Below are links for February 09, 2010 City Council Meeting, I will have comments later as I get some time, in the mean time most of it speaks for it's self. ENJOY

 IMPORTANT

TREASURER'S REPORT

Please click the link below to see the Treasurers report.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqKJ41jJVcE  

PLEASE NOTE at the beginning of the tape, Grayce Ray of AmericanNews has a question about City budget, nobody seems to know anything about it, a Council member directed Grayce Ray towards the City Treasurer which happens to be Marcie Radtke, obviously Marcie has never joined the rest of the Council members at the table, instead she likes to station herself in the kitchen, and operate from the kitchen window, the other person you will see in the window is the last appointed Mayor Mike Torgerson with his video camera, NOTICE his camera is always directed towards the residents instead of taping the Council meeting, the only reason I can think is that Mike has nothing better to do.

Going back to Marcie Radtke, when Grayce Ray asks “Madam Treasurer” (time 0:49/4:51 on the time tracker at the bottom of your YouTube video clip). Someone says she is gone, could be Mike Torgerson I am not sure, if you don’t hear “she is gone” increase the volume and you will hear it, I promise, another resident is heard on the tape passing a sarcastic comment that we don’t need the Treasurer at the Council meeting. How serious is the City Treasurer about doing her job, does she even know what her job is? Or how to do it? Each Council member is paid $60.00 for each City Council meeting, are we paying her for the meeting even if she slips away from the back door of the City Hall, without excusing herself or informing anyone. At a different Council meeting, on the time tracker 1:32/4:51 you will notice Marcie in the background, behind the speaker, in the kitchen window, along with Mike Torgerson and his video camera, give me a break!! on the time tracker 2:03/4:51, Marcie is giving the Treasurers report, which has always been limited to water bills and only water bills. Try to figure out as she mumbles her report (COSTING THE CITY $60.00), a resident asks her to repeat what she said, Mayor Jason Avelsgard then repeats her report. Also notice Mike Torgerson aligning his video camera, he likes to tape the residents instead of the Council meeting. Pay close attention on time tracker 4:00/4:51, Marcie saying there are couple of houses that don’t have a water meter but they are being charged, Mark Radtke seconds her in the background, did she forget Ed Lipinski, is he being charged at the house he has been using as a storage place? How will we get a complete list of houses with water meters installed, and is it true that every house has a water meter and if not they are still being charged the minimum $62.00. She still owes an apology for lying to the residents about her own water bill.

Minn. Stat. § 13D.01, subd. 6 (b) ..... Citizens must be able to hear the discussion at a meeting, and must be able to determine who votes for or against a motion.

The residents want to see all elected officials at the table where they are supposed to be while coundicting a council meeting and stay at the meeting untill the meeting is adjorned, speak loud enough so they can be heard, citizens also demand a professional treasurer's report, not just a shutoff list.

___________________________________________

Please click the link below to see Marcie and Mark Radtke's performance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBuDJLUnel4

 RESIDENTS DEMAND

 FELONY CHARGE BE FILED AGAINST

CITY CLERK, CITYOF WATSON, MN 

Minnesota Election laws clearly lay down strict penalties for individuals who knowingly obstruct or use deceptive practices in hindrance of elections. 204C.035 Deceptive Practices in Elections, with the intent to prevent the individuals from voting in the election. A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor. Subd 3 General Penalty. An individual who intentionally violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a felony, unless a different penalty is specifically provided by law. In October of 2009 the City clerk was presented with a petition in accordance with the Minnesota State Laws, the City was supposed to send the petition to the Chippewa County, giving the County 53 days to prepare for the special elections under the existing law. First part of the video shows the Mayor and the Clerk receiving the petition in October 2009, the second part shows the Mayor speechless when a resident asks the Mayor why the petition was not sent to the County after two months, at that point the City Clerk starts to give false reasons, a 45 days law and State statues which were all false as later checked by Grayce Ray of Montevideo News and others from the Sectary of State’s office and other references. When you watch the video, you will notice that at first Mayor Avelsgard was speechless but as the City Clerk starts to give FALSE pretexts, the Mayor himself joins the City clerk and says "we'll have to rethink about the date, essentially accepting the City Clerk's false reasoning, little did he know that the City Clerk was being less then truthful. Reading the Montevideo American Newspaper Mayor Avelsgard told the reporter that for some reason the petition papers got buried. Both, the City Clerk Joisjean Fossen and Mayor Jason Avelsgard have demonstrated disrespect to resident’s desire for elections, thus violating Minnesota Election laws, and breach of trust. This kind of disrespect of laws by elected officials is no laughing matter, in my opinion an investigation in the matter is called for, this is not the first time this Council has shown such poor judgment, as you will see in the next video clip that the same council is promoting BRIBE.

 

Please click the link below to see the video.

 Please click the link below to see the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rt3GbfY7yA

EVERSINCE THE OCTOBER MEETING THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO THIS ILLEGAL PRACTICE OF GIVING FREE WATER TO MARK RADTKI AND MARCE RADTKI AT THREE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS OF EARLY FEBRUARY 2010. ON JANRUARY 28, 2010 MARK RADTKI WAS THE OFFICIATING MAYOR AND REFUSED TO DO ANY THING, ON THE CONTERARY THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.

PLEASE SEE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF WATSON CITY COMICAL COUNCIL MEETINGS ON THE VIDEO PAGE

http://youtubedownload.altervista.org

 

AZIZ & HIS SIGN ON HWY. 7 IN WATSON,                         WORKSHOP CONDUCTED ON HARVEST MINNESOTA                                                                                        FEST   2009 IN  WATSON, MN.

  FOLLOWING IS IN RESPONCE TO MR. KURT DAHL'S COMMENTS OF SEPTEMBER 03, 2009

NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY

We know that Section 2, Subdivision 135 is the problem, and see how the City attorney is having such a hard time telling the truth, first he talks about another property and then says "However those actions did not relate to Section 2, Subdivision 135, in plain English he is admitting that the City has not cited any other resident with Section 2, Subdivision 135. Like I said earlier truth is very powerful. To tell the truth one does not have to beat about the bush.

Here is what we drive from this letter. The City is forcing an ordinance down my throat which the City attorney is admitting they have never enforced on any other resident.

The City is not at liberty to cherry-pick which residents it wishes to apply its ordinance to; the ordinance must apply equally to all. To do otherwise violates not only my rights under the Minnesota State Constitution, but also my rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. State v. Vadnais, 202 N.W.2^nd 657, 659 (1972); Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, U.S. 562 (2000)

Now I have proved that the City has indeed discriminated against me, but you Mr. Dhal don’t care if the City is discriminating against me because the truth has OUTRAGED you. You rather see the sign removed because you can’t handle the truth (reminds me of Jack Nicholos and Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men) now in your article in the paper some thing else came to your mind....Hatfields and McCoys in Kentucky. You are not alone, when Mark Steil from Minnesota Public Radio asked Mayor Avelsgard about discrimination; this is what he had to say

Avelsgard said the city is not singling out Ansari for racial or any other reasons. He said Ansari is not alone in being sued, a couple of years ago the city took another Watson resident to court. He admits there are other zoning violations around town, but said the city is pursuing enforcement.

So I did bend backwards to please the City and the boat people, I bent so faaaaar that I had to see a Chiropractor (just Kidding, lighten up Mr. Dhal), any ways I don’t want to embarrass you any more by showing you the counter offer the City of Watson sent me, there were some 18 other extreme conditions in addition to the ones I had agreed already to in my settlement agreement of April 03, 2009. One of the conditions was that I would be allowed only one table to display my vegetables and the City would tell me where to put the table in my yard. Another one was that the City would tell me what lumber I could use for the raised beds, third was that the City would tell me which raised beds I can keep, fourth was that I would remove not only the plastic cover but also the plastic pipes no later then 15 October and could not put them back before 15 May the following year...on and on and on. It never seemed the boat people were ever interested in any kind of settlement. So Mr. Dhal you still stand by your statement. I will let the readers be the judge, they can read the second letter, David Lillehaug wrote to the City attorney.

 

Mr. Dhal you say in your article "Ansari and the city of Watson need to stop this shameful display of poor judgment on both sides and save much-needed taxpayers dollars by ending this cloud hanging over the village of Watson."

Did you really mean village or that was a typo? I thought the City was incorporated or are you having intuitions. Let me draw your attention to a letter sent by Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG) to the City attorney asking that the newly elected Council members and the Newly ....Oh! Well, why don’t I put the letter so everybody can read it for themselves.

 Mr. Dhal do you still stand by your comment "shameful display of poor judgment on both sides, I don’t care one bit what you think, cuz you are OUTRAGED at the truth anyways. At the end of your article you write about saving much-needed tax payer dollars by ending this cloud hanging over the village of Watson. I thought you wrote in your article that over the last two years you have driven thru Watson at least once or twice a week. Would this be on your way to Mars or coming back from Mars? You have probably driven thru but never stopped in Watson otherwise you would not talk about tax payers dollars, Every body on Earth is surprised why on GOD's green earth we needed Kennedy & Graven as a City attorney, even big cities cannot afford such an expensive law firm, May be your reasoning is that because I moved to this village of Watson, the boat people had to hire an expensive attorney. Mr. Dhal, I am pretty sure you know who the plaintiff is and who the defendant in this on going case is. Just in case you need your memory refreshed, it’s the plaintiff who can withdraw the case not the defendant, compranda. I don’t quite follow your logic of somehow holding me responsible for the bankruptcy of this village. My advice would be to ask your companion voyagers, or look at the monthly financial statements posted on this website. It might help you identify ways to help save tax payers dollars...what am I talking about, I don’t think you are serious about tax payers or truth, discrimination or YADA..YADA..YADA

You write in your article "His frustration with the City must have reached a new high for him to reach the point of posting these signs.

