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Embracing the Wonderful Disorder of the Festive Season!

Photo by Beth Teutschmann on Unsplash Halloween is almost upon us and as ever I had thought that by the end of October our house would be finished and ready for a lovely relaxing festive season. This of course has not happened, but … Continue reading

Five Perfect Tips to Help You Achieve Your Goals

Sticking to goals can be incredibly troublesome, especially when there are constant distractions in the form of food, friends and alcohol. However, deciding on goals can really help us understand what it is we want to achieve. After a couple of weeks of glorious indulgence, you may find you hit your limit and feel ready to make those vital changes to help reach your goals. There’s no better time than when you get that feeling of change to get stuck into hitting your targets. Here are my tips on how to set manageable goals so you can hit the ground running and be a success!

  1. Do It Early

A lot of people only set their goals at that start of the year and see the new year as a perfect excuse, I know from experience that attempting your resolutions on New Year’s Day is a non-starter. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be tired and/or hungover. In this state, you can only think as far ahead as bacon, so reaching important goals will feel impossible.

Know that it’s okay to not feel ready until the spring months, I personally start to feel the need for change as the weather starts to turn and Spring begins to spring. This leaves ample time to mull over what’s important to you and what you can do without, if you’re giving something up.

  1. Do the Things You Love

Achieving goals is much easier if you enjoy the activity that gets you there. For example, if you want to get fit and you love dancing, then Zumba may be worth trying. The same goes for any task; if you want to be more crafty but don’t like knitting, try your hand at collaging or marbling. Equally, if you do attempt something and aren’t keen on it, stop and find something you do like. It may mean a bit of trial-and-error but you can achieve miracles when you find your happy place.

If you can find someone to commit to a goal with you, you are significantly more likely to achieve it. At the beginning of last year my husband and I invested in carbon fibre road bikes. We made a pact that if we got them we would cycle at least once a week, whatever the weather. I’ve always loved cycling but my husband is a little more resistant. Despite this, we managed to keep to our promise (except for holidays), and I believe this is because we were both dedicated.

  1. Set a few Achievable Goals

It doesn’t matter how early you plan, how much you love the process, or who’s in it with you, because if you set a goal that’s too time-consuming, you’re more unlikely to accomplish it. Instead of attempting to gain a six-pack by May, try setting a goal of simply feeling more body confident. I read a fascinating study which showed that people felt better after just 20 minutes of exercise. So that’s all it takes! On a similar note, setting too many goals can be just as daunting as having a mammoth one.

  1. Write Them All Down

Once you’ve come up with your manageable and realistic goals, write them down and pin them somewhere you will see daily. This now gives you time to think of fun ways to realise your goals and find someone to do them with.

So, if you’re having an off day and all you want to do is eat a bacon sandwich and drink lots of delicious soft drinks, you can do so, safe in the knowledge that you have a plan and partner to start achieving your goals when you are ready and in your own precious time.

How To Throw The Perfect Party

Something I really look forward to during the festive season is the parties. The work dos with fun activities, dinner parties with friends, not to mention News Year’s Eve! There’s something about sharing jokes over a few glasses of wine and getting down on the dance floor with old friends and new that makes me feel alive. I also love to host my own, and over the years I have discovered a few tips and tricks that turn a good party into a great one! If you’re planning a shindig, then keep reading for ideas on how to make your event one to remember.

Firstly, everyone loves receiving something special in the post. Secondly, nothing sets the tone and gets people pumped for a party like a chic invitation! So, if you’ve got the time, get some heavy card and gold or silver pens from a stationer and get crafting. They really don’t have to be too fussy, just pop in the details of the location, date and time and draw on some holly for Christmas, or hearts for Valentine’s Day, etc., and you’re away. If you are pushed for time, there are tons of online services where you can design, print and send invites at the touch of a button.

I don’t know about you but I would probably miss half the events I’m invited to if it weren’t for Facebook! Therefore, in addition to paper invitations, you should create an event page with a relevant image and invite everyone you’ve put down on your guest list. You can also use social media to get people excited before the event. Give people little snippets of information in the run up, post photos of the venue and outfit ideas, etc. Do remember to keep it a private event – you don’t want the whole world turning up!

