I have attended some of the meetings between Bancroft Township, the city of Albert Lea and Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services. I walked away from those meetings shaking my head, asking myself “What in the hell is going on here?” I believe the township truly understands the importance of the investment that Freeborn-Mower wants to make in our community. I also believe they only wanted to be an equal partner in having a voice in that decision, since Freeborn-Mower’s proposed new site was in their jurisdiction. From what I have observed, heard and read that hasn’t and isn’t happening. I am so glad that the township officials have had the courage to stand up and speak out against processes that have been and are stacked against them. The bigger problem here is, this is not the first and only issue that has and is being handled like this.

I have been silent for a long time, but it seems like it is time to speak up again. My background is that I attend the majority of City Council agenda and regular meetings, Park and Rec Advisory Board meetings and as many other community meetings as time allows. In the last election I ran for the 4th Ward council seat, unfortunately losing by a few votes. I have applied to be on the Park and Rec Board, only to be told by the mayor I was the wrong demographic.  His appointees have come and gone and I still continue to attend. I take notes to try to keep everyone honest and to observe how each issue and individuals involved are treated.

Current leadership in a variety of positions is the problem.  Articulation and intelligence does not ensure that an individual will be a good leader, and when city employees are leaving at an unprecedented rate, it’s not all about money or retirements. Some of it is about lack of respect and honesty. It’s about unqualified leaders not recognizing the value of each employee and what he or she brings to the overall success of the organization. Those same thoughts apply to treatment of taxpayers and trying to retain them and help them grow within our community.

There is still bad residue left over from the last city manager’s reign, and till that gets corrected, we will have a problem. We all have a stake in the decisions that determine the direction and future of our community. The word collaboration is used in many community meetings, but only if the entities and people involved have something to gain. Everyone else is dismissed and left out. I have seen this happen on far too many occasions.

We are spending millions of dollars on a new fire station, athletic fields and necessary infrastructure, but our tax base and population is not keeping pace. It seems to me our leaders’ priorities need to be reevaluated to more represent our current situation and create a common sense approach to designing an affordable future for all members of our community.

Gary Hagen

Albert Lea