So you think I put the sign because of my frustration with the City? think again

The sign is to warn the boat people about the danger of NO-MANS-LAND, But i see your Son-in-Laws frustration, he had to run to his father-in-law like a four year old child yelling my father-in-law is tougher then you. The reason why you wrote the article has nothing to do about my frustration and has every thing to do about your frustration and your son-in-law's frustration, who happens to be on the Watson City council.

AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY

GOOD DAY

_____________________________________________

OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF WATSON, MN.

CITY OF WATSON IGNORES DISTRICT JUDGE’S WARNING

CONTINUES TO DISCRIMINATE

PLEASE HELP FIGHT THIS DISCRIMINATION

Mayor Jason Avelsgard                                                                                   Aziz Ansari                  

City Of Watson                                                                                                   P.O. Box 91

P. O. Box 7                                                                                      Montevideo, MN. 56265

Watson, MN 56295-0007

Dear Mayor Avelsgard:

    This letter is to let you know that after repeated efforts on my part and making you aware that the city is obligated to treat all its residents equally and fairly, you have failed to fulfill your obligations and continue to discriminate against me.

    You have chosen to pursue litigating a civil case against me which has no merit; Even though, Eighth Judicial District Court Judge David L. Mennis had warned the City of Watson in his Memorandum dated March 13^th 2009 “The court is troubled by the seemingly broad definition of “structure.” Indeed, if Defendants can show that other Watson residents, especially those outside of defendants’ protected class have not been cited for violations of Plaintiff’s Zoning Ordinance for erecting other innocuous things on their properties that could be deemed “structure,” it seems that Plaintiff is opening itself up to state or federal claims by Defendants too obvious to require elaboration.

    Certainly, the City of Watson has never cited any Watson resident for such a vague ordinance in its entire history. But after the Judge warned the City of Watson, the City has chosen to ignore all warnings and opts to pursue its prejudicial enforcement of law by continuing to litigate against me and not citing any other resident for the same very ordinance it deems me of violating. Such Discrimination against me violates my civil rights. The City is not at liberty to cherry-pick which residents it wishes to apply its ordinance to; the ordinance must apply equally to all. To do otherwise violates not only my rights under the Minnesota State Constitution, but also my rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. State v. Vadnais, 202 N.W.2^nd 657, 659 (1972); Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, U.S. 562 (2000).

    In my earlier letters I have pointed out several examples of ordinance violations by other residents, to which the city has turned a blind eye.  But they are the same ordinances the city wants me to comply with. For example, my farmer’s market sign must be removed, but ten other signs in violation have never been questioned. Is this not Discrimination? My vegetable garden is apparently not a permissible use in R-1 (residential) district as argued by the city attorney even though the supreme court of Minnesota protects one’s right under Minn. Const. art XIII, 7 (“any person may sell or peddle the products of the farm or garden occupied and cultivated by him without obtaining a license therefore”); state v. Hartmann, 700 N.W.2d 499 (2005) (holding that products of the farm or garden “may be sold by farmer without obtaining a license to do so,” and affirming that “[b]eing relieved of the need to obtain a license therefore allows farmers to sell the products of their farm without obtaining the government’s permission.”)

    The city may not, as it seeks to do, preclude me from selling homegrown produce from a stand located on my residence, as doing so violates my rights under the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. But other vegetable gardens, like Danny Larson’s have never been questioned. Is this not discrimination? Donald Cary farms in an R-1 district, growing a field of soy beans inside the city limits. The city has never cited him. Is farming ok but not gardening? Is this not discrimination? My permit is ostensibly denied because there is no primary building on the lot. However, Denny Olson has a garage behind my house with no primary building. Mike Torgerson on my South side has a garage and a shed without a primary building. But that is apparently okay. Is this not discrimination? I have given you several other examples (in my letter dated July 7^th 2009) of such lots which have subordinate structures in the absence of a primary building. What was the reason to deny my permit? Why does the ordinance not apply equally to all? Is this not discrimination?

    Ed Lipinski (Zoning Committee Member) is selling cars out of his repair shop parked and displayed on the public right of way, and being helped by Todd Vogel the Zoning Commissioner. Is this a permitted use of a boulevard according to the City or State code? Does Mr. Lipinski have a used car dealer’s license from the State of Minnesota? It appears as though city officials are bending and violating city ordinances for their personal gain and are being overlooked by the City.

    In the past I have requested that an investigation should be opened in regard to the changing of minutes in an attempt to strengthen the city’s case. This amounts to fraud and destruction of evidence as pointed out by the Farmer’s Legal Action Group attorney. You have promised to look into this twice, in the presence of the council and failed to keep your word. Are you doing your job? Racist remarks have been made at council meeting and you have failed to address this issue by formulating some kind of a policy as requested by me in a council meeting, to curb such behavior. Are you doing your job?  

    The FLAG attorney requested the district court in its letter dated November 10^th 2008 to postpone the hearing which was scheduled for November 12, 2008. The objective was to find out from the newly elected Mayor and two new council members if their votes would affect the City’s position in this case. City Attorney Mr. Alsop wrote to the FLAG attorney in his letter dated December 03, 2008 that he was advised by the City Officials to proceed with the litigation of the case. However when I asked the newly elected Mayor and the two council members in the December council meeting, in the presence of a video camera, if they were asked about their position on the case, they all said no one had asked them. They had no knowledge of any letter from the City Attorney asking if the new council composition would have any effect on the case. However the City Attorneys’ letter says otherwise. How was it possible for the City Attorney to write that he was advised by the City officials to proceed with the litigation, without the new council members ever having any knowledge of it? I have asked the City attorney if he has a copy of the letter from the City officials authorizing him to continue the litigation. The City attorney has replied in his letter dated July 30, 2009 that no such letter exists. It just does not add up. This amounts to not only discrimination but conspiracy as well. I have requested you to look into this matter and as of this day I have not heard a word from you. Are you doing your job?

    In November of 2007 the city clerk Lois and her husband Jim Fossen harassed and embarrassed me in the neighborhood by showing up at my residence and prevented me from putting up a fence because I did not have a permit. After I applied for a permit, four months later my check was returned giving no reason. Perhaps it was because, as I later I found out, that I DID NOT need a permit. The city clerk lied to me, claiming that I had to have a permit. Is it customary for the city clerk to enforce city ordinances? I have yet to hear from you. Are you doing your job? What exactly are we paying you to do?

    The city attorney Mr. Alsop mentions in his letter dated April 29^th 2009, that after a closed door meeting with you and the rest of the City Council he was authorized by the City of Watson, to impose extreme conditions on this property. One of the conditions was to limit me to a single table 4’X 8’ to display vegetables at a location chosen and designated by the City. In other words the City intends to tell me where I should place a table in my yard.

     Mr. Mayor I am having a very hard time believing that I am in Watson, MN USA and not in a communist dictatorship. When will you and the zoning board and the kangaroo council stop discriminating against me?

    In Montevideo, Minnesota about 5 miles from Watson, for the first time more than 50% students are now on the subsidized lunch program. These are not isolated numbers. It has been reported by the Federal Government that by February of 2009, there were almost 32 million people receiving food stamps in the United States, which is an all time record.

    In order to solve this ugly problem, let’s join forces. I have come up with a partial solution in the form of the backyard food shelf.  This is an attempt to share techniques and network with home gardeners and non-gardeners alike. We are sharing with them how to use intensive growing methods to grow food 2000% more efficiently. St. Paul has encouraged its residents to grow fresh produce in their yards, thanks to the working model in Watson. Throughout North America people and cities like New York, Washington and even the White House are embracing the idea of gardens in their yards. What is wrong with Watson?  Instead of promoting my efforts to grow more food, they seek to shut me down. Why should I have to jump through countless legal hoops in order to obtain what is already my constitutionally protected right? I thought equal justice was the law of the land. Mr. Mayor, I have serious doubts if you are up to the job. You seem to lack the necessary leadership qualities. It seems like the city is run by everyone but you. These people are more interested in safeguarding their own agendas.

     The soon to be bankrupt city of Watson has paid over 43 thousand dollars in consulting fees for an incompetent maintenance person because he cannot pass the test to meet licensing requirements. He is also a council member. Over 32 thousand has been paid out to the City Attorney in just 10 months. Where will this all end?

    Watson, a town of just over 80 houses, several of which are unoccupied and boarded, gets roughly $36,000 every six months in property tax. I highly doubt if you would waste money like this if it was your own. Are you following the lead of the racist element on the City Council? They are bent on furthering their personal vendetta at the cost of the death of this town. Being the Mayor, I have yet to see any effort on your part to stop this nonsense. Therefore you are either unable to stop this or you are part of it. Either way it is hurting our small community. Several newspaper articles and letters to the editor have been written condemning the City’s foolish approach. A large number of residents have signed petitions, but it has fallen on deaf ears. The petition was not even entered into the minutes (in violation of state law). Even the District Judge has warned the City to take heed, but the City has decided to ignore his warning. In the end, truth will prevail; I will not leave any stone unturned to seek justice. I am not afraid of your harassment and bullying. I suggest that you listen to the people of Watson, your conscience and equal justice laws and withdraw this litigation immediately. Do the right thing and stop wasting resident’s tax dollars.

