Solving Local Problems

Commissioner Duff presented these goals to the Isanti County Board at their goal-setting session held February 2, 2009

A. More Transparent Government

WHAT	WHY	WHO	HOW	WHEN
1. Record Meetings and make available to Public	Public has right to this information and it is wanted	Clerk/IT	Take covers off mics Tape record meetings *Place on web w/in week	ASAP
2. Proactive Agendas with Full Packets	Improves our decision-making processes	Administrator	Committee Reports Consent portion of agenda Public Input Deadline for packets	ASAP
3. Establish Rules and Procedures for meetings	Communicates expectations of Board, staff and public	Commissioners	*Use Chisago and Anoka County as examples	1^st Qtr
4. Web Improvements	Give constituents more real-time information	IT Dept	Photos on web Monthly Calendar Real-time postings Review Hits	1^st Qtr
5. Reorganize under Administrator form of Govt.	Maximize value of restructured position	Board with Administrator	*Review model organizations	2^nd Qtr
6. Review Conflict of Interest Rules	Protects our legal & perceived interests	Legal Counsel	*Presentation to Board	2^nd Qtr
7. Monthly Calendar	Better planning and coordination	Clerk/Admr	*Publish public notices on time	2^nd Qtr
8. E-Newsletter	Communicates key information and promotes dialogue	IT & Department Heads	*Quarterly	3^rd Qtr
9. Review Committee Needs or Changes	Prioritizes needs and strengths	Commissioners	Discuss at meeting Department Liaisons	4th Qtr

B. More Responsible Government

WHAT	WHY	WHO	HOW	WHEN
10. Annual Goal-Setting of Board	Identifies priorities and tasks	Board and Admr	*Set meeting each January	ASAP
11. Identify Funding Opportunities and State/Federal Funding Impacts on County	Maximize opportunities to procure dollars and keep our taxes lower	Administrator and Department Heads	*Identify applicable programs and track information	ASAP
12. Review Budget (actual expenditures vs budgeted)	Identify costs and policies to document and streamline	Board and Administrator	State-mandated programs Discretionary programs *Charitable programs	Each Quarter
13. Establish a Comprehensive Plan with Implementation Tools	Guide the planning process and establish fairness	Zoning Dept	Set Moratorium Establish Ordinances	TBD
14. Establish Policies for Reimbursements	Make expectations clear and protect public interests	Personnel Committee	Use models from other Counties	2^nd Qtr
15. Set up Monthly Department Head Meetings	Communicate key findings and issues	Administrator	Job Descriptions Performance Reviews	2^nd Qtr
16. Emergency Training for Local Levels of Government	Protect our communities	Emergency Mgr	*Set up and present	3^rd Qtr
17. Goal-Setting Session for Department Heads	Identify service improvements or cost reduction opportunities	Board with all Department Heads	Set up a 2-3 hour meeting with Board	3^rd or 4^th Qtr
18. Create Long-Term Financial Plan	Maximize investments and plan for the future	Auditor Dept	*Review model programs	4^th Qtr
19. Evaluate Intergovernmental Opportunities	Maximize service, promote cooperation and reduce costs	Task Force with Department Heads	*Meet with cities & townships	4^th Qtr

C. Promote Isanti County

WHAT	WHY	WHO	HOW	WHEN
20. Promote Rail Industrial Park	Bring more local jobs	EDA	Active with BNSF	Ongoing
21. Consider establishing a High-Tech commercial zone	Bring more local jobs	EDA & NTI	Prepare for high-tech businesses	Ongoing
22. Promote Isanti County as a Tourist Destination	Showcase our County as a great place to Live, Work and Play	EDA	Web Site Improvements	Ongoing
23. Track Foreclosed Homes	Identifies housing supply and demand	GIS & Others	Identify tracking needs	ASAP
24. Establish a Great Yard Program	Promotes quality living	Park & Rec. OR Planning Commission	Procure 3 $300 Sponsors Identify rules & scoring Judge in summer Give awards	Summer (June, July and August)

Your Top Issues are my Top Goals

Alan Duff: Isanti County Commissioner, 3^rd District

Following are the top 10 issues communicated to me by more than 2,000 residents from Bradford Township and City of Isanti in 2008.

