See: Residual Forces, here.
Junketing - not needed.
Northstar related.
Going to Boise ID so Dan Erhart could pose, and cut a ribbon.
Taxpayer money.
Junketing - not needed.
Dan Erhart - not needed.
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Also, the photo web location indicates the County's and Northstar's favored PR flak firm was fed its share of the pork:
http://himlehorner.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/12/20080710_1703_sm.jpg
You don't see Rhonda Sivarajah on these wasteful junkets.
Nor will you see Bjorn Skogquist or Becky Fink wasting tax resources for personally gratifying ego trips. It surprises me Scott LeDoux had other commitments.
Overlap With Tinklenberg Resume Gaps: If you read the links Residual Forces gives, the name "Jon Olson" shows up: Jon Olson, Anoka County Public Works Division Manager, was a co-junketeer with Erhart.
Isn't that basically the job Tinklenberg had with the County, handing out contract pork, which is one of the several gaps in his online campaign resume.
_____UPDATE - MORE OF THE SAME______
_______A MAJOR NEWS UPDATE________
If this were the only instance of waste in Anoka County government at the senior staff and Board of Commissioners level, it would arguably not be cause to sweep out the abusive individuals. However, with thanks to the Anoka County watchdog and his friends for a public data discovery request shedding light, reports here and here indicate that abusive waste of an inexcusible kind is running rempant. Waste is the rule, not the exception. Go to that blog link, and work from the links he provides, and read for yourself. The watchdog and friends have blown the lid on Dan Erhart's kingly abuses of public credit card access, such as:
The volume of [complete] material and the number of actors involved is simply too large to cover point by point. (For example, MNRG’s executive summary runs 95 pages).
COMMISSIONER DAN ERHART
Not surprisingly, Commissioner Erhart led all county commissioners with respect to travel, meals, and reimbursement. Erhart racked up over $32,000 in expenses over the covered period. It is important to also keep in mind that this number is quite likely grossly underestimated. The Watchdog has frequently reported that county insiders tell us that Erhart likes to bring county employees to meals where he eats on the taxpayer dime but has the employee put the meal on his card, thus putting the expense under the employee’s name and not Erhart’s. These receipts are often summarized expenses, making it difficult to fix accountability.
What we do know is that Erhart was present at some 209 meals where a county credit card was used [...] when it comes to putting on the ol’ taxpayer feedbag:
Billy’s Grill (66 times)
Canyon Grille (33 times)
TPC Golf Course Club House (17 times)
The Lexington (10 times)
Manny’s Steakhouse (one night = $519.61 tab) Morton’s Steakhouse (one night = $449.73 tab) Jax Café (one night = $470 tab)
No less shocking are Erhart’s hotel accommodations.
More like a condo room at Lutsen resort, complete with a king bed, fireplace, whirlpool, and wet bar.
http://www.lutsenresort.com/poplar.htm
Or how about the Jefferson Hotel, where Erhart had the taxpayers pay for a “Superior King” room?
http://www.jeffersonhotel.com/index.aspx
Some of Erhart’s other hotel digs include:
http://www.phoenixparkhotel.com/
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/DCAWHHH-Hilton-Washington-District-of-Columbia/index.do
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1004
http://www.missionpalms.com/
http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/
How many of Erhart’s constituents can afford this lifestyle? Must be rough.
This is offensive in a major way. There is no possible excuse for Dan Erhart's doing this to taxpayers.
VOTE ERHART OUT. VOTE BJORN SKOGQUIST ONTO THE COUNTY COMMISSION IN HIS PLACE. PROTECT YOUR COUNTY'S MONEY AND RESTORE COUNTY COMMISSION RESPECT.