I will call it "Ramsey Crossroads" as in blues singer Robert Johnson allegedly having sold his soul to the devil, at the crossroads in Rosedale, Mississippi. It is the stuff of legend.
But "Ramsey Crossroads," who's to own, for what, and who's to profit off the land deals?
Has it anything to do with the parallel questions about Ramsey's "Pork Authority" that seems to be at issue, below the radar, without anything official I can find?
Today, I read in yesterday's [Nov 17] Anoka County Union, p. 6A, that James Norman quit his job as city administrator, without any specific new job prospects; although he is one of six finalists for a vacant city manager job in Roseville. The story presently is NOT online at the ACU, where kindergarten and an if-it-bleeds-it-leads "body found at fire scene" story prevail on the online "front page" (the kind of non-news events that paper is famous for featuring while selling legal notice space to local government); so you've got to buy or borrow a print copy to read the glowing praise James Norman received from Mayor Thomas Gamec, Councilmember DAVID WAYNE ELVIG, and Councilmember David Jeffrey.
Neither Councilmember Olson nor Met Council member Steffen is quoted. Nor is Bruce Nedegaard or other Town Center dignataries, nor representatives of Coburns. There are more interesting people who could have been asked about the Norman period; e.g., the Kuraks.
And what of efforts to expand the Northwest sewer-water routing and hookups beyond the gun club and the more northerly cornfield - efforts associated with developer John Peterson?
How does expansion beyond directly-related Peterson projects affect the Peterson pocketbook? What's his contract with the City of Ramsey say about that, and why was the deal cut as it was? I do not know, I have not been a part of negotiations nor have I reviewed the document - but somebody has. Hopefully things have been done in a way fair to the city and city taxpayers.
With a new and aggressive State Auditor, Rebecca Otto, perhaps Ramsey's books may be looked at in a new way, and with greater than past scrutiny. It is the type of office where reputations can be built by ferreting out misconduct. Perhaps newly elected councilmembers would welcome and request such assistance. Indeed, what could more rapidly advance their personal learning curves now that Norman will not be there for them to directly question?
Is there one big knot to be untied; or a series of smaller simpler ones? What charter protections should we create? Is the last question related to and dependent on answers to all the other questions? It appears to be a developing story. We shall at least be able to see what of it was James Norman's story, and what of the remainder belongs to others. But will we see it too late to matter?