As you can probably imagine, I love fancy dress. If you’re a big fan too but are struggling to come up with a concept, there are some fantastic party theme ideas online. We went to a Great Gatsby do the other weekend and it was fabulous! However, as Mike always reminds me, there are lots of people who aren’t so keen. If you decide not to go for a costume party, it’s worth remembering that most people still love an opportunity to dress up a little bit. Setting the dress code to smart/casual gives everyone the chance to put on their glad rags without worrying about going over the top.

Make sure it’s not too bright; nothing kills the atmosphere like strip lighting! Equally, going too dark can be unsettling, so you’ll want to be somewhere in the middle. My go-to for any evening event is string/fairy lights – they are sparkly and pretty, and make any location feel special, whether you’re outdoors or indoors. If it’s a daytime event, although the natural light may be beautiful, be sure to keep a few lamps at the ready in case it’s overcast and gloomy.

A great party needs a great environment and this applies whatever the theme or nature of the event. If you have tables, they should always have cloths and be styled (I like a shabby-chic table setting, personally). Little details go a long way with decorations; for example, adding ribbons to folding chairs which match your colour scheme will tie everything together beautifully. Also, my policy with any party is that there is never enough glitter.

I cannot stress how important a good playlist is to the success of a party. The right songs will fill the dance floor, and people are, in my opinion, at their happiest when they are so caught up in the music they get lost in the movement. To keep things fresh and exciting, make sure you have a mix of genres and throw in a generous handful of cheesy tunes. You’ll be surprised who you find shaking it to MC Hammer!

Keeping these tips in mind will ensure that your guests have an incredible night. But don’t forget to relax and enjoy all your hard work too! People will have the best time if their host is.

Please comment with any other tips or stories you have. I always love reading them. And enjoy all your festive parties this year!

5 Top Tips For A Super Organised Christmas

Beautiful Christmas Tree

As I was enjoying a local firework display this weekend, I felt a sudden surge of excitement despite the freezing temperatures. As much as I love fireworks and sparklers, the end of Bonfire Night means that I can FINALLY get excited about Christmas!

Anyone who knows me will know I am a huge fan of the festive period, so keeping my enthusiasm at bay for this long is usually a challenge to say the least! As soon as I start seeing those Christmas ads on TV and chocolate advent calendars in the shops, I know it’s time to start preparing!

Whilst it might be a bit too early to buy the turkey, there are still lots of things I do to prepare myself ahead of time. I usually go over the top on food, decorations and presents, so I’m always glad to have started planning in early November. Then when it gets to mid-December and my social calendar is jam-packed with fun festive activities, I don’t feel stressed about my Christmas To Do list!

I thought it might be useful to share my top Christmas prep tips for the super-organised amongst you. These are all the things you can do in advance to free up more time later, because really, it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas – is it?!
Decide on Your Plans for The Day

One very basic thing you can do now is to decide on your plans for Christmas Day & Boxing Day. If you’re going to be hosting then make sure you have enough dining space, chairs, crockery, and anything else you might need, so that you can buy or borrow any extras ahead of time. And if you’re not going to be at home this year, then you can make the appropriate travel arrangements ahead of time, particularly if you need to book flights or trains.

Set Your Gift Budgets
I have a history of getting a little overexcited when it comes to buying presents for my nearest and dearest, which has cost me substantial sums of money and many sleepless nights come January. These days I have to set myself a budget to make sure I don’t overspend. There are tonnes of ways you can do this, and in the past, I have used the Christmas Money Planner from the Monday Advice Service to help me figure out my budget breakdown!

Update Your Christmas Card List and Shop for Cards

I like to try and keep on top of my address book all year around, but inevitably it often falls low down my list of priorities. I keep a Christmas card list document on my laptop, so I’ll usually spend an hour or so checking through all the names and addresses to make sure it’s all up to date, as well as adding any new ones.

I also buy my Christmas cards early on so I have more options to choose from. Personally, I like to take this opportunity to support a charity close to my heart, so this year I’ll be buying these cancer charity Christmas cards to send to my loved ones!

Start Shopping
I like to get my shopping done as early as possible. Not only does this mean you can spread the cost over 2 or even 3 months, but it means you can make the most of any early flash sales. I will definitely be checking out the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this year to make my money go further!

