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| Native Americans |
A really wonderful tribal newspaper that covers MN and WI issues closely with solid reporting is The Circle: http://www.thecirclenews.org
The national Indian newspaper is called Indian Country Today. They are at http://www.indiancountrytoday.com
A great on-line service that includes links to current Indian stories around the nation is www.indianz.com
The absolute best source of information about national issues impacting Indian people at the legislative level is the National Congress of American Indians. NCAI represents the 562 tribes in Washington DC and has an outstanding web site. They can be found at http://www.ncai.org
A great source for people interested in legal issues would be the Native American Rights Fund (NARF). They are at http://www.narf.org
More locally, the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association has a great "Test your Indian Issues IQ Test" that covers everything from sovereignty to taxation. They are at http://www.mnindiangaming.com
Even closer to home is Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac has an outstanding on-line tribal newspaper. The quality of reporting is fantastic and there's great photography as well. You can go to http://www.fdlrez.com and scroll down to click on "online newspaper" and download a pdf of the latest news.
The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) is an inter-tribal, co-management agency committed to the implementation of off-reservation treaty rights on behalf of its eleven Ojibwe member tribes. Formed in 1984 and exercising authority specifically delegated by its member tribes, GLIFWC's mission is to help ensure significant, off-reservation harvests while protecting the resources for generations to come.http://www.glifwc.org/ |
| Blogs of interest |
Red Raven |
| Non Ferrous Mining |
http://www.sosbluewaters.org/ |
| Range Women's Advocates |
Range Womens Advocates
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| Nemesis Program |
NorthEastern Minnesota Enforcement Safety Information Systems |
| Code of Conduct Development and Sexual Harassment Policies elsewhere |
St. Louis County Government
State Auditor's Management and Compliance Report, 2006
Minnesota Statute : St. Louis County
Minnesota Statute : Counties
St. Louis County Board Policy Manual
Draft Code of Conduct
Resolution to Create Code of Conduct
for St. Louis County
Elected Officials
Other Counties : examples of Policy and Issues
Polk County Sexual Harassment Policy - an Example of a policy that applies to Commissioner
City of Duluth Human Right Commission Supports Code of Conduct for County Commissioners
State Of Minnesota
State Government Link @ Duluth Public Library
Related Materials Including Code of Conduct
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News Archive |
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http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/78726/ |
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Published November 20 2008
Our view: Voting out ‘foul foursome’ can’t happen quickly enough
"St. Louis County voters didn’t really need another reason to look forward to Election Day 2010, when they have the opportunity to finally oust bad-behaving Commissioners Mike Forsman of Ely, Keith Nelson of Eveleth, Steve Raukar of Hibbing and Dennis Fink of Duluth.
But this week they got one.
The grassroots group We Are Watching issued its one-year report card. And the County Board’s foul foursome received failing grades in the category of accountability.
At least one of the commissioners seemed not to care. Demonstrating an arrogance that has tainted the entire board and county, Nelson, the commissioner who said last year he’d support slavery if his constituents did, dismissed the low marks because of where they came from.
“That’s great from a Duluth group,” he said. “I represent a different part of the county.”
It’s hard to believe that any part of St. Louis County would tolerate support for slavery, no matter in what context such a comment was made. Or any of the other shenanigans."
.......
"Finally, though the claims of sexual harassment were substantiated, the commissioners involved escaped reprimand by their fellow board members. "
for the rest of the article see http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/78726/
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Link
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http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trails_waterways/ohvraplan/update.html
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Editorial
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http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=58219§ion=opinion |
Editorial
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Our view: Good ol’ boy business as usual at St. Louis County
Duluth News Tribune
Published Wednesday,
January 16, 2008
The good old boys of St. Louis County just can’t seem
to get over it: In November 2006, County Attorney Alan Mitchell ran an
uninspired-at-best campaign and, facing a challenger for the first time in 28
years, lost.