     To the readers of this letter, please help me fight this injustice and discrimination in what ever way you can. A handful of City officials are pursuing this destructive course on taxpayer’s money. They should be brought to justice for all their ridiculous efforts to discriminate against me. I should be allowed to teach, grow and share fresh nutritious food with other people.

Respectfully

Aziz Ansari

replymyemail@yahoo.com

A more detailed account of my concerns are presented below

______________________________________________________________________

Accounting sheets, City of Watson

 

 The city of Watson is very tight lipped about their spendings, it was no easy task to get these balance sheets, these are three from 2008 and seven from 2009, could not get october 2008 and December 2008, may be it does not exist, anybody's guess. On the left of the sheet it says Troy Gilchrist, this is the city attorney, you might find it under a different heading such as Kennedy & Graven, this is also the city attorney, lets add up how much the city attorney was paid in 3 months of 2008 and 7 months of 2009, total of 10 months

 

 

City Attorney

August 2008 = $903.81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Attorney

                B/F   $ 903.81 

Sep. 2008=  $3187.54

____________________

Total        =    $4721.35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sheet does not have any approval signatures on the bottom left corner, what does that mean, one sheet was a approved sheet and this was after thought for display, your guess is as good as mine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Attorney

 

                       B/F    $4721.35

November 2008= $2435.18

________________________

                   Total=$7156.53

 

 

 If you notice on top right corner it says Nov. meeting display copy, is the city keeping two or more accounting sheets, one for display and then another corrected or ammended for audit, a question the city is not prepared to answer, they are not even prepared to share information of any sorts with the residents, period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

City Attorney

 

        B/F         $7156.53

Jan. 2009    = $5453.90

_____________________

Total            = $13,610.43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             NOTE

 

Look at the ending balance in

Jan . 2009 it shows $54,689.99  but when it is brought forward in Feb. 2009 it becomes $45,543.24, is this substandard bookeeping or more or both, because there is no over sight and every thing is done so secrectively it is impossiable to check anybody.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

City Attorney

 

B/F             $16,108.66

March 2009$  3,725.27

______________________

Total      =  $19,833.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Attorney

 

B/F                   $19,833.93

April 2009         $  4,969.45

_______________________

Total          =     $24,803.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Attorney

 

B/F                 $24,803.38

May 2009       $  1,229.03

_______________________

Total            = $26,032.41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Attorney

 

B/F                $26,032.41

June 2009     $  2,416.85

________________________

Total       =     $28,449.26  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Notice the word Note in the right bottom corner 6-12-09 Added Byron Hayunga $450.00, you will see this amount either $450.00 or higher every month, yes every month since year 2001. The city did not have to incur this expense when Mr. Nordan was the maintenance guy for the city of Watson, after that when John Harker did the maintenance there was no such charge. However, when Mark Radtke took over as the maintenance guy for the city of Watson in 2001, he was not qualified to do the lab work for testing the waste water and sewer and do the necessary paper work, therefore he asked Mr. Byron Hayunga to do this part of his job, Mr. Byron Hayunga is a trained, qualified and experienced professional and does consulting work, he charges by the hour for his work. Every week he comes to Watson to do the necessary testing and complete reports for EPA. The City of Watson pays Mr. Byron $450.00 every month for his consulting fee because their own maintenance person Mr. Mark Radtke is not qualified as he has never been able to pass his tests/exam etc. 

 WHY SHOULD THE CITY PAY FOR MARK RADTKE'S INCOMPETENCY, THE CITY HAS ALREADY PAID WAY OVER $43,000.00 in consulting fee. How will this come to an end, why can't Watson hire a qualified person. Mark Radtke being the maintenance person and on the city counsel, in my opinion there is a big conflict of interest, the city is willing to waste tax payers dollars without any accountability. THE CITY OF WATSON IS BROKE AND MR. RADTKE SHOULD REIMBURSE ATLEAST $43,000.00 WITH COMPOUND INTEREST BACK TO THE CITY, unless he can show that there was an honest effort to hire a qualified maintenance person for the city of Watson and the city failed to find such a person in the last eight or nine years. How many times has Mark taken the water and sewer test, when is the last time he took the test, why can't he pass this test after all these years, above all who authorized to pay for Mark Radtke's incompetence from city funds on an on going basis no questions asked. THIS MUST BE INVESTIGATED, WHO WILL INVESTIGATE....NO BODY, before any investigation or change, it has to be voted in the counsel, Mark Radtke happens to be the senior most counsel member.  On the contarary Mr. Radtke has enjoyed several pay raises in the past years.

                                                                                                                         

JULY 31, 2009

 

Mr. Ed Lipinski (zoning board member and owner of the workshop) and Mr. Todd Vogal (zoning Commissioner and working for Mr. Lipinski) have added one truck and one trailer (rear part of an old truck) to their collection of vehicles for sale on State property, I thought they would feel ashamed of what they were doing after it was brought in lime light, however contrary to common wisdom and courtesy and in defiance they have added more things to sell.

 JULY 25' 2009

THIS PLY SIGN WAS THE OLD BAIT FOR SALE SIGN AT THE CORNER STORE/GAS STATION IN WATSON, THIS SIGN WAS USED TO HOLD THE PRINTED VINYL OR SIMILAR MATERIAL TO MAKE THE NEW OFF SALE SIGN SEEN BELOW.

NEITHER THE SIGN ABOVE NOR THIS OFF SALE SIGN MEET THE WATSON ZONING ORDINANCE. HOWEVER, THE CITY REQUIRES ME TO HAVE MY FARMERS MARKET OR ANY OTHER REPLACEMENT SIGN IN ITS PLACE TO MEET THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE. DID MIKE CLAUSEN OBTAIN A PERMIT OR A VARIANCE FOR THIS SIGN, WILL THE MAYOR OF WATSON OR ITS ZONING BOARD EXPLAIN THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MIKE CLAUSEN IS A MEMBER OF THE ZONING BOARD. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO UPHOLD LAW AND ORDER IN WATSON? ARE THESE PEOPLE ANSWERABLE? WHAT HAPPENED TO GOOD CONSCIOUS, OR IS IT DEAD AND NON EXISTANT.

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

JULY 19' 2009

 

I received an email which I have pasted below showing that St. Paul has no problem with growing and selling vegetables in city limits. However, City of Watson being so thickly populated with a population of 200 or so people cannot handel my farmers market or hoop beds, more over people are getting ideas from me and sucessfully implimenting them, more power to them.

 

 

 

Fw: Partying like rock stars in the TC Metro

Monday, July 6, 2009 11:06 AM

From:

"Chuck Waibel" <newworld@fedteldirect.net>

View contact details

To:

"Aziz Ansari" <replymyemail@yahoo.com>

I forward this to you because I see your influence in the pictures, in how they designed their planting beds. Remember when these ladies dropped in on you last year?

Be Well,
Chuck Waibel
"At the precipice, we change-" Klaatu

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

ACCORDING TO WATSON CITY AND ITS ATTORNEY I HAVE TOO MANY STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY, ONLY THREE STRUCTURES ARE ALLOWED. THIS PICTURE SHOWS THREE RAISED BEDS IN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE AND A SIGN, READING SALAD GREENS FOR SALE. EVERY THING YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE IS A CRIME IN WATSON, CITY OF WATSON HAS SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DRAG ME TO THE DISTRICT COURT BUT TO NO AVAIL, THE JUDGE DID NOT GO ALONG WITH THE CITYS' VAGUE LAWS

 

 ANOTHER VIEW OF THE HOUSE WITH MORE BEDS, I COUNTED ABOUT SEVEN RAISED BEDS AROUND THE HOUSE. I HOPE THIS IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE CITY OF WATSON ZONING AND COUNSEL MEMBERS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PICTURES SHOWING THAT OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE OFFERED THEIR YARDS FOR GROWING FRESH VEGETABLES, EVEN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL IS PROVIDING HER WITH MULCH AND COMPOST. WHAT CAN I SAY OTHER THEN

 

 

SHAME ON YOU COUNSEL AND ZONING MEMBERS OF CITY OF WATSON

Below are the two links to several pictures of the raised beds, simply click the link to view the pictures

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/earthma001/SusaneSFarm?authkey=Gv1sRgCKChisLxgYDSEw#     In May

http://picasaweb.google.com/earthma001/CityBackyardFarmingLLCOpenHouse2009_06_28?authkey=Gv1sRgCL7RzqW-1_igtAE#    About a week ago
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 I sent this letter to the Mayor of Watson, MN. on the 7th of July 2009, I am posting this letter on the web so that we can make our government transparent and our elected officials more accountable. Let's pray for good results and get rid of the ugly face of discrimination. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Aziz A. Ansari

P.O. Box 91

Montevideo, MN. 56265-0091

 

July 7^th, 2009

 

Mayor Jason Avelsgard                                    via Registered US Mail

City Of Watson

P. O. Box 7

Watson, MN 56295-0007

 

 

Dear Mayor Avelsgard:

 

This letter is a follow up on my request made in February of 2009; I had filed a written complaint and also reminded you in person at the council meeting on March 10^th 2009 that the City of Watson is obligated to enforce its ordinances on all residents equally. Since then District Judge, David L. Mennis, has also echoed the same concerns. As per the Judge’s instructions, I am providing the City of Watson an opportunity to provide me with copy of any citation to any of its resident, violating its zoning ordinance, namely Section 2, Subdivision 135 outside my protected class or otherwise. Prior to filing and serving summons upon me dated August 25^th 2008. However, this opportunity will cease 10 days from the receipt of this letter. As I see residents of Watson in violation of this ordinance over and over again, it would be fair to give the city of Watson a chance to provide me with proof of such citations.