Check your Christmas Decorations
There’s nothing worse than buying your tree and bringing it home ready to decorate, only to find your box of baubles has smashed, or even worse – you’ve spent ages untangling all those fairy lights and half of them don’t work. If you’re like me, then decorating your tree is serious business, and the earlier you shop for decorations, the more choice you’ll have! I like to spend a lot of time researching Christmas tree ideas to visualise how my tree will look.

I hope these tips will help you kick off your super organised Christmas, so you can have a stress-free festive season!

Autumn Days Out in The South of England

Autumn has long been one of my favourite seasons; there are plenty of opportunities to spend some quality time with my hubby and to work on getting rid of those extra calories after indulging in one too many cocktails over the summer.

A lot of people tend to feel a little depressed as those long summer evenings finally come to an abrupt end, and they are left counting the days until reluctantly putting the clocks back and spending their evenings curled up on the sofa. However, it doesn’t have to be this way; there is an abundance of opportunities to get out there and enjoy the crisp autumn sun and the beautiful colours. While the unpredictable British weather can make it a challenge to plan ahead, ensuring that you have a few days out planned means that you can leap out of bed at the first opportunity you get and spend a beautiful day out and about.

Horses In The New Forest

For those of you who have been to the New Forest, you will already know that two wheels are definitely better than four! When we are children we are all told about the importance of sharing- this is especially the case in the New Forest.

When we are children we are all told about the importance of sharing- this is especially the case in the New Forest.

In this beautiful part of the country, animals certainly are king! A relaxing drive along its beautiful country lanes can be brought to an abrupt end as you come face to face with an unfazed horse or cow. If don’t have the opportunity to be around animals very often, this can be an incredibly rewarding experience that never fails to disappoint. That is unless you are my hubby, of course. He still likes to go on about the time a horse decided to relieve herself on his car bonnet.

Anyway, with this in mind, if you are local to the New Forest then you are better off getting a train to one of the many stations and taking your bike with you. You will have the complete freedom to explore the forest and its surroundings and get some much-needed exercise! It is always a good idea to check ahead that you are able to take your bikes on a particular train; however, most of the time this is not a problem. The only issue is that you have to lug your bike around, luckily there are plenty of carbon fibre road bikes available that are absolutely perfect for transporting with ease. Luckily for me, my hubby finally took notice of my not so subtle hints and treated me for my birthday last month.

My own particular tip would be to get a train to the village of Brockenhurst and start exploring from there. You will find that there are plenty of beauty and cycle routes to keep you busy, there are also plenty of pubs and quaint tearooms for you to refresh yourselves and enjoy some much-deserved rest and relaxation. If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, then you will find a wealth of kayaking and canoeing opportunities to keep you entertained.

If your husband or boyfriend regularly bores you to death about cars, then treat him to an afternoon at the Beaulieu Motor Museum, which will captivate your interest whether you are car-nut, or not!

Visit 1066 Country

Due to its close proximity to Brighton, Hastings tends to be overlooked by those looking to head to the coast for a day out. However, Hastings is something of a hidden gem, especially the old town, where you will find a rich variety of architecture, ranging from medieval to Victorian.

For the history buffs amongst you, you will be delighted to learn that three of the seven churches that were standing during medieval times are still standing today. That isn’t all, though, the Hasting Fisherman’s museum is well worth a visit and is in a really lovely location. Surrounded by black fishing sheds, this is a delightful location to indulge in some sunbathing on a sunny afternoon.

If you are in need of a dose of culture, then there are plenty of art galleries to pass away the time in. I would particularly recommend visiting the Jerwood Gallery, which opened to an abundance of critical acclaim in 2012. If you are lucky enough for the sun to be shining, then why not treat yourself to a drink in the nearby café, which benefits from stunning beach views.

Finally, there is the old town, known locally as Twittens; it is an exquisite mixture of narrow streets and passageways, most of them were used by smugglers years ago and still make a fantastic place to explore.

Anne of Cleves House Lewes

Go Back in Time

Personally, I have always been a huge fan of exploring the many beautiful old stately homes that we are lucky enough to have scattered across the country. One that I must confess to having particularly fond memories of, is the Anne Cleves House near Lewes. There really is so much to see, you will have the chance to learn all about this beautiful medieval house and the role it had to play in the life of one of England’s most famous kings, Henry VIII.

