City Beautification

I started a blog months ago about city clean up and I am glad they took it to heart. Last night I saw an old car with flat tires being put in a garage that I am sure had no room awhile ago. It didn't get towed away but at least no one else has to look at it. I have also observed some new fences going up. It may be a way to hide junk or just a privacy item. The city has also removed several old junky unlived in buildings. I don't know if the public understands the policy of city removal of buildings. If you have a building that you would like removed they will do it for you at no charge and they do a wonderful job. The Daily Journal should print an article with the guidelines for removal. There are many more that need cleaning up or removal but I also think we could get carried away while meaning well. With that said my hope is that the policy will continue. It would be interesting to know how much lawn mowing costs the homeowner if the city has to have it done. Again Thank-you for the good job.

City Blight- Evenhandedness

The current city attack on blight is certainly commendable and much needed to present our city favorably to those coming into our area. I marveled last week at how beautiful our city looks coming into town from the west. Those lights on the trees and those flowers hanging on main street really look nice and I have overheard visitors mention how nice things look. As I commented to a local figure I am fond of questioning on this site, One has a greater responsibility for their yard looking nicer on main street then someone on 6th street or 9th street. There seems to be a different application of the "blight" rules however, depending on the property involved and this is a typical kind of problem for myself and others. This being the case I thought I would take the time to bring this oversite to the attention of the city so that ALL property owners would be treated equally under the laws of our FAIR community. For instance, that unused building sitting in the field east of the Duluth Clinic, IS BLIGHT, and should be cited and removed in 15 days or the city should tear it down and charge the owner. The wood, ie. roof trusses stored on Hwy 53-3rd ave at the old gas station, IS BLIGHT, and should be cited and fenced in or removed. That tractor device parked on Hwy 11 east and 2nd ave for the last several years, IS BLIGHT and the owner cited and the device removed in 15 days. The red brick building being used for storage on Hwy 53-3rd ave and 6th strret IS BLIGHT and most probably a structual hazard also, and should be torn down. You see, it matters not that the blight is residential, commercial or industrial, blight is blight and all should be treated equally under the law. Keep up the good work but keep it up fairly and equally so that the little guy can feel good about his burdens being as equal as the big guys burdens.

City Planning and Zoning

It has been mentioned previously by another writer on this site as to how much different the City "presents" itself coming into town from the south then it does from the west. Of course those from town know that the west side of town is newer and had the advantage of "planning", something that was done rather haphazardly on Hwy 53 coming into town from the south. It should be no question that most of our incoming traffic comes into town from the south and it is about time that a concerted effort should be made to clean up this approach to our city as it does look rather dismal for sure. I think it is about time to "Green Up" this approach to our city with some trees, flowers and grass and even the possibility of a small park or something similar in the area of the now removed grocery store at the "excrement creek" area or that lot just north of the body shop on Hwy 53 and 10th street. I realize it is kinda hard at this late date to bring setbacks into conformance or construction styles into similarity but a start in that direction should be made soonest. I see many good things happening in our city as of late and I can see an interest and vibrancy that was not there previously and just want to tie up loose ends here and there. All involved in the newer approach to doing things has not gone un-noticed and will bring rewards down the road I am sure. I would be particularily interested in the city buying the aformentioned property on Hwy 53 and 11th street at the former railroad crossing AND having the company donate a small additional piece of their property for the purpose of developing a small green park with a water feature, for the incoming tourist and locals alike to make use of. I am sure it would be much utilized and of benefit to the nearby businesses alike. This should not be a great expenditure to the city and county and I am fairly certain a private fund raising could and would be implemented to defray some of the costs.

I certainly agree Tom. I might add that one of the best ways to prod free markets is a push from government in such a way that free market "can imagine" a future that will put a jingle in their pocket. Nothing makes a guy with a dollar in his pocket feel better then imagining that he might get two dollars in his pocket if he takes a little chance. Just takes imagination and a dream for the future and I can see all kinds of future cash flow in this town. In fact, I can see folks from Virginia and Hibbing driving north with their dollar instead of everyone in our town driving south as they now do. Welcome home.