 

In addition to any citations issued prior to August 25^th 2008, as mentioned above, I would like copies of all citations to residents of Watson issued by the City of Watson in violation of its ordinance Section 2, Subdivision 135 after March 13, 2009 after Judge David L. Mennis warned the City of Watson that the Court is troubled by the seemingly broad definition of “structure”. Indeed, if Defendants can show that other Watson residents – especially those outside of Defendants’ protected class – have not been cited for violations of Plaintiff’s Zoning Ordinance for erecting other seemingly innocuous things on their properties that could be deemed a “structure”, it seems that Plaintiff is opening itself up to state or federal claims by Defendants too obvious to require elaboration.

 

What steps has the city taken to correct this situation other then to ask the city attorney to pursue with its litigation of prejudicial enforcement of vague and unconstitutional ordinances. And continue to waste thousands of dollars of Watson tax payer’s money on legal fees. If the City of Watson is so adamant about enforcing this ordinance on me, it must provide me with evidence that it has also cited other residents for non compliance of City Ordinance Section 2, Subdivision 135, since March 13, 2009. If  the City has failed to do so and subsequently fails to provide any and all evidence of enforcement, this would not only show that the City of Watson has violated my civil rights in the past (prior to August 2008) but is actively in pursuit of its discriminatory policy of prejudicial enforcement of law and discrimination. We are a nation of laws and if the City of Watson opts to ignore and disobey laws on purpose on an ongoing basis, why the City of Watson and its officials should not be brought to justice.

 

As the FLAG attorneys had previously mentioned that vague laws breed discrimination and therefore they are unconstitutional; Even the District Judge has noted that the court is troubled by the seemingly broad definition of “structure” as defined in the City Ordinance; however the City attorney Mr. Alsop has the tenacity to correct the District Judge and felt the need to negate him by writing in his April 29^th 2009 letter “Although the City is eager to enforce the unambiguous provisions of its ordinances”. The ordinance must be unambiguous to Mr. Alsop but Mr. Troy J. Gilchrist another attorney from Mr. Alsop’s Law firm Kennedy & Graven mentions in his letter dated March 14, 2008 that “The City may want to consider modifying the definition when it next amends its ordinance” who in a twisted way tries to justify that a hoop house is a green house.

 

Mr. Mayor, Let me draw your attention to another instance of such prejudicial enforcement of law. I had applied for building permits for the vegetable hoop beds, reserving the right that these were not structures but merely temporary landscape vegetable garden beds and therefore did not require any building permits. However, the city attorney Mr. Alsop has denied my applications, based on other baseless arguments. He says he is writing on behalf of the zoning commissioner/administrator and writes that “there is no residence or principal building on the lot that contains three of the “hoop houses,” which is required by the City Code. An “accessory building” is defined as “[a]n incidental subordinate building customarily incidental to and located on the same lot occupied by the main building, such as a detached garage.” Since there is no residence or other type of principal building on the lot with the three “hoop houses,” the “hoop houses” or any other accessory building cannot be placed on that lot.

There are several lots with so-called subordinate buildings, some examples of such accessory buildings or incidental subordinate buildings on lots without the presence of a so called principal building are listed below; as a matter of fact one permit was issued on September 14^th. 2008 by the City of Watson to Dennis Olson to extend his garage by ten or fifteen feet. This extension is under way as this letter was drafted. A list of these accessory buildings without principal building on the same lot are as follows:

 

            1.         Shed                                                    owner, Don Carry

            2.         Shed and a two car garage                    owner, Mike Torgeson

            3.         Garage                                                 owner, Dennis Olson

            4.         Huge Metal Shed                                  owner, Ed Lipinski

            5.         House converted to a Storage                owner, Ed Lipinski

            Building, No Water or Electric

            Connection                                          

            6.         Shed                                                    owner, Corkey Hilden

 

Can the City of Watson or the city attorney explain why Section 2, Subdivision 2 of the city code has not been applied to the above mentioned properties/owners? But my building permit is denied on the same very reason, even though my hoop beds are of temporary in nature and do not qualify as Accessory Buildings as per the City of Watson ordinance Section 12, Subdivision 6. I . Is this not prejudicial enforcement of law and discrimination?

 

I received a list of permits applied and its outcome, compiled by Todd Vogel the Zoning Commissioner of City of Watson. Not surprisingly I was the only one whose permit application was denied for reason listed as “Needed proper signature” the name which appears just below my name on this list, is Bob Buchanan. He also did not have a proper signature. But he was told “it does not matter” and a permit was issued. Mr. Bob Buchanan will testify to this effect; again a double standard and prejudicial enforcement of law. While at the subject of permits, I notice that certain applications are missing from this list. If you recall I applied for the fence permit and my check # 5086 dated Nov. 7^th 2007 was returned on March 27^th 2008 after four months without giving any reason. Why is this application missing from the list? I also applied for permits for the hoop beds. My three checks # 5099, 5100 and 5101 drawn on Minnwest bank have been cashed by the City of Watson on 12/30/2008 but there is no mention of these applications either. I Appealed the City’s decision to deny my applications but there is no mention of this in the list, I applied for permits in March of 2009 and there is no mention of these applications in the list. Mike Torgeson (mayor of Watson in 2008) had a house demolished in 2008 there is no mention of a permit. Is this list a doctored list for reasons I don’t know? Will you make sure this list reflects an accurate account of permits applied for and their results? Or is it too much to ask you as you have failed to do any thing or address any of my concerns in the past. I just cannot understand what your limits are when it comes to ignoring and avoiding correcting things.

 

The City of Watson and the city attorney insist that I am conducting commercial business out of my residence at 210 South 2^nd Street. Farmers Legal Action Group attorney Jennifer Jambor has reminded the city and its attorney that the supreme court of Minnesota protects ones right under Minn. Const. art XIII, 7 (“any person may sell or peddle the products of the farm or garden occupied and cultivated by him without obtaining a license therefore”); state v. Hartmann, 700 N.W.2d 499 (2005) (holding that products of the farm or garden “may be sold by farmer without obtaining a license to do so,” and affirming that “[b]eing relieved of the need to obtain a license therefore allows farmers to sell the products of their farm without obtaining the government’s permission.”) The city may not, as it seeks to do, preclude Mr. Ansari from selling homegrown produce from a stand located on the property, as doing so violates Mr. Ansari’s rights under the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. The City of Watson has allowed other residents from R-1 (residential) district to sell produce of and from their gardens, sell metal products; Dog grooming, even you Mr. Mayor have a remote car starter business out of your home at 621 County Rd. 9, Watson, MN. Don Cary does farming on City lots numbering west half of lot 3, lot 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and lot 12 in block 15. Even the alley between the city lots which belongs to the city is being used for farming with farm equipment such as tractors etc., and growing Soy bean and corn and sold for profit. Ed Lipinski (Zoning Committee Member) is selling cars out of his repair shop parked and displayed on State/County property, and being helped by Todd Vogel the Zoning Commissioner, is this a permitted use of a workshop by the City code? Does Mr. Lipinski have a used car dealer’s license from the State of Minnesota? City officials who are bending and violating City ordinances for their personal gain are being overlooked by the City.

 

The City of Watson has turned a blind eye to all these commercial operations. However, when it comes to my vegetables, even though the Constitution protects me and recently the District Judge writes that “The court is without sufficient information to say conclusively whether or not Ansari’s selling operation is properly deemed a commercial operation”. Similarly, the Court is unclear as to how the alleged “Farmers Market” operation violates Watson’s Zoning Ordinance or otherwise raises legitimate safety concerns. The City of Watson continues to discriminate against me. Please tell me when does the city intend to stop these other commercial operations? When will the city demolish structures which do not have a principal building on the same lot? And finally Mr. Mayor please tell me when you and your counsel and your city attorney are going to stop discrimination against me and stop applying double standards. The City is not at liberty to cherry-pick which residents it wishes to apply its ordinance to; the ordinance must apply equally to all. To do otherwise violates not only my rights under the Minnesota State Constitution, but also my rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. State v. Vadnais, 202 N.W.2^nd 657, 659 (1972); Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, U.S. 562 (2000)

 

Mr. Mayor on December 28^th 2007 I had written a letter inquiring from the City of Watson and its attorney, if the city had a policy against discrimination and harassment? I never got an answer from either one of them. This letter was in response to a city council member Mr. Curt Peterson who had passed racial remarks during a council meeting. The Mayor at that time Kylene Olson told Curt Peterson “you have gone too far” and walked out of the counsel meeting and later resigned. I brought this up at a subsequent council meeting on March 10^th. 2009 asking you in person if indeed the City of Watson had a policy to address racial and discriminatory behavior and you promised to find out and get back to me with the answer. It is now over 18 months and counting. I hope you can address my concerns before your term is over.

