RAMSEY - The town has an HRA. It's activity is untelevised, although it is nothing but the council, meeting with the yellow instead of blue hats on. Same people. Same Ramsey.

For those new to the abbreviation, HRA = Housing Rehabilation Authority, something like that.

Check the City site for certainty. It's a way to impose additional taxes, to meet off camera, and to spend money with different hats on and with less transparency and sunshine than if on camera.

Test question to cull sheep from goats: What entity owns the largely open air prairie-plant expanse part of Town Center?

HRA mavens should find that question easy.

Any reader having any knowledge about Landform, its activities as consultant and "services" provider to Ramsey, (such as disclosure of what if anything it has done or accomplished besides delivery of a few poster renderings), or about its principals or affiliated individuals; who wishes to email me or leave a comment, is welcome to do so and any such information or thoughts would be appreciated.

Comments are moderated, to quell abusive commentary. Popeye fans are welcome to leave a thought too, even if having nothing to do with Ramsey, its HRA, or Landform.

Spinach lovers, same thing. Those on regular tendering of Spinach on a monthly basis are invited to say whatever they wish in a comment or by email.

There is this item below, and it speaks for itself; though ambiguously:

_________UPDATE_________
With the Landform thing, individual "smell tests" differ, and are not objective, but subjective.

Hence, debates about persons involved aside, for the moment, there are three fundamental and objective questions aware citizens should ponder:

1- As of 4/19/2010, Landform has taken $177,282.56 cash out of Ramsey, taxpayers have given that up; and Landform is on track to take $15,000 per month out of Ramsey, and most in Ramsey do not know this. So, first question, what bang for the buck have Landform and the Ramsey sponsors to show for this substantial sum, so far? A collateral question, what bang for the buck is expected and "Who says?"

2- Apart from Ramsey, what bang for the buck over the last six months does Landform have to show, anywhere, for anyone, in any way, (and even let them go back two years to show a track record, if any)?

3- Who in Ramsey is the big champion of this ongoing situation, i.e., the same rat hole?

My belief is citizens in an election year deserve answers. But who am I to say. Citizens read this and it is up to each of them to press for cogent and sensible no-BS answers. Do it.

My first awareness of Landform was August, 2009, and I was willing to cut some slack. The representation was there might be a grant, and etc., etc., with other municipalities not even knowing it might be possible. Okay, that's your first shot, $13,000 to $25,000 and there's a grant or not. That story's gone stale. What's today's story?