Yes, a lot of us talk outside of this blog; a lot of us are hesitant to express our opinions on here. Why? Because of the select few individuals that chew you up and spit you out because your opinion differs from theirs. We ask ourselves, "Is it really worth it?" And, the answer is "No".

Anton,

I guess you would include me in the "some are not" category?? But, wouldn't it be nice if somehow there could be a forum where the "elected" officials could open a dialog on here, so that people could offer opinions and suggestions, and the "leaders" could respond with comments. Maybe the "leaders" could take away some constructive suggestions, rather than just hide in their "ivory towers"!! Just last week, President Bush was in Charleston, at the request of Senator Lindsey Graham. When the Senator got back to D.C., he called back to S.C. and held a "telephone" town hall meeting to discuss ALL issues. I was included in this meeting, and I was surprised at the candor of both sides of the phone lines. Many people were supportive of the Senator, and some told him they were upset with him regarding border issues, etc., but the bottom line was that the Senator took a couple hours of his time to talk with his constituents, even if it meant hearing things maybe he didn't want or expect to hear. So I guess what I'm getting at, is this, the Falls and County leaders need to listen to ALL of the citizens, and not just the ones who they know will support only their ideas. It appears the Mayor is listening and watching, and also taking action, such as with the blight issue. But MamaG does have a valid point. And with the good ole boy system being "alive and well" in I-Falls, how can she feel free to express her opinions?? Pls tell me that! Like I said before, I have people I know in the Falls, who are afraid to have people know that they are friends with me, because of my posts on here. Are they crazy, or is the town run by just a few?

Anton,

Thank you for your insight!! No, I don't take what you or anyone says, personally! I try to model myself after people like Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hanity. I guess Hanity is more like me, or vice-a-versa! O'Reilly shows a little more control than I do, but he does get fired up. I realize that my conslusions are not the only valid ones, but I still like to bring items to the table for discussion. I know that maybe I could temper my remarks, but I get carried away, such as the difference between Hanity and O'Reilly (Fox News). I forgot, most people up your way probably don't watch them, sorry!! I guess I am just "hoping" that more Falls citizens will get involved (if able to) in the whole process of rescuing the City from decline. Your are a very good example of what I'm trying to incite (in my own way) in the way of dialog and involvement in the city. And to be honest, I have seen you get fired up on some subjects (burner road??), but that is good!! But I have been told that quite a few of my "editorials" on here, have made the "hardcopy" of the Daily Journal. Maybe because the editors liked it, or maybe they wanted to show how goofy I am, but at least my opinions are out there for discussion. Believe me, I also like to make frequent posts on my local (Charleston) website. I get people fired up here too. But you failed to state a reason why people would be afraid of people knowing that they are friends of "roj2000". Is it afraid or ashamed?? So what do you think of some kind of on-line forum/town hall style meeting, so that there can be feedback between the leaders and the town folks?? You're not related to Chopper, are you??

Anton,

Thanks for your opinions and assessments! If they are ashamed of my comments, it is because they have been raised in a small community and not strayed far from it. They have been brainwashed into what is acceptable in life (or the I-Falls world as they know it). So when a former townfolk such as I comes along with a contrary opinion, whether right or wrong, they do not know how to analyze it like you and TLJ, and be able to separate the BS from the fact. But I was just sent a bunch of recent copies of the Daily Journal and I see I made the opinion page, quite often. I'm not saying the journal editorial staff agrees with me, but they at least think some of my ranting has a little merrit. I'm coming up in the middle of Sept for a little fishing and I will see if anyone is my enemy. I will have a big sign on my car that says "roj2000", and see how long it takes for my tires to be slashed! I was in Scottland many times, and played cribbage with the "homeboy" Scot's and they stunk. The Irish were better (but terrible drunks)!! But tell me this Anton, why do the conservative talk shows last so long on TV and radio. They rant and rave, and sound just like me?? The liberal ones don't even make it to first base!! I think when I retire in a few years I'm going to move back to the Falls and start my own conservative talk show, right there in town. Or maybe I will run for Mayor. When's the last time you had a Republican Mayor??