 

With a total population of 209 residents which includes infants and children under the voting age, over 114 adult residents of Watson signed a petition asking the City to stop wasting their tax money and put an end to this nonsensical law suite. The petition was handed to Mike Torgson in 2008 (mayor at the time). What ever happened to that petition? Did the City ever consider its citizens request? When you Mr. Mayor along with two other counsel members were elected for the new term, FLAG had asked the City Attorney who in turn asked the City Counsel if the new counsel would drop this litigation, after almost a month the City attorney informed FLAG that the City of Watson had told him that the new members were not interested in dropping the case. However, when I asked Mr. Kevin (newly elected member) about this correspondence between Flag and the City attorney, Mr. Kevin told me he was unaware of any such request and that he was never asked about it, In the next City Council meeting in presence of the Counsel members, Mayor Mike Torgson and the newly elected members I questioned in the presence of a video camera if the new members were asked if they would be interested in dropping this foolish lawsuit, all three newly elected members including you Mr. Mayor had no knowledge of such a request. However, the City attorney was told, who in turn informed the FLAG attorneys that the new members were not interested in dropping the case. I need to find out who informed the City attorney that the new members were not interested in dropping the case without consulting them. Under the Data practices act I need a copy of the letter sent to the City attorney from the City of Watson, instructing the City attorney to continue with the litigation.

 

Mr. Mayor let me once again draw your attention to March 2009 council meeting. In the matter of fraudulently changing of minutes which amounted to destruction of evidence, you promised to investigate in this matter. As of today, over 100 days have passed. I have yet to hear the result of this investigation. Have you even made an effort to investigate? As far as I am concerned, you either lack the ability or you are deliberately ignoring my request. In which case it makes you an accessory to this fraud. Why a criminal investigation should not be started against you along with the other perpetrators? Further more, I have seen the minutes of March 2009 the allegations levied by the city clerk Louisjean Fossen against me claming that I had used abusive manner. My behavior was Abusive and that the counsel should not go thru this abuse, I have watched the videotape several times but failed to identify any abusive language or manner used by me. There were witnesses at the city council meeting, some of them had the opportunity to see the videotape and did not find any abusive manner. What the city clerk mentions in the minutes is her personal opinion and not a fact. If the City of Watson and its council have chosen to make these minutes official and stand behind this claim, that I used abusive behavior or language and the tapes prove otherwise, tell me why a lawsuit should not be brought against the City of Watson, the City Clerk and each city council member individually for slander and defermation of character.

 

In November of 2007 I started to put a fence on the south side of 210 south 2^nd street. City clerk Loisjean Fossen came to the site along with her husband Jim Fossen (council member at that time) and told me that I had to have a permit to put up the fence. I told her I did not have one. She told me to stop the work immediately. I stopped the work. She started taking pictures for reasons best known to her. Loisjean and Jim Fossen were at the site for well over half hour making sure that I would not work on the fence anymore. Since then I have found out that at the time in fact I DID NOT need a permit to put up a fence, and that she and her husband had lied to me about the permit. As a matter of fact the following day I applied for a permit for the fence but my check was returned after four months signed by Loisjean Fossen giving no reason for the returned check as first above mentioned. I have the letter and the check in case

you need a copy. This is a clear case of harassment; she and her husband used their official position to subject me to unnecessary embarrassment in the neighborhood and stop me from working on some thing I had all the legal right to do. I also question if it is customary for the city clerk to enforce city ordinances in person appearing on site or is it done thru the city council/city attorney thru a letter.

 

In a letter dated April 29, 2009 the City attorney Mr. Alsop mentions that on the authorization of the city council resulting from a closed door meeting that I will remove the Farmers Market sign and agree that I will not put up any replacement signage unless it complies with the City’s applicable sign ordinance. Mr. Mayor as I understand thru out the entire United States several thousand people and home gardeners put up farmers market signs or tomatoes for sale or sweet corn for sale. I don’t have to tell you these signs are temporary in nature and are mostly make shift signs. However, if your counsel insists that my sign should be in accordance with the city ordinance, how about applying this ordinance to other residents of Watson. Have you seen Mark Radke’s sign on his storage building, or the gas station in town? I took pictures of different signs in town, not a single one was in compliance with the city ordinance, how about Mr. Roger Norby from Benson MN. He was selling sweet corn right on Hwy. 7 in Watson last year with 2 folding signs on either side of his stand, free hand painted, “Sweet Corn”. Has the city counsel told the city attorney that the counsel did not object to Mr. Norby or other signs in violation of City Ordinance, and has the city attorney taken the time to see the other signs in town? Mr. Mayor, if you do not have the time or do not care to take the time to look around the City of Watson, I have posted pictures of each and every thing mentioned in this letter on my web site. http://www.hoopbed.com/updates  In a city full of rundown buildings beyond repair, I am being demonized by your City Council and Zoning Committee for growing fresh healthy vegetables and on your direction being dragged in District Court by your City attorney to enforce double standards, on resident’s dime.

 

Will you be kind enough to explain why I am being singled out? The city attorney Mr. Alsop mentions in his letter dated April 29^th 2009, that after a closed door meeting with You and the rest of the City Counsel he was authorized by the City of Watson, amongst other extreme conditions one of the condition was that I will be limited to a single table 4’X 8’ to display vegetables at a location designated by the City. Did the City tell Mr. Norby or Mr. Danny Larson where to put their tables etc.? In plain English the City will tell me where I should put a table in my yard. Mr. Mayor I am having a very hard time believing that I am in Watson USA and not in a country run by a Communist dictatorship.

 

Thanking you for your prompt attention and cooperation.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

Aziz A. Ansari

 

CC:

 

U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20530-0001

USDA Rural Development, Adjudication & Compliance, Kenneth J. Baisden, Sr. 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250-9430

Office of the Attorney General, One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 1060N, Washington, DC 20001

ACLU of Minnesota, Executive Director, Charles Samuelson, 450 North Syndicate Street North, Suite 230 St. Paul, MN  55104

Colleen Landkamer, 410 Farm Credit Services Building, 375 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN. 55101-1853

Email Address: sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn

E-mail: rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn
Koenen, Kenneth (District 1), 2050 1^st st., East, Maynard, MN. 56260

Sen. Ami Klobuchar

Sen. Al. Franken

Rep. Collins

City Clerk

Media

 

 

THE CITY ATTORNEY MR. ROBERT ALSOP OF KENNEDY AND GRAVEN HAS DENIED MY PERMIT APPLICATIONS BECAUSE THE CITY CODE SAYS I MUST HAVE A HOUSE ON THE LOT IN ORDER TO HAVE  AN ACCESSORY BUILDING, EVEN THOUGH A RAISED GARDEN BED IS NOT A BUILDING. HE ALONG WITH THE CITY STAFF WITH WHOM HE HAS BEEN TALKING TO HAVE FAILED TO SEE THE FOLLOWING SHINING EXAMPLES IN THE CITY OF WATSON.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DENNIS OLSON'S GARAGE, JUST GOT EXTENDED IN THE BACK BY 10 OR 15 FEET, THANKS TO CITY OF WATSON PERMIT APPROVAL ON 9/14/2008 BY TOM NELSON. THERE IS NO ELECTRIC OR WATER CONNECTION AND THE GARAGE SITS BY ITS SELF WITHOUT A HOUSE ON THE LOT.

 

 

 

 

 

AS SEEN IN THIS PICTURE THE ELECTRIC METER IS MISSING AS THERE IS NO WATER OR ELECTRIC CONNECTION IN THIS BOARDED HOUSE, NOW BEING USED AS A STORAGE SHED BY MR. ED LIPINSKI A ZONNING COMITTEE MEMBER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE BOARDED OFF HOUSE NOW USED AS A STORAGE SHED AND TO PARK UTILITY TRAILERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS IS ANOTHER STORAGE SHED, MISSING IS THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE ON THIS LOT, I DON'T EVEN THINK THIS SHED BELONGS IN THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT ACCORDING TO THE CITY ZONNING ORDINANCE, THIS SHED AND THE JUNK AROUND IT, BELONGS TO NON OTHER THAN MR. ED LIPINSKI WHO HAPPENS TO BE ON THE ZONNING COMMITTEE SINCE WHO KNOWS WHEN?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A LOT, MISSING A HOUSE, JUST A SHED. BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY INSISTS ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SO CALLED CITY STAFF THAT I CANNOT PUT MY VEGETABLE BEDS ON A LOT BECAUSE THERE IS NO HOUSE ON THE LOT. THIS LOT IS OWNED BY DONALD CARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ANOTHER STRUCTURE IN THE ABSENCE OF A PRIMERY BUILDING OR HOUSE ON THE LOT, OWNED BY MR. DONALD CARY, THIS SHED IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE ABOVE, THIS LOT IS NEXT TO THE WATER TOWER IN WATSON.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 THIS TWO CAR GARAGE AND SMALL SHED BELONG TO MR. MIKE TORGERSON, WHILE HE WAS THE MAYOR OF WATSON, HOUSE ON THIS LOT WAS DEMOLISHED. THE LIST OF PERMITS APPLIED IN 2008 DOES NOT SHOW A PERMIT APPLIED BY HIM. CITY ORDINANCE REQUIRES A PERMIT IF A BUILDING HAS TO BE DEMOLISHED, WHY WAS THE SECONDARY BUILDING LEFT IN THE ABSENCE OF A HOUSE?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRONT VIEW OF MR. MIKE TORGERSON'S GARAGE AND SHED, WITHOUT A HOUSE, ELECTRIC OR WATER CONNECTION ON THE LOT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 OWNED BY DONALD CARY, A GARAGE USED BY THE ADJECENT HOUSE ON A SEPERATE PARCEL. NO HOUSE ON THIS PARCEL NUMBER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARK RADTKE OWNS THIS LOT WITHOUT A HOUSE BUT TWO ACCESSORY BUILDINGS, HE HAPPENS TO BE THE MAINTENANCE PERSON AND A COUNSEL MEMBER OF THE CITY OF WATSON AND HIS WIFE IS THE TREASURER OF THE CITY OF WATSON.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

ANOTHER VIEW OF MR. MARK RADTKE'S LOT, NO HOUSE  BUT TWO ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND THE POST ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE MISSING ELECTRIC METER.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANOTHER LOT WITH NO HOUSE BUT JUST A SHED,  OWNED BY CORKY HILDEN'S FAMILY. DOES THE CITY ATTORNEY MR. ALSOP FROM KENNEDY AND GRAVEN REALISE THAT THE CITY CODE HE WANTS TO ENFORCE ON ME BY DENYING A PERMIT FOR MY RAISED VEGETABLES BEDS IS BEING VIOLATED LEFT AND RIGHT IN THIS RUNDOWN CITY OF WATSON? ALTHOUGH MY VEGETABLE RAISED BEDS ARE NOT STRUCTURES. IT IS HIGH TIME MR ALSOP AND THE CITY STAFF HE HAS BEEN TALKING TO, LOOK INTO THE STATUS OF OTHER ACCESSORY BUILDINGS ON LOTS WITHOUT HOUSES AND START  GIVING CITATIONS AND TAKING VIOLATERS TO COURT IN ORDER TO  DEMOLISH SUCH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES.