The voters had to be wrong, some County Board members seemed to indicate when
they immediately considered offering Mitchell a $75,000-a-year, four-year
consultant deal. Supposedly, he was the only person in the county qualified
enough to negotiate health-insurance contracts. Never mind that newly elected
County Attorney Melanie Ford offered to handle the responsibility, which clearly
was under the purview of her and her staff.
........
And that’s something that would seem to suit a few old-boy county
commissioners just fine.
for the rest of the article see http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=58219§ion=opinion
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=58257§ion=news
Board backs Mitchell; critics foresee friction
Duluth News Tribune
Published Wednesday,
January 16, 2008
The St. Louis County Board voted Tuesday to negotiate a
contract with former County Attorney Alan Mitchell to become interim county
administrator.
........
The position is expected to pay between $101,000 and $135,000 in 2008.
for the rest of the article see : http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=58257§ion=news |
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County Administrator
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DULUTH — A six-person county subcommittee has narrowed the choice
for an interim administrator to four people — two candidates currently
within the county and two who are not.
“I would hope that any candidate for an interim administrator would
have first-hand working knowledge of St. Louis County immediately. I
think we should expect the candidate chosen to have a working
relationship of all departments both in a professional and casual
basis. The person should know the internal workings of county
government, have broad knowledge of St. Louis County and most of its
policies,” said County Board Chairman Mike Forsman, who is a member of
the subcommittee.
Forsman abided by an agreement of all on the subcommittee to not release any names at this time on the final four candidates......... For the rest of the story
To read this story and comment on it online go to www.virginiamn.com. |
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The Messabi Daily News Reports
County Board to fill position
Charles Ramsay
Last updated: Tuesday, January 08th, 2008 11:14:56 PM
DULUTH — The St. Louis County Board started off 2008 Tuesday with
change at the top — a new chair and vice chair, and a subcommittee to
pick an interim county administrator..........
Seemingly in a more congenial mood, compared with some tense
meetings last year, commissioners displayed more harmony in several
areas, particularly on county Planning Commission appointments. Two
women residents who had applied to fill vacancies received preliminary
approval, Sonya Pineo of Tower and Darlene Saumer of Colvin Township.
Diane Wershay of Eveleth was named to fill a spot on the county Board
of Adjustment. Commissioner Keith Nelson said he was concerned about
keeping some gender equality on the panel in nominating Saumer.
Commissioner Peg Sweeney of Gnesen Township said in looking at a
county map on Planning Commission members’ residences, “I’m extremely,
extremely concerned’’ about geographical imbalances as there was just
recently only two persons on the panel who lived south of Eveleth.
“There’s a huge mass of land there that has absolutely no
representation,’’ she said.
See Mesabi Daily News for more info and the whole story |
County Administrator
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WDIO Reports as Did Mesabi Daily News on 1 11 08
Former County Attorney Alan Mitchell Likely To Be Named Interim Administrator
http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S313476.shtml?cat=10335
"Current administrator Dana Frey resigned his position, effective
February 8th, for a job overseas. The board plans on launching a large
and lengthy search, for his permanent replacement." |
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County Administrator
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Mitchell might return to take top job
John
Myers Duluth News Tribune
Published
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Former St. Louis County Attorney Alan Mitchell might
get a new job with his old employer.
Mitchell on Monday was approved by a committee of the St. Louis County Board
to fill the position of interim county administrator.
The full County Board is expected to suspend its rules and vote to approve
Mitchell for the temporary post at their regular board meeting today in Duluth.
Mitchell
would replace Dana Frey, who is leaving after Feb. 8 to take a position in
Bosnia. Frey has held the post since April 2004.
Mitchell’s presence again at County Board meetings could make for some
uncomfortable moments as he’ll sit across the board room from County Attorney
Melanie Ford, who defeated Mitchell in a razor-close election in November
2006.
..........