TLJ,

You have such a way with words!! Are you saying that I am a fake and dishonest because I tend to mirror some of the conservative "talkies" who I feel are actually telling the truth, and telling what needs to be said? Or because I agree with 75% of what they say?? So only your "hard copy" editorials are worthy of praise?? I actually think many of mine warranted "a little" bit of nicety! Not just yours! I, as you, have been very successful in life, and I have not been any different in real life, than on here. Maybe I let off a little more steam on here, but I am far from the "moron or kook" you the "educrat" try to paint me as!! I resent being compared to the "ranting" Servo, who used to be on here. I could easily compare you to the "failed" Al Franken, when you use your "don't pick on us little town folks". I have been to many blog sites, and this one is tame compared to them. In fact, this is one of the few I even look at any more. As for your comments regarding "formers" blasting away at everything the "locals" value, is a "crock"! I blast at the "inaction" of many to clean the town up and TRY to get it back to some resemblence of what it was thrity or forty years ago. If my comments are so caustic, and abbrasive, and I am wrong in ALL of my opinions, then why don't you all "prove me wrong"? Are you Mr TLJ, happy with all that is happening in the Falls, or you just happy with your "island nation"? You somehow feel that NOTHING in the Falls is of value to me. Well, NEWFLASH, I value everything about the Falls area and believe it or not, even all of the people who live there. So, ONE of Anton's pieces made it into hard print! He has submitted many good pieces, and I think some of them were a little on the abrasive side, but that is good, and people should be smart enough to look at it objectively, and take it for what it is, and maybe, just maybe, they can learn something from it, and maybe one of the readers will be one of YOUR leaders, and will do something with it to help the city recover. But, by staying within your little 1965 cliques, you are not helping change the downward spiral of the city.

Kay,

From an "outsider's" point of view, that's kind of what I thought was going on/happening! But then again, I am just a "loud mouth, ignorant, loud mouth," "FORMER" resident, who's opinion doesn't count. But it is not hard to read between the lines, up there!! It is a sad commentary, when a town was better off forty years ago than it is now! In my travels, here and there, I have witnessed cities getting more progressive and improving with age. But apathy and backwoods mentalities, will not bring about change. Staying stuck in the 1965 year mentality, will not restore the vibrance to the city that it once had.

MamaG,

You make some good points, and I will work on that!! Thanks for the advice. I feel this way; if you don't get people thinking, and maybe having to realize there are other ways of solving problems, then they will keep doing the same old thing, and maybe that is why the Falls is where it is today. I was just kidding about the sign on my car. How far would I get with that on there?? But I will take you up on the coffee, but remember I drink the "expensive" stuff from the Coffee Landing, or Metro Coffee Shop, or whatever it's called. However, I have had good coffe at Barney's, The Chocolate Moose, and even at GrandMa's Pantry. So take you pick!! You will see that I am really a nice guy, who actually loves I-Falls and a good cup of Joe!!

Half gutted houses. Whats up with the buildings on 6th and 7th streets that are half gutted out and then vacated. They look worse than the cars that have been towed away because they were not licensed. As I have been driving around town I have noticed alot of really bad garages that look like they are about to cave in. This could become a real fire waiting to happen. Some look like kids are using them for hangouts. Boy could this be a diaster if a fire were to start. The gutted houses and vacated garages are not really blight but a much more dangerous problem.

roj2000,
Side comment, Bring your own coffee. We were there in july and the coffee around town was so weak it look like clear tea. Ether that or tell the mill to start polluting the h2o again.