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MY CUCUMBER PATCH vs THIS ROADSIDE DEALERSHIP. YOU BE THE JUDGE

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 MR. ED LIPINSKI'S CARS DISPLAYED ON STATE PROPERTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS IS A FREE LISTING FOR MR. LIPINSKI AND MR. TODD'S CARS FOR SALE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 MR. TODD VOGEL'S NAME AND PHONE NUMBER APPEAR ON THE RED CAR, HE HAPPENS TO WORK FOR ED. LIPINSKI WHO OWNS THE WORKSHOP AND HE IS ON THE ZONING BOARD. HOWEVER MR. TODD HAPPENS TO BE THE COMMISSIONER OF ZONING BOARD, GO FIGURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NEXT TO COME ARE THE DIFFERENT SIGNS IN THE CITY OF WATSON, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY COUNSEL INSIST THAT MY FARMERS MARKET SIGN BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY ORDINANCE. HOWEVER, THE PICTURES I WILL POST WILL SHOW DOUBLE STANDARDS.

  

 

BAIT FOR SALE, THIS SIGN IS DISPLAYED AT THE  ONLY GAS STATION IN WATSON, MR. MIKE CLAUSEN OWNS THE GAS STATION AND IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ZONING COMMITTEE, WHEN I STOPPED TO TAKE THIS PICTURE HE STARTED TO FOLLOW ME IN TOWN, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO PROVE, MAY BE HE WAS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE ME. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS, AFTER MAKING SEVERAL STOPS TO TAKE PICTURES I STOPPED TO VISIT A FRIEND IN WATSON, MR. MIKE PARKED HIS CAR AT A DISTANCE AND THEN FINALLY LEFT AFTER A WHILE, THIS SIGN IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CITY CODE FOR SIGNS. MR. MIKE SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO OBEY THE CITY CODE FOR SIGNS, IS THERE A DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR  CITY OFFICIALS?

 

 

 

 

DOES THIS SIGN LOOK LIKE IT MEETS THE STRINGENT CITY CODES FOR SIGNS, NOT AT ALL HOWEVER THE CITY COUNSEL HAS RECOMENDED AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS DELIVERED LEGAL LANGUAGE THAT I MUST REMOVE MY FARMERS MARKET SIGN AND I AM NOT ALLOWED ANY OTHER REPLACEMENT SIGN UNLESS IT MEETS THE CITY CODES. NOW MR. MAYOR OF WATSON AND THE CITY COUNSEL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY MR. ALSOP OF KENNEDY AND GRAVEN OF MINNEAPOLIS, FOR YOUR INFORMATION THIS SIGN BELONGS TO MR. MARK RADTKE, HE HAPPENS TO BE THE MAINTENANCE PERSON FOR THE CITY OF WATSON BUT IT DOES NOT STOP HERE, HE IS ALSO ON THE CITY COUNSEL AND HE WAS PART OF THE COUNSEL INCLUDING THE MAYOR WHO WANT ME TO FOLLOW THE CITY CODE WHEN PUTTING A FARMERS MARKET SIGN, PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH AND STOP PREJUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF LAW. HOW CAN MR. MARK VOTE TO MAKE ME FOLLOW THE CITY CODE FOR A SIGN WHICH IS TEMPORARY IN NATURE BUT DISPLAY HIS STORAGE FOR RENT SIGN WITHOUT ANY GUILT.

 

 

 MR. MAYOR THIS SIGN IS ON CO. ROAD 9 VERY CLOSE TO YOUR HOUSE HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF CITY CODES WHEN YOU SEE THIS SIGN OR YOU ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE CITY OFFICIALS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 JUST BEHIND THE WATER TOWER IN WATSON IS THIS OTHER SHINING EXAMPLE OF A SIGN WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE CITY CODES.

 YOU WANT MORE EXAMPLES MR. MAYOR AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, KEEP SCROLLING DOWN, HAPPY SCROLLING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 DOES THIS SIGN BOTHER ANY OF YOU ON THE ZONING COMMITTEE OR THE CITY COUNSEL, MAY BE NOT, IT'S JUST THE FARMERS MARKET SIGN WHICH IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEM FOR THE RUN DOWN CITY OF WATSON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 LEANING SIGN OF PISA, IS THIS OK WITH THE CITY COUNSEL, THE CITY CLERK PASSES THIS SIGN SEVERAL TIMES, VERY CLOSE TO HER HOUSE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW CAN ANY ONE OF YOU POSSIBILY MISS THIS SCREAMING EXAMPLE OF YOUR DOUBLE STANDARDS IF YOU LIVE IN WATSON OR HAVE VISITED WATSON FOR EXAMPLE MR. ALSOP THE CITY ATTORNEY, I AM SURE HE HAS VISITED WATSON SEVERAL TIMES, IT IS HARD TO MISS THIS SIGN. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY HAD PROBLEM COLLECTING WATER BILL FROM THE OCCUPANT A FEW MONTHS BACK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVEN THOUGH THIS SIGN MIGHT LOOK FINE BUT IT FALLS SHORT OF THE CITY CODES OF WATSON, SO ONE MIGHT ASK WHY WAS IT ALLOWED, SIMPLE ANSWER, IT READS FARMERS CO-OP AND NOT FARMERS MARKET SO IT IS OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS GAS STATION HAS BEEN OUT OF BUSINESS SEVERAL DECADES AGO, THE SIGN DOES NOT MEET THE CITY CODES BUT IS OWNED BY MR. ED LIPINSKI, HE IS ON THE ZONING COMMITTEE AND MR. TODD VOGAL WORKS AT THIS WORKSHOP FIXING CARS AND IS THE ZONING COMMISSIONER AND THEY SELL CARS FROM THIS LOCATION. WHO CARES IF THE LAW IS IGNORED, BUT MY FARMERS MARKET SIGN MUST GO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW IS THIS SIGN IN COMPLIANCE? THIS READER BOARD IS ON MIKE CLAUSENS' RESIDENCE, WHO ALSO OWNS THE GAS STATION IN TOWN. OTHER SIGNS AT HIS GAS STATION ARE IN VIOLATION OF CITY CODE. HOW CAN YOU HAVE SUCH A SIGN IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, I HAVE ASKED THE MAYOR IN THE PAST IF MIKE CLAUSENS' HOUSE IS ZONED AS BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE, BECAUSE BEFORE MIKE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IT WAS A STORE BY THE NAME OF ODDS AND ENDS, BEFORE THAT IT WAS A TAXIDERMY PLACE, DID THE CITY GIVE A VARIENCE AT ANY TIME, OFCOURSE WE ALL KNOW BY NOW THAT MIKE HAPPENS TO BE ON THE ZONING BOARD SO HE CAN DO WHAT EVER HE FEELS LIKE NO QUESTIONS ASKED, BECAUSE ALL CITY OFFICIALS SEEM TO BE ABOVE THE LAW, AS THEY REPEATEDLY HAVE AND CONTINUE TO VIOLATE CITY CODES WITHOUT ANY REMORSE, GUILT OR CONSEQUENCES, MR. MAYOR WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SO FAR, ARE YOU FILING PAPERS AGAINST ALL THESE VIOLATERS AND WHEN CAN I EXPECT THESE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT COURT. IS MR. ROB SCHWENDEMANN NOT INTERESTED IN BRINGING THIS VIOLATION AND OTHERS IN COMPLIANCE, WHEN WILL HE SUMMON A ZONING MEETING LIKE HE DID ABOUT MY HOOPBED AND WAS EAGER TO EXPIDITE THE PROCESS IN A MATTER OF FEW DAYS, IS HE STILL ON THE ZONING BOARD (OFCOURSE HE IS) OR JUST IGNORING ALL OTHER VIOLATIONS IN TOWN?