A particular highlight for me is the authentically furnished kitchen and the garden which is simply stunning! It uses traditional plants and genuine Tudor planting schemes and really is worth the admission fee alone.

If you are lucky enough, like me, to live in the Brighton area, then the many amazing cycle paths that we have to offer you the chance to explore this beautiful medieval house and enjoy the autumn air.

If your hubby is anything like mine then you will be glad to know that there is a delightful tea garden that offers all sorts of refreshments to indulge in and the chance to enjoy a much-deserved break!

Sussex Cycling Sights and Scenes – My Top 3 Routes

Wasn’t Brighton Pride incredible? Yes, I had one (or five) cocktails too many – but I still managed to enjoy the festivities. I woke up a little weary eyed but apart from that, I was miraculously chirpy. My other-half, on the other-hand wasn’t in such great shape. Having to put up with me until the early hours of the Pride morning took its toll I think. Regardless of how he was feeling, I was determined to get up and make the most of the day. It was such a gorgeous weekend of weather – I couldn’t lay in bed desperately gasping for water with a debilitating hangover any longer.

I looked down at the equipment from hobbies I’d taken up and put down again over the years, hockey sticks, badminton and tennis rackets, even a pair of football boots. God knows why my hubby puts up with me, I can’t imagine how frustrating it is to see him shower me with gifts invested into my new found hobbies – only for me to put them down after a month or two.

“I know” – I thought to myself. I’ll go cycling!

Cycling view

It is the only hobby that I’ve consistently carried on with, ever since I was a girl in fact. I’ve even invested in casual cycle wear over the years because I love it so much. I’m very lucky to live somewhere like Brighton, where there are literally hundreds of cycling routes, you can set off from your doorstep and find a designated cycling path within five minutes of cycling. But with so many to choose from, it makes deciding where to go very difficult.

I’ve narrowed it down to my top three cycling routes for you all to try for yourselves.

Route One

No, not the skateboard shop in North Laine. My first and favourite cycling route is setting off from home and pedalling happily along New Church Road in Hove. On nice days I’ll cut through Wish Park, but if it’s a bit muddy or the Sunday league footy fans are out I’ll ride right by. Once past Wish Park I turn left and start racing towards the Lagoon. The Lagoon is a perfect place to stop for an ice cream or even a bite to eat if I’m a bit peckish. From there I’ll walk my bike safely past all of the children running around enjoying summer, to the designated cycling lane on the seafront. One last check that everything is secure, and off I go!

The cycle lane stretches pretty much all the way to the Marina, and that’s where I’ll go. I don’t even mind that hundreds of other cyclists have had the same idea. The lane is colourful enough that no one will cross accidentally and Brighton cyclists are considerate enough ring their bell or overtake if I’m being particularly slow. Sun and sea on my right and one of the flattest rides I could ask for. Absolutely bliss. Once I make it to the Marina (or until I’m tired) I’ll turn around and go back the same way!

Route Two

Stanmer Park to Ditchling Beacon. This one is a little harder… No glass of rose on the night before this one. You need to be in tip top shape to tackle the Ditchling Beacon, it’s really hilly but it gets the blood pumping and the calves working! There aren’t many better leg workouts for Brighton girls than cycling through Stanmer Park and up the Beacon – the difficulty is getting there!

The way I do it is to get the hubby to drop me off so he can listen to the football on the radio whilst I race off to break a sweat. Make sure you pack a spare pair of clothes and lay down plenty of mats and bin bags in the car. The weather can change at any moment and he “just got the new interior fitted!”. Probably best not to ruin the leather seats at the expense of losing a bit of weight.

Route Three

Devils Dyke! Get your other-half involved for this one too – you’re going to park the car up in the car park and get the bikes out the back or take the train. “Why don’t you cycle there?”, I’ll cover that later. Once you’re ready, set off in any direction. There are designated routes but I always find the best challenge is a little more off the beaten track, just remember which direction you came from!

It’s a little rough under wheel and very hilly, but you’re sure to feel wide awake by the end of it. After working so hard, its only right to reward yourself with a big meal at the Devils Dyke pub. That’s why you came in the car, because cycling back after your second helping of chips is going to be impossible.