The position is expected to pay between $101,000 and $135,000 in 2008.
for the rest of the artcle see http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=58183§ion=News |
Mileage Reimbursement raised to 72.6 Cents per mile
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http://www.virginiamn.com/mdn/?section_id=70&story_id=211788
4 county officials reject extra
mileage pay
Increase
goes from 50.5 cents per mile to 72.6 cents
Charles Ramsay
Last updated: Sunday, January 13th, 2008
10:31:58 PM
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DULUTH — Four St. Louis County elected officials say they don’t want to
get 72.6 cents a mile reimbursement for travel put on their own vehicles
on county business.
The four — Commissioners Steve O’Neil and Bill Kron of Duluth and Mike
Forsman of Ely, along with County Auditor Don Dicklich — have requested in
writing that they receive the standard 50.5 cents mileage rate proscribed
by the Internal Revenue Service, Chuck Hardtke of the County Auditor’s
office said.
T. To read this
story online and comment on it go to www.virginiamn.com.
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Polymet and Sulfide Mining
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PolyMet opponents win court
victory
By Marshall
Helmberger
Opponents of PolyMet Mining’s plans to
use a site near Floodwood for wetlands mitigation have won a significant court
ruling that puts county logging and other activity in the area on hold.
The ruling also voids an agreement between PolyMet and St. Louis County to
allow the mitigation project, an agreement that the county board approved last
year.
“We think it’s a good ruling,” said Bob Tammen, a longtime resident of
Soudan, who was a plaintiff in the case. Tammen said residents in the vicinity
of the Floodwood site are strongly opposed to the mitigation plan and question
the value of wetland restoration in a former wetland that has already been
restored “by nature and the beavers,” according to Tammen."
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Polymet and Sulfide Mining
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Subject: Judge suspends work on wetlands near Floodwood/Wind energy
takes flight on Iron Range/Natural gas pipeline discussed
Judge suspends work on wetlands near Floodwood
Duluth News Tribune
Published Friday, April
20, 2007
"Work to reconstruct a wetland near Floodwood — planned
to replace wetlands lost if the PolyMet copper mine is built near Hoyt Lakes —
must wait until the mine’s environmental review is completed.
That’s the order of State District Court Judge Heather Sweetland, who has
ordered St. Louis County to halt work on the wetland project.
The judge’s order includes a temporary injunction banning work at the wetland
site. At least some of the site was logged over the winter, the first step
toward reconstructing wetlands. Work was supposed to begin this summer on
plugging artificial ditches in the area and reflooding hundreds of acres to form
wetlands"
The suit was filed in December by Wetlands Action group, a loose coalition of
several Northland residents, including Bob and Pat Tammen of Soudan, Leonard and
Lori Anderson of Cloquet and Elanne Palcich of Chisholm.
"One year ago, PolyMet and county officials signed an agreement to restore the
wetlands at the site near Floodwood. In all, the county has proposed returning
3,200 acres of drained or partially drained land near Floodwood to full wetland
status. The county would sell rights to the wetlands to PolyMet and other
developers who need to replace wetlands they fill."
“They have cleared trees, but not filled in the ditches and disrupted the
existing surface water drainage patterns. The order stops work this summer
on changing the drainage,’’ Peters said, adding that the judge’s order
invalidates the 2006 wetland contract between St. Louis County and Polymet.
St. Louis County is being represented in the case by Lake County Attorney
Russ Conrow because of a conflict of interest. Conrow said St. Louis County
could appeal but that no decision had been made.
Read here for more on this story http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=40326&section=news
The draft environmental impact statement on the PolyMet project is expected
later this year.
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Code of Conduct
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The Duluth Budgeteer gives a thumbs down to the St. Louis County Board prior to the recent
board meeting at which a commissioner put forth a watered down code of
conduct rather than the carefully and professionally crafted one put
forth by the committee assigned to produce a code for the board by the
board.
The commissioner, Nelson, who put
forth the makeshift code, said that two prominent attorneys had worked
on it, however given the gramatical and legal missteps in it and the
lack of protection it offers the County, it seems clear they did not want their names associated with the document, and that may be part of why they went unnamed. Just who these unnamed attorneys are remains an interesting question. |
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