Monday, April 09, 2012

Sandburs can be urban, not solely something in the burbs.

Strib, this link. Ramsey has its own giant sandbur, named Darren.

Because the situation in Minneapolis is a not-for-profit situation somewhat closely tied to the city, the compensation terms are publicly known. Darren's gross take via monthly money from Ramsey results in a larger annual amount, but how that affects Darren's personal bottom line is non-public information. Landform is behind an Iron Curtain as to how profitable Ramsey's largesse is to Darren, and to the firm. In part, Strib reports:

Meet Minneapolis board members said Tennant's [CEO] pay is competitive with convention and visitors bureau heads elsewhere and said he earned the bonus by surpassing goals set last year. "If we want to be in the destination marketing arena, our compensation needs to be commensurate," said Lynn Casey, a public relations executive who chaired Meet Minneapolis' board until Jan. 1.

[emphasis added]. It is difficult to talk of goals and surpassing them, when none are set, as in the favorable contract Landform enjoys with City of Ramsey, a contract absent accountability milestones or performance goals. Just regular cash flow out, best efforts promised. Holy Toledo, what a deal. I know some on council, Backous comes to mind, have wanted milestones and such as part of things, but the gang of four, mayor, McGlone, Wise and Elvig have been in agreement with Nelson and Lazan, that goals not be specified. Backous has wanted that and Tossey has publicly during broadcasts indicated an impatience over Landform's not having caused closings [the VA, morgue, and Allina being closings related to privately-owned property marketed exclusively by Jim Deal and his independent agents]. All that money out, with the only deal in being the incredibly subsidized Flaherty adventure, replete with subsidies which some on council have had the courage to oppose.