Following is a list of questions I had to ask the Mayor of Watson, because in the past all my questions, concerns and letters to the city clerk and the city attorney went unanswered since 2007, I waited for the council elections in the hope for a change in the composition of the council, change did come, and the Mayor promised me to sit down and talk to me. However, after two promises and nearly two months and one District Court appearance, I never heard from the Mayor, today he told me that he called me three times but no body picked up the phone, I believe him, even though the machine picks on the forth bell, even the City Attorney called me at home (people told me it was border line strange for an opposing attorney to approach me out side the court) and left a message and the Mayor acknowledged that the city attorney did tell him that he left a message on my machine. I went to this council meeting for answers, the last Mayor Mike Torgerson would never answer any question, his favorite was “it is under litigation and I can’t answer”, even things which were not connected to the case, he always refused to answer. One of the special meeting lasted just 2 minutes, no questions were taken and Mike Torgerson refused to entertain any questions or comments, some of the people who attended this meeting to show support for the Tomato Man were Anne & Chuck Kanten from Milan, Erick Thompson From Milan, LuAnn Kling from Granite Falls, Terrey VanDerPol and Tom Taylor from LSP, Chuck Waibel and Carol Ford from Milan, Attorney Brian Wojtalewicz from Appelton, Duane Niwnneman and Patrick Moore from CURE, Grace Ray of American News Montevideo, Reverend Bob Buchanan and Gail Buchanan, Allan Buchanan, Wilbur abel, Ex Mayor Kylene Olson, Paul Awymar, David Brovold, were some of the people who showed up for the meeting which was scheduled by the city on a holiday weekend as I recall.There was only standing room available, people supporting the cause and asking the city to drop these foolish charges, but Mike Torgerson always refused to answer any questions. As soon as we get a chance we will post all the past videos for people to see for themselves how things were conducted. In the mean time I am attaching a few pictures from the past. I did have a few more questions for the Mayor, but Mike Huntley a council member whispered in the Mayors (left) ear “don’t let him run your meeting” and the mayor stopped me and told me he will call me to talk about the other issues and asked me for my phone number for the third time.

I asked the Mayor of City of Watson, Mayor Jason Avelsgard if the city had any policy on allocating street address/mailing address to newly created property. The Mayor told me he did not know of any policy, there were different suggestions from council members and others; however the unanimous decision was that numbering the property according to odd/even and ascending/descending pattern would work.

I informed the Mayor that I had started a web site and some of the things happening in Watson were posted on this site, and that I will try to post previous video tapes on the web as time permitted. I informed him that the citizens of Watson wanted to send an e-mail to President Obama and that the complete e-mail was available for viewing on the website. I also asked the Mayor if he got a chance to read the letter I had sent to the city, dated Feb. 27’ 2009, his answer was he saw it in his box but did not get a chance to read it. I informed the Mayor that Senator Amy Klobuchar had replied my e-mail asking me to keep her informed about the issue.

 I asked the Mayor that I had written to the City Clerk and the City attorney several times asking if the City of Watson had a policy against racism and a policy to deal with issues of discrimination and harassment, I never got a reply, therefore I need to ask you in this council meeting, the Mayor told me that he will find out and let me know.

I also asked the Mayor that at several occasions I had asked either the city or the city attorney if I could get a copy of their recent zoning map, the city had ignored all my requests and therefore I had to ask the Mayor, the Mayor consulted with the Zoning Commissioner who was present in the room, the Mayor promised that he will look into it. I need to confirm about several violations in different zoning districts and have not been enforced by the City of Watson. However, to be absolutely sure I had requested an updated copy of the zoning map.

I informed the Mayor that the minutes written in the past were not accurate, cherry picked, at times stats such as “78% of residents” added, of which there was no discussion in the meeting previous to the minutes, there were things which were requested that it must be put on record but were missing from the minutes, thus making there minutes useless and that Mr. David Brovold has a video camera in the meetings and so did Marcy Radtke and that these tapes would be useful to check for the accuracy of these minutes, Mayor Jason Avelsgard agreed that he will look into this.

I further asked the Mayor that I had two copies of minutes from the same meeting, they both said minutes and not draft minutes, and my attorney from FLAG had pointed out that it seemed the minutes had been altered and that amounted to destruction of evidence and a fraud, I also pointed out that, for the minutes to be approved and finalized I understood the Mayor had to sign on the final copy, the Mayor told me the city council had to do that, what ever the procedure I asked the Mayor if he will start an investigation into this matter so we could get to the bottom of this mystery, the Mayor acknowledged that he will.

I told the Mayor that every time it snows, all the snow on my street is pushed on the east side only, unlike a regular practice of splitting half of the snow on each side of the street, for the last four years the maintenance guy, who also drives the City snow plough Mark Radtkey (appointed Mayor who took over when Mayor Kylene walked out) It just happens that I am the only house on the east side of the street. I told the Mayor I had pictures to prove this. He said he will find out why this is being done.

I also told the mayor that on the web site it speaks of local governments who are enforcing laws which become a hindrance in growing food, even though these laws were at a cross roads in the City of Watson, I am by no stretch of imagination implying that the City Of Watson or its Council was against growing food for poor people, and that I was speaking to a wider audience, and told him to the effect that all laws on the books no matter where they may be, Alabama or Arizona,  these laws which become an obstacle in growing food should be struck down, I made it very clear to the Mayor that just like breathing within city limits does not require any special permission or permit from local government(s), similarly I want all laws to be struck down when it comes to growing food and that people should not be afraid of shortsighted laws, they have an inherent right to grow food, especially when so many cities in North America are facing food insecurities and children going hungry to bed. The mayor agreed with me and nodded his head in affirmation. I am inviting The Mayor of Watson to join me in this campaign and to make all laws subordinate to our inherent and fundamental right to grow food on our properties and by taking a lead in this direction and starting from Watson, Minnesota. Some of the pictures are attached below, simply double click them. Thankyou