Top Issues

Duff’s Accomplishments

2007-2008

Duff’s Goals for Isanti County

2009-2013

High Taxes

Cut Isanti’s taxes 14% in 2 years

Established First Long-Term Financial Plan

Zero tax increase in 2009/10 budget

Set up Long-term Financial Plan by 2010

Excessive Government Spending

Cut city spending for first time in modern history

Cut my own Council member compensation by 11% in 2008

Streamline county budget based on state mandates vs discretionary spending

Accept no $50 Stipend for short meetings

High Crime & Drug Use

City crime rate decreased 17% in last 2 years

Raised $12K with David Meece fundraiser for a non-profit rehabilitation program

Improve intergovernmental policing support

Support both public and private organizations committed to solving Isanti’s drug problem

Increase Local Job Opportunities

Added 300 new jobs to Isanti in 2 years

Brought in high-tech, clean-green business with high paying jobs

Establish a County Rail Industrial Park

Bring in more high-tech, higher paying jobs using marketing expertise

Minimize Public Impacts from Foreclosed Homes

Established tracking system to minimize public costs & facilitate private-sector maintenance

Established a Best Yard monthly award program using private funds

Market Isanti County as a great place to live, work and play

Establish a Best Yard monthly award program with private funds

Preserve Rural Character

Published paper in defense of preserving Isanti’s rural character

Procured grants for a bike trail connecting Cambridge and Isanti

Enact policies to support my vision of “Offering rural lifestyle with urban access”

Preserve and market our county park system

Responsible Government

Funded Isanti Community Center improvements with private funds

Met with over 2,000 constituents and made public meetings available to public on web

No personal Commissioner’s office and start a County e-newsletter

Host regular meetings with District 3 residents and make Commissioner meetings available on county web

Improve Transportation Options

Budgeted for a Park & Ride location in Isanti

Serve on TH-65 Intergovernmental Coalition

Bring Commuter Rail to Isanti County

Procure more road funds for Isanti County

Provide Safe, Clean Water

Committee co-chair for construction of Isanti’s Water Treatment Plant that will treat cancer-causing radium, as well as manganese and iron

Improve ground water quality in Townships

Enhance surface water quality in lakes, rivers and streams

Proactively Plan for our Future

Original Task Force member for Isanti City Comprehensive Plan

Voted for Isanti’s first Long Term Financial Plan for future budgets

Support County Comprehensive Plan that adequately protects rural amenities

Establish county Long Term Financial Plan to better manage annual budgets

Alan Duff – Improving the Quality of Life for Isanti County!

Isanti County, like much of America, faces a significant drug problem. In Isanti County, we are fortunate to have an organization that is effectively taking addicts off the streets and helping them on to the road of recovery. This organization is called The Fish House, a ministry based in Cambridge that is committed to "Setting the Captives Free." Under Pastor Howard McCray's leadership, this organization has been a blessing to our regional area.

Alan & Louise Duff helped raise over $12,000 for Fish House Ministries with a sold out David Meece Concert at the Cambridge Performing Arts Center In April 2008.

Relieving a Tax Burden

Strapped with one of the highest tax rates for a Minnesota city, Alan Duff campaigned focused on reducing this tax burden. Reducing local taxes became more difficult when Local Government Aid was reduced by 21% due to the housing crash. Despite this crash, the Isanti Council voted on a 3-2 vote to reduce local taxes by 5% in Fiscal Year 2008. Isanti was the only city to reduce its tax rates in Isanti County in 2008.

Bike/Walk Trail for Isanti County

Isanti County Active Living has worked hard for many years to bring a healthier living environment to Isanti County. One of their ideas is to bring a walk/bike trail to Isanti County that connects Isanti and Cambridge.

In order to fund this 3-mile trail west of the BNSF rail-line, grant support would be needed. Several grant fund requests were turned down in the early 2000’s. In 2005, Isanti County Active Living hired RLK to prepare an updated cost estimate that would forecast the construction costs for a trail in 2009. During this time, I met with several representatives from both East Central Development Regional Commission (ECRDC) and MnDOT whom informed me that this project could become grant eligible with sufficient detail.

In February 2006, this project received approval from ECRDC to move forward for federal grant funding of $150K for construction of a trail in 2009. Subsequently, Congressman Oberstar recently awarded an additional $600K for this project through his federal transportation correction’s bill (this bill is currently pending Senate approval). If approved, this project will be substantially funded for construction in 2009.

Isanti County Active Living should be commended for their perseverance and dedication to bringing this much-needed amenity to our area.