My Summer Bucket List

I thought it would be nice to continue following on from the very summery theme my blog has taken on this month with a nice bucket list. The hubby and I are still deliberating the best destination for our holiday (if it happens), so in the meantime I’ll talk about some my summer plans closer to home!

Source: Wikipedia

It doesn’t matter whether we go abroad or not this summer, nothing will stop me topping up my tan. The weather has stayed so nice that it even looks like I might get a healthier glow in the UK than I would if we went away. Alright, maybe that’s a bit far-fetched, but no one can argue against how lovely it’s been.

I honestly couldn’t be better placed for summer tan: Brighton is gorgeous. The beach is always packed on the particularly sizzling days; it does get really overcrowded, so I always opt for a spot on Hove lawns or Pavilion Gardens to beat the crowds. With that being said, the atmosphere in Brighton is always so friendly I really couldn’t care less about the thousands that take to the streets.

Hundreds of London day trippers, students and Brightonians create an incredible buzz, especially in North Laine or along the promenade. There’s no animosity or frustration, everyone is just really keen to get themselves an ice cream from Marocco’s and enjoy the sun with their family.

If you wanted a perfect example of what I’m talking about – there’s no better than…

Brighton Pride – one of my favourite days of the year!

2016 has been really depressing for news. It feels like there’s conflict all over the world, not to mention how divisive the politics has been, I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone come together again for Brighton Pride! I never knew that Brighton Pride is the biggest pride festival in the UK? It’s only a week away and I just can’t wait. I’d like to go to Preston Park this year to see the parade again – incredible outfits, even more incredible outfits and the most vibrant display of colour.

I’m planning on renting a Nikon D5 for Pride next week. Firstly, it’s only £125, which I thought was an absolute steal and secondly – it’s meant to be amazing for tracking focus and low light. There might be an unparalleled display of colour, but a sizable portion of the Pride festival attractions are situated in tents. I always find them particularly dimly lit – so I’m hoping this camera might be the best one for the job. Don’t be surprised if my pictures come out looking like they came from India’s Holi Festival! With that being said, I’m not even the most talented photographer – so don’t expect too much. I just wish I had one for my own wedding, it’s meant to be perfect for that sort of thing. I guess we’ll let the camera do the work!

Keeping Active

The temptation in this sort of weather is to eat fatty foods, drink far too much alcohol and exercise even less. Not this summer. Of course, I have the added incentive of keeping fit so that my holiday pics won’t look like the “before” pictures from a diet plan!

I’m not promising anything again though. As much as I’ve worked hard on it over the years, my self-restraint always wavers when it comes to cocktails, but I’m determined. I’ve found morning yoga sessions particularly great for me, they let me clear my head and start the day relaxed. I might even get my bike up and running again and see if I can remember how to pedal. You might think I’m a pyramid scheme saleswoman for the city of Brighton at this point, but this city is ideal for riding your bike too. There are so many parks, cycle lanes along the seafront and even the South Downs if I was feeling super healthy.

No excuses, I’m going to get it all done!

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Sunday, October 27, 2013

In one of the last episodes of “Sex and the City,” the writers slipped a sardonic chuckle into an otherwise serious story. Momentous life decisions are made, a snowfall creates a magical city scene, a party queen falls to her death from an upper story window. Oops.

The title of the episode: “Splat!”
And I have a large hand.
This is one of the many thoughts that passes through my mind as I approach the corner of Iroquois and Keystone Streets on a late October day. Warty chartreuse softballs line the road on both sides, but none survive where the wheel treads trail. Instead, roughly circular blots mark the asphalt. Splat!  If you are unlucky enough to intercept the hefty fruits as they drop from the tree, the sound on the car rooftop is more of a “Bang!”

All this useless beauty.
Rounding the corner to Wenner Street, I see that osage oranges have been neatly staged in cannonball-style pyramids all round the bend. Is this an artistic statement, I wonder each time I drive by?  Three days later, my question is answered. A cardboard sign reads, “FREE! 4 Spiders.” And another comical image enters my mind. But no, the helpful homeowner is not expecting expect giant arachnids to carry the fleshy balls home to their young. The fruits have a reputation—unearned as it turns out—for repelling spiders.