 

 

 

 

THIS IS THE FARMERS MARKET SIGN, ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT, THIS RUN DOWN CITY WHERE EVERY THING IS FALLING APART THE CITY SHOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE  SOMETHING GOING FOR IT. IF THIS SIGN IS SO OFFENSIVE, WHY HAS THE CITY COUNSEL TURNED A BLIND EYE TO OTHER SIGNS DISPLAYED BY ITS OWN CITY OFFICIALS. MR. MAYOR PEOPLE ELECTED YOU TO DO A JOB, YOU ARE BEEING PAID TO DO A JOB, IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING YOUR JOB WHY DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT PAPER.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

 March 26' 2009 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Clerk, City of Watson, Loisjean Fossen

and Mr. Mike Clausen member Zoning Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2009, Watson City Zoning Committee meeting

(L to R) Ed. Lipinski, Nathan Jordahl, Loisjean Fossen, Todd Vogel, Mike Clausen.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

LETTER TO THE CITY OF WATSON, FEBRUARY 27th, 2009 ________________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 

 

Page 1/3

Aziz A. Ansari

P.O. Box 91

Montevideo, MN. 56265-0091

 

February 27^th, 2009

 

City Clerk

City Of Watson

P. O. Box 7

Watson, MN 56295-0007

   

Dear Ms. Fossen:

 

I the undersigned on this  27^th, day of February 2009 am filing a written complaint and reminding the City of Watson that it has an obligation to enforce it’s ordinances on all residents equally and in all fairness to every resident. Residents in violation of City of Watson zoning ordinance(s) must be asked to comply immediately and completely.

 

As I understand Mr. Rob Schwendemann responding to a verbal complaint (as FLAG attorneys have requested the City of Watson earlier under Data Practices Act to furnish Mr. Jerry Borg’s complaint, city has failed to present any such written complaint, assuming that the City of Watson would not want to be in contempt of Data Practices Act, I configure there is no written complaint on record from Mr. Jerry Borg.) commenced a proceeding which ended in a law suite filed against me in the 8^th. Judicial District, State of Minnesota, Chippewa County, Reference Court file number 12-CV-08-849.

 

Under Mr. Rob Schwendemann’s lead the zoning committee on 12^th. November 2007 had a meeting and found that raised bed was a structure under section 2, Subd. 134 of the ordinance, “[a]nything which is built, constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground; an edifice or building of anykind; or any piece of work artificially built up/or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner whether temporary or permanent in character, including decks and signs, but not including fences or free standing walls less than six (6) feet high”.

 

Furthermore this structure was subsequently governed by zoning ordinance Section 12, Subd. 6.  I.  Accessory Buildings in R-1 Districts. Accessory buildings in R-1 (Residential) districts on lots where a garage is attached to the home, shall be limited to one additional storage building and one non-storage building, so long as the total floor area does not exceed 1200 square feet or result in a total lot coverage by buildings of 25% or more; accessory buildings on lots where a garage is not attached to the home shall be limited to two storage buildings and one non-storage building, with the total floor area not to exceed 1800 square feet or result in a total coverage by buildings of 25% or more.

   

2/3

       

Thus a unanimous decision was made, I was allowed only one raised bed on the property, and members responsible to make this decision were as follows:

 

1.                  Wayne Gustafson

2.                  Rob Schwendemann

3.                  Ed Lipinski

4.                  Tom Nelson

5.                  Loisjean Fossen

 

A recommendation from the zoning committee was faxed to Mayor Kylene Olson by Rob Schwendemann that Aziz is allowed to have one accessory on the property and therefore didn’t need to have a permit for the first one he had put up earlier. He could expand that one but only according to the guidelines in the zoning codes for space and footage of the property.

Watson city council met on Tuesday night, November 13, 2007. Members present at the meeting were as follows:

 

1.         Mayor Kylene Olson

2.         City Clerk Loisjean Fossen

3.         Jim Fossen

4.         Curtis Peterson

5.         Mark Radtke

 

At the meeting, I was explaining why I disagreed with the zoning committee’s findings and that the ordinance Section 12, Subd. 6.  I.  Accessory Buildings in R-1 Districts. talks about 26 pounds per sq. foot live roof weight and about the shingles and the siding, all these could not be applicable in case of a hoop house made of  ½ inch PVC pipes with a 6ml. poly cover and Mayor Kylene agreed that the ordinance, Section 12, Subd. 6.  I.  Accessory Buildings in R-1 Districts. did not address the hoop house and thus was not adequate. Curtis Peterson passed racial remarks and Mayor Kylene said some thing to the effect “you have gone too far” and walked out of the room. Mark Radtke took over as the Mayor. Mark Radtke motioned to accept the zoning committee’s recommendations, Curtis Peterson seconded, all other council members present voted yes and the motion was carried, resident is allowed only the one accessory building. (Amazingly a raised bed with pvc pipes covered with 6ml. poly just turned into a building)

Watson city council members responsible for this act were as follows:

 

1.      Mark Radtke (acting mayor)

2.      Curtis Peterson

3.      Loisjean Fossen

4.      Jim Fossen

In my case the whole process took just four or five days from start to finish and a motion was carried, I need to know how swiftly the zoning committee and the City Council will bring other residents in compliance with City of Watson zoning ordinance section 2, Subd. 134 of the ordinance, “[a]nything which is built, constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground; an edifice or building of anykind; or any piece of work artificially built up/or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner whether temporary or permanent in character,

 

3/3

 

including decks and signs, but not including fences or free standing walls less than six (6) feet high”.

 

As I understand these would include but not limited to mail boxes on posts, lamp posts, flower beds, lawn ornaments, edging, plastic or otherwise, basketball hoops etc., etc.  Resident(s) violating ordinance Section 12, Subd. 6.  I.  Accessory Buildings in R-1 Districts. should be brought under compliance, as was expected of me at the cost of several thousand dollars spent on city attorneys from tax payer’s funds and at the cost of extreme mental anguish and substantial stress at my end. There is no room and excuse for injustice. I also expect that the City of Watson, has an obligation to deliver equal justice to all it’s residents. Therefore in addition to first above mentioned ordinances all other zoning and city ordinances must be complied by all residents without any exceptions. To identify violations and to ratify in turn, the burden of enforcement lies squarely on the City of Watson. If the city has obliged Mr. Borg by taking my case to such length, in all fairness I expect the City of Watson to entertain my complaint expediently and show that it cares about equal justice for all it’s residents, regardless of race, color, gender, religious belief and all other kinds of differences not mentioned here. And that it will make sure that all residents of Watson comply with each and every ordinance of the City of Watson. However, in case the City opts to ignore my complaint, I will be left with no other choice but to explore the need to file my grievances with appropriate authorities, and hold the City of Watson in general and the under mentioned in particular and individually responsible for such injustice:

 

 

Rob Schwendemann            Wayne Gustafson

Tom Nelson                  Mike Huntley

Mark Radtke                 Curtis Peterson

Jason Avelsgard             Mike Torgerson

Todd Vogel                  Nathan Jordah

Mike Clausen                Ed Lipinski

Loisjean Fossen             Kevin Norman

Jim Fossen                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Thanking you for your prompt cooperation.

 

Very truly yours,

   

Aziz A. Ansari

 

CC:

 

U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20530-0001

Office of the Attorney General, One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 1060N, Washington, DC 20001

ACLU of Minnesota, Executive Director, Charles Samuelson, 450 North Syndicate Street North, Suite 230 St. Paul, MN  55104

Email Address: sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn

E-mail: rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn
Koenen, Kenneth (District 1), 2050 1^st st., East, Maynard, MN. 56260

Sen. Ami Klobuchar

Rep. collins

________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 

ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVE A PERMIT TO GROW VEGETABLES, OH! YOU ARE IN WASHINGTON NOT WATSON, MINNESOTA

 

 

March 18' 2009

 

City Of Watson, MN. Running Empty on Justice High on Prejudice

 

Another Gold Medal In The Making

  (this article also added under city of watson, empty on justice, high on prejudice)

 

We have a new Zoning Commissioner in the City of Watson, MN. Some thing not quite right about this statement, a broken, rundown city of less then 200 people, a bedroom community, most if not all of the people work outside of Watson, a city which

does not have a building inspector to condemn uninhabitable houses or can not afford to have a building inspector, but a commissioner,

 

 

 

Watson Industrial Area

and responsible of zoning, zoning what, I have been asking the city to provide me with an updated copy of the zoning map for the last two years without any luck. Even the so called zoning Commissioner in the last council meeting said he does not have a copy of the zoning map he will ask the Chippewa County and see if the County has one. At the last Council meeting I could see yet another Gold Medal in the making, (please read the page City of Watson Running low on Justice, high on prejudice) The Zoning Commissioner Mr.Todd Vogel was asking the Mayor that

a business in the industrial zoned area was doing retail business, this business happens to be the only business run out of a nicer looking building in the City Of Watson, it houses salvaged items from old buildings. Mr. Vogel suggested

 

 

Watson Industrial Area

 

that either the business be rezoned to Commercial or shut down. Mr. Todd Vogel, I have a suggestion, because there is no Industry in Watson Industrial Zone, How about changing the Industrial Zone to Business District and leave the only thriving business in Industrial Zone as is. Beggars can’t be choosers, as if City of Watson had 50 or 60  Industries lined up and was picky and choosey, Get Real Mr. Zoning Commissioner. Now Lets examine the Mr. Zoning Commissioner NOT MR. TODD VOGEL, this is about the City of Watson and it's policy on how to hire, Mr. Todd Vogel has moved to Watson about 18 months back, he rents an apartment and a workshop space from Mr. Ed Lipinski, when our Mr. Zoning Commissioner does not have his own repair work he works for Mr. Ed. Lipinski,

 

 

Mr. Ed Lipinski's Garage

 

 and Mr. Ed Lipinski happens to be on the Zoning Committee, and Mr. Ed Lipinski is on record saying, and I quote “Rob Schwendemann was generous enough to allow Aziz  to build a hoop house” and what do you know, Mr. Rob Schwendemann also happens to be on the Zoning Committee. I am happy Watson is not a Kingdom yet. Oh! by the way, when the City of Watson had to hire a Zoning Commissioner, there were several names in the hat, one of the person had at least 30 years of construction and carpenter's experience, and owns a few properties in Watson, but none of those in the running got the job, when did Mr. Todd apply for the job? who knows, not me, not most of us, I don’t know about Mr. Ed. Lipinski, Mr. Rob Schwendemann or Mr. Mike Clausen, may be they knew as they had to decide who gets the job. We won’t even question Mr. Todd’s qualifications. I read some place “stupid it’s not WHO you know, it’s WHAT you know” did I get that right or did I got that mixed up, oh well who cares the position is filled anyways. If you the reader think I am making it up, these are the facts, so now you know the rest of the story.

