specific example, not one.
As far as the other candidates he fails to mention any names, which is the height of irresponsibility and fear mongering!
Paar further states that he has delivered action with results.
That is certainly true, is it not? When will we know what our property tax increase is? What about the special assessments?
Paar also states in red lettering that "Some candidates are saying they are running for you the residents of Centerville actually want Centerville annexed by Lino Lakes."
Again, he fails to mention which candidates he is referring to, and continues with the baseless attacks. Who is really providing half-truths and misinformation?
The final and most offensive statement is:
"Don't give your vote to candidates who misrepresent facts. Visit www.centervillemn.com to get accurate information."
This is laughable considering the City has not updated the Council meeting minutes online since 8/27/2008! Therefore; any accurate information on the past two months is unavailable!
Is Jeff Paar using a CITY WEBSITE as his own personal campaign tool? It would certainly appear that his campaign has been assisted by the information currently posted (and not posted) on OUR City website.
Is Centerville better off now than it was six years ago? That is how long this man has been in office. As for being a "supposed" watch-dog group? We cite each statement with a factual source which is more than Jeff Paar's flier does.
Be wary of anyone on the attack without the facts to back their attack. It goes to the heart of their credibility. It's time to ask Jeff Paar to explain...

Is This What Centerville Has In Store?

One developer in Circle Pines has requested rezoning on this commercial property five years after development.
Link Here
More to come about our neighbors in Circle Pines, Lino Lakes and Hugo soon...

Uppal Enterprises
33 Village Parkway
Circle Pines, MN 55014
(763) 795-8855

A Little Public Works Building History

Centerville Gets New Public Works Site
*As noted by one resident, there is visible damage to the original public works building that was never addressed.

Staff Writer: Debra Neutkens,
Quad Press
Published: Tuesday, July 17, 2007

CENTERVILLE - City snowplows and trucks will all be stored inside at a new public works facility approved by the City Council July 11.
Members authorized purchase of land and a building at 2085 Cedar St. for $1.4 million, a deal that will close this November.
In the meantime, current owner Dennis Shudy will be making improvements to the 2-year-old facility, according to the city's needs. A $288,000 escrow fund was created to help Shudy pay for improvements as they're completed.

Centerville resident Tom Wilharber asked the council why the current public works facility couldn't be renovated, adding he was approached by other citizens about the purchase who questioned how saleable the property was with a water tower.

Mayor Mary Capra said the city has already been approached by a potential buyer for the current property and told Wilharber the steel structure on the site was too expensive to renovate. The city did consider building behind City Hall, she added, but the county road project is taking that land for ponding.

The current public works property is valued at about $400,000, the sale of which will go towards purchase of the Cedar Street site. The city has another $400,000 set aside for a new facility and the balance, about $600,000, will be borrowed from the sewer and water fund - essentially an internal loan, which will be paid back with interest.

When Wilharber asked how much debt Centerville currently carries, City Administrator Dallas Larson said about $4 million.

Wow! How did we jump from a $4 million debt to the current $8 million debt in one year? Also, if the City had already been approached by a potential buyer, why has the original public works building not sold? What was the mindset behind spending all that money while saving nothing for road maintenance? Our current council refuses to look back at previously made decisions yet is determined to move forward, full steam ahead with the revitalization project. History is a Great Teacher. Those that fail to learn from it are doomed to repeat it.

Tricks Of The Trade And Your Tax Rate

Many units of government employ various “methods” to hide tax increases and large spending increases. Awareness of these methods can help you ask the right questions to determine if your local government is guilty.

It’s Not Our Fault
Many local units of government simply blame someone else for the property tax increases they approve. They cite a list of mandates, lost aid, cost increases and other situations that they claim are out of their control.
Counter Argument: Local units of government are independently elected and locally accountable. They have been given the power to tax and spend. They are ultimately responsible for their taxing and spending decisions.

The “No Increase in the Tax Rate” Argument.
The tax rate is the percentage of property value that is taxed. Some governments take advantage of rising property values by keeping the tax rate flat but drawing more tax dollars from the property due to an increased assessed value. They then claim a victory on behalf of the taxpayer by proclaiming that tax rates weren’t raised.
Counter Argument: Ask elected officials what the tax levy rate would have been to keep spending flat. Ask why that lower rate wasn’t adopted.

Debt Service “Bait and Switch”.
In this scenario, a local unit of government issues bonds to pay for a particular project. Taxes are sometimes raised to cover the cost of paying off the debt. Much like a home mortgage, the debt is paid off over time. However, once the debt is paid, the local government diverts the debt payments into other accounts instead of eliminating the tax increase that was used to pay off the debt.
Counter Argument: Ask your elected officials what debt is outstanding or recently retired. Ask these officials to explain the debt service plan. If debt has been recently paid off, ask how that debt was financed.

Does this sound familiar? For more information link HERE
From The Anoka County Watchdog.
8/8/2008
"Over the past three years, the Watchdog has been proud to inspire other blogs and web sites dedicated to fiscal accountability and good government. We’re happy to give props to other web sites and blogs out there in Anoka County that are working hard to protect taxpayers. If you know of one, send it our way.
In the meantime, check out these folks in Centerville."
http://centervillemn.blogspot.com/

Long Term Debt Discrepancies - Citizens Question

We here at Centerville Citizens For Ethical Taxation and Representation (CCFETR) have been fielding questions on what is the correct number for the long term debt of the City of Centerville. These questions have been originating from concerned citizens and media reporters.

Indeed, there HAS been THREE different numbers stated in the reporting on this blog, handouts, and the Pioneer Press article. It is not our job at CCFETR to try to make sense of these discrepancy but to bring it to the community's attention. We also want the community to know that if you have felt as though the city has you chasing your tail, you are not alone.

Here is a break down with dates to highlight the discrepancies.

Email from Finance Director John Meyer on August 13:
$8,055,896
This number was used on the blog in August.

Annual Financial Report dated Dec 31, 2007
$9,175,675
This number was used on the handout that was passed out at the neighborhood meeting and also passed out from door to door. We also included 2005 and 2006 long term debt figures out of the annual financial reports in the corresponding years.

The Pioneer Press reported in last Sunday's newspaper
"Debt. at the end of 2008, the city will have more than $7.8 million."


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