One by one, balls disappear from the piles, presumably to take their places under the beds of arachnophobes. A few sideliners are squished—by errant wheels, by curious kids, by squirrels. The once battle-ready order takes on the same disheveled look as the natural fruit-fall on the other side of the road. Apparently there is not much demand for osage oranges among local raccoons and deer. This makes the giant fruits something of an anomaly: they seem to have lost their function. Too big for most animals, osage oranges, also known as hedge apples, have been known to cause death among ruminants by lodging in the esophagus. The great majority of the fleshy fruits rot beneath the canopies of the trees from which they drop, which makes no sense. Why would a tree waste energy creating a pulpy fruit when it has nothing to gain? Other fruit-bearing trees have partners—birds, bats, deer, bear, or for that matter humans—that disperse their seeds and spread the species over large areas, keeping them fit and vigorous and adaptable. Why should the osage orange be an exception to this evolutionary rule?
Osage orange flesh is unpalatable to most animals.
Ecologist Dan Janzen calls this “the riddle of the rotting fruit.” And he has a theory. Some eleven thousand years ago the great mammoths and mastodons disappeared from the Western hemisphere; whether they were hunted to extinction or victims of an abrupt change in climate is a matter of debate. There is evidence that many of the giants were forest browsers, rather than plains grazers, and so it is entirely possible that they are the key to the riddle or, as Connie Barlow puts it in the title of her book about this and other ecological curiosities, “the ghosts of evolution.” In their absence the fallen osage oranges are sometimes picked through by squirrels and made viable, but seldom does the tree species migrate far from the spot where the fruits first bounced onto the ground.
Big thorns make good fences.

There was a time when humans took over the role of dispersal agent by planting miles and miles of living fences to keep their livestock from roaming. Pruned to fence height, the osage orange tree sends up multiple suckers and becomes "horse high, bull-strong, and hog-tight" in four years. It is estimated that at the height of its popularity, a quarter million miles of osage orange hedge grew in this country. (1)

The late 19th century introduction of barbed wire put an end to this practice but vestiges of the living fences remain in areas that were once farmed, and continue to produce suckers long after the mother plants are gone. The wood is now prized for fence posts. Archers value it also, as they have for centuries. In the early 1800s a well-made osage orange bow was said to be worth a horse and a blanket, or a “comely young squaw” in trade. Tribal wars were fought for possession of lands with generous supplies of osage orange trees.
The curious rind of the osage orange
Useless pulp lies smashed on the road. Splat! Trees that once functioned as living fences are chopped down and made into dead fences. Strong curved bows of osage orange wood may conceivably have contributed to the extinction of the animals that once kept it strong. The osage orange saga, full of twists and ironies, continues, with handmade signs pleading with anonymous passersby to take these warty green balls and give them a function—under a bed, or along a basement wall, or anywhere. Just take them.
Centuries of history go by; a tree’s stock rises and falls. Tire treads mark the intersections of Iroquois and Keystone, of ancient mastodon and modern transportation.

Bales S. 2007. Natural Histories: Stories from the Tennessee Valley

Monday, October 7, 2013

Fall is for Digging

Fall is for digging. It’s for nudging your imagined gardens toward actuality.

Spring may start languorously enough, but it soon quickens its pace and leaves you with half-completed projects as you race to keep up—with planting, and weeding, and pruning, and mowing … and wishing and hoping.

But in fall, everything is dying anyway. It’s easy to put off boring end-of-season tasks, and re-imagine your space. And so you dig. You create a garden, knowing that you don’t have to fill it for at least six months. Such luxury. Such promise!

If you have read my Rules of Gardening, then you know that I believe in shortcuts. I believe in letting nature work for me. I believe in leaving space for things that I don’t know—yet—that I will want. I believe in simple tools, and in preserving my joints.

I love my Radius Pro Transplanter.

And so, on Sunday, I picked up my Radius Pro Transplanter, and I turned over the sod—which was actually 1/3 clover, 1/3 mock Indian strawberry, and 1/3 grass. And I piled the upended tangle high with mulch, and with straw that had been resting and rotting all summer in preparation for just such a moment as this. On one end of my new garden space I planted a small dogwood tree that a friend had given me two years ago, when it was a mere Audubon whip, and I braced it with a bamboo tripod, which had served as summer support for a crop of rattlesnake pole beans. Later, or sooner, I will wrap it with deer netting.

After using my aged straw, I went out and purchased 3 more bales ... for next year.

My new dogwood will make flowers in the spring and shade in the afternoon. Yes, it will take time, but better to plant young things that you can shape and watch over, than “install” large expensive trees with their roots in a knot. I think of a friend—she may be 85, or she may be 90, or 91 even—who, when asked what type of tree she would like to receive as a tribute to her years of patronage, pronounced (with the aplomb only a self-confident woman in her ninth decade can muster), “I would like a white oak, a small one. I like to watch trees grow.” So we planted the small white oak, on her instructions, in the middle of an open field, where, in her aging mind, it took on the majestic proportions of lone oaks you sometimes see standing out in the middle of fields of grass. “Lone oak” is a dignified name bestowed on farms and campsites, cities and wineries, and even senior housing facilities. The stalwart, elegant image is universal, and it pleases us all.

Landscape gerber daisies

I see my dogwood spreading its roots and its graceful form toward my patio. As for the straw-mulched arm that stretches from the patio to my young champion, I have no immediate plans. Probably I will find some alluring annual flower that I will need to try. I generally do. Last year it was my beautiful landscape gerber daisy; this year, my most gratifyingly dwarf leonotis. And even while the mystery belle of 2014 is proving her merit, I will be tossing more permanent prospects around, trying them out for size in my imagination.

Dwarf leonotis, a spectacular garden success story.

I have all winter to luxuriate in the possibilities. Nothing, not even an apple pie in October, is more delicious than a rich bed of empty soil in April.


text:
According to AHTD District Engineer Steve Frisbee, two bridges that cross over I-30  two miles apart were struck and damaged by an over-sized load yesterday evening.

Frisbee said a truck hauling an excavator on a Lowboy trailer struck both bridges in Miller County around 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13. Frisbee said the heavy equipment wasn’t loaded properly and was riding too high on the trailer. The bridges were at approximately the 8 and 10 mile marker. The bridges are on Miller County Roads  63 and 53 and lead to local farms.

Frisbee said both bridges sustained damage to beams, which were bent in the impact. Frisbee and a crew of inspectors and another engineer conducted an initial assessment of both bridges Thursday evening. Frisbee said their assessment concluded that the bridges will need repairs  but they don’t pose any danger. As a precaution, the bridges were reduced to one lane to keep any heavy loads off the side that was damaged.

The bridges are constructed with five beams wit ha reinforced concrete deck. Frisbee said the beams and deck won’t need to be replaced and the roads will remain open when the repairs are carried out. He said the beams will likely be heat-straighted and possibly reinforced if necessary.

Frisbee said these types of damages are common and they deal with them regularly around Arkansas.

The Arkansas State Police worked the incident but a report is not available at this time to determine if there were any citations made against the driver or company for the damages to the bridges.

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A gym full of zombies

March 10, 2008

by Matt Kane

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been going to the gym for the past month.

Getting back into the routine of pushing and pulling those stubbornly resistant weights and pulleys has not been easy, and the stiffness I expected to feel after the first week or two of workouts arrived on schedule.

I have noticed, after a good day of arm workouts, that holding my camera at sporting events is a struggle for my spent arms. But, as in the weight room, one has to push on and power through the pain.

By far, I am not a power lifter in the gym, but I do enjoy working out and pushing myself. I’m still waiting to see any positive results, but neither the bathroom scale nor the waistline on my Lucky Brand Jeans has indicated that all the work

I have put in on the treadmill and press bench is paying off.

I know, I know, the pounds don’t just fall off after the first month, and I’m not necessarily at the gym to lose weight. Sure I would like to fit into smaller jeans, but, more importantly, I just want to be more healthy and stay somewhat athletic. (Yes, I used to be an athlete).

I think, for myself, going to the gym has an affect on me mentally as much as it does physically. Just knowing I finished a good workout eases my mind, and, when I miss a workout, I feel guilty for slacking off.

In my return to the workout world, I have noticed a change in the gym environment. There is no more small talk with your treadmill neighbor, and if you need a spotter for your preacher curl set you have to tap someone on the shoulder. You can’t just verbally ask someone anymore because it seems everybody in the gym has headphones on their ears. Some are listening to music on their iPods, and others are tuned into the televisions scattered around the gym.