 

 

 

Another view of the garage

 

 

WOW did you see the first three picture above, does it really look like an industrial area, there is nothing but this only business in the area, oh yes there is a tiny gas station across the street, I don’t know if that is part of the industrial area or zoned as roadside business, and of course

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Ed Lipinski's treasure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                One person's treasure is another person's JUNK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    Mr. Mike Clausen's Gas Station

 

 

 

 

 

the owner of that gas station Mr. Mike Clausen who is a member of the zoning committee and he lives across his gas station, and where he lives now, used to be a business called Odds and Ends, before that it was a Taxidermy place, the owner had his business and living

 

Mr. Mikes house across the gas station, once a Taxidermy business and then Odds & Ends Book store

 

quarters in this building, at that time, was this building zoned as commercial/business, or residential or may be the city of Watson had a hybrid Zoning Classification Business-Cum-Residential, so it changed from one usage to another several times, Mr. Zoning

 

The remains of the old reader board sign from, Texidermy and Odds & Ends business

 

Commissioner will you find out if every time the owners changed the usage, zoning classification was changed or a variance was issued, if even once the city failed to do its job, it would be a prejudicial enforcement of law against the current owner of the salvage business. Why should he be asked to either get it rezoned or shut down, but like I said earlier, I see another Gold Medal in the making. I don’t know if the Taxidermy business or the Odds and Ends business were in compliance with the zoning ordinance, and I don’t know if it has ever been given a variance or the area has been rezoned as residential, we can only find this and other such instances (I will stop  short of saying violations until we see the new zoning map). So much for Mr. Mike and the gas station story, we will shelf that for the time being, going back to the salvage business, as I recall there used to be Lumber Yard in that place, it is still called the Lumber Yard, even though the Lumber Yard is long gone, as far as I can see a Lumber yard where people buy, pay and pickup merchandise, falls under retail classification, how is it different than a salvage business, Mr. Zoning Commissioner said in the last council meeting, because people bought things and took delivery of items at the salvage place it becomes a retail opperation, and thus out of compliance. I know two wrongs don’t make a right, but is prejudicial enforcement of law a less evil of the two, and by the looks of Downtown Watson, the dying city will be lucky if it can hang on to what it has. But am I missing some thing here, oh yes the city has spent several thousand dollar to drive the

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Radtke's Outside Furnace questionable if it is in compliance with the Watson City Ordinance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

owner of this salvage business out of business, the biggest reason being, he has a mess, I went around town and saw and took pictures of several places, including the garage owned by Mr. Lipinski who happens to be on the

 

 

 

 

 

Unfenced wood piles belong to Mr Mark Radtke

    Council Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoning Committee, the city garage with things cluttered outside, the City maintenance guy who also happens to be on the Watson City Council, Mark Radtke who has a big junk outside one of his structures, and he has a furnace outside his structure which is questionable if it is in compliance with the Watson City Ordinance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

            Unfenced wood piles belong to Mr Mark Radtke

                Council Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However the City Attorney denied the permit application and appeal based on his claim as follows:

Property as being a single lot for the purposes of the ordinance. The property has a single ID number, is taxed as a single lot, and the city is aware of no basis for claiming the property consists of two separate lots.

All property information is public information readily available at the recorders office, It is NOT taxed as a single lot as claimed by the city attorney, but taxed as a single parcel consisting of several lots. As a matter of fact the parcel number the city attorney is referring to, consists of not one not two but 4 lots and an alleyway now amalgamated in this parcel, furthermore he mentions that for the purpose of ordinance he will consider it as one lot (GIVE ME A BREAK).

This attorney in his previous claim has justified that a hoop bed is a green house, how does one tell him the difference between a hoop bed made out of ½ inch PVC pipes, and a 6ml. poly cover over it, with no heating and glass roof or sides, is not a green house.

To negate his strange and unreasonable argument, the property has now been split into two separate parcels. In all reality now the previous parcel number has been transformed into two independent properties, each independent of the other, therefore leaving the city attorney no room to question the number of lot(s) theory. As I told the Judge on the 25^th. of February court hearing that the new parcel could be sold to Mr. X, and would the city attorney have objection to any structures built on this new property, owned by a new owner?

________________________________________________________________________________ 

E-MAIL TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

 

My name is Aziz Ansari, I am 61 years old, retired, I live in Watson, Minnesota, I built four raised beds in my backyard to grow fresh vegetables, I help older people in the community with free vegetables, or sell at farmers market and the proceeds go to the church as offerings. I also teach methods of extensive production on a small space, people have visited from as far as Mexico to see my methods, and was written in Agri news http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/292207106112658.bsp.

I was also asked by Kandiyohi County Food Systems Steering Committee at there Health and Human Services building in Willmar (town about 40 miles east of me) to give a presentation on the 23rd. of Feb. 2009, Phone Number (320-231-7852) on extending growing season and extreme growing density. I am promoting the concept of building backyard food shelf thereby feeding more mouths at a very low cost, this is all done on a FREE basis as a community service. Three of my neighbors did not like my moving in the neighborhood as I am not White, one of them even bought an old house next door to me and got it demolished as he did not want any riff-raff to move in the neighborhood, as I was told by other residents of Watson, one of them is on record saying to me “go back where you came from”, one of his friends said in the City Council meeting “I don’t know where these people come from, What will he do next, build a barn and put horses” referring to the raised beds I had built, the then Mayor Kylene Olson walked out of the meeting saying “you are going too far”, later she resigned, these are just a handful of people who are in power after Mayor Kylene Olson resigned they appointed one of their friend as the Mayor. Since then they filed a Law Suite against me, they have spent thousands of dollars so far, the town has about 80 houses, a total population of less then 200 people, several people have signed petitions to end this nonsense and stop this waste of money but these people are bent upon teaching me a lesson. The City of Watson, Minnesota has discriminated against me, been unjust to me, and denied my constitutional rights. (FLAG) Farmers Legal Action Group represented me as I did not have enough money, however they told me this year that there funds have been cut therefore they can't represent me any more, in the mean time ACLU-MN told me they are trying to recruit an attorney who will represent me, the problem is I am very far away from St. Paul where ACLU-MN has there office, and they are having a hard time finding  an attorney who will come so far west to help me, I think as long as I am a United States Citizen it does not matter how far I live from a major city, I deserve to be treated justly. ACLU-MN (Teresa Nelson telephone number 651-645-4097) sent me an email saying they are sorry they could not find an attorney for my court date on 25th. of February, but they are trying to find someone to represent me, in the mean time I had to represent myself in front of the Judge, every body including FLAG attorney told me I better have an attorney, just a side note that the person on the Zoning Committee who started all this Mr. Rob Schwendemann is the son-in-law of the county commissioner Kenneth Koenen (district 1) and the brother-in-law of the state representative Lyle Koenen. One of the ex-board member of FLAG (Farmers Legal Action Group) and my hero, from the next town of Milan, Anne Kanten who is 81 years old and a retired Secretary of Agriculture along with the pastor of the church in Watson, MN. Reverend Bob Buchanan (phone number 320-226-2363) have agreed to be the people who will manage the Justice For Tomato Man account, there are several things on record, in writing to show profiling by the sheriff department, prejudicial enforcement by the City Zoning Committee and denying my constitutional rights explained by FLAG, even the City Clerk illegally changed the Council meeting minutes to strengthen their case, which was referred by one of the attorney as Destruction of Evidence and Fraud, but seems like nothing will stop these people. I can go on and on and on, all I will say, it is such a small town with very little resources, I have a petition signed by residents which refers to President Obama saying to Mayors from across the country on February 21st. 2009 that help was on the way-in the form of the $787 billion economic stimulus plan-but put them on notice that he will call them out if they waste the money. These citizens including myself want to bring to the attention of the President of The United States Of America to the utter nonsense, racism, prejudicial practices and WASTE OF MONEY by the city council and the Mayor of Watson, MN. All I want is justice and fairness without having to spend thousand’s of Dollars that I don’t have and the money we raise can be spent on building more raised beds to grow more food to feed more mouths. Thank you

_________________________________________

E-MAIL FROM SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR (D) Minnesota

 

Responding to your email

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 4:06 PM

From:

"Senator Klobuchar" <senator_klobuchar@klobuchar.senate.gov>

Add sender to Contacts

To:

replymyemail@yahoo.com

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

Dear Aziz:

Thank you for copying my office on your letter to the Watson City Clerk.

As your U.S. Senator, I am glad to be informed of your thoughts and concerns, and those of people in Minnesota. Your correspondence helps me to do a better job. Please continue to update me and my office on this issue.

Thank you again for writing to me. If I can be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator

______________________________________________________________________________

City Of Watson, MN. Running Empty on Justice High on Prejudice______________________________________________________________________________