This is short story about “Harmony Park.” Harmony Park is a music park located on the west shore of Geneva Lake. It is owned and operated by Jay Sullivan. You might remember Jay. He once owned The Third Stone in Albert Lea.

Currently, our Freeborn County building inspector, Wayne Sorenson, is proccessing a permanent special-use permit for Jay and Harmony Park. I find this strange that he has been allowed to be in business more that 10 years at this location before needing a use permit, especially since I know Forest Peterson was shot down from building his own home, which is directly across the county road from this park, but that is another story.

At a recent county permit advisory meeting we were told that, in the past, Freeborn County deputies have been on site at events numbering approximately 3,000 people. They allegedly witnessed people attending Harmony Park events using illegal drugs. They did not make arrests; the reason was that they were worried about a mob action. When the Freeborn County attorney was asked about the alleged drug use he did not address the question directly. He thought that putting up “no parking” signs should solve the apparent vandalism issues on the east side of the lake. The county building administrator, Wayne Sorenson, did not address the drug issue either.

But, if I would have a Fourth of July party and give my 20-year-old nephew a beer, I am responsible and can be arrested. When the law is not applied fairly to all, people tend to lose faith in the law and those who enforce the law. I hope this does not happen in Freeborn County.

The next meeting is Monday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Freeborn County Courthouse.

Rod Serdahl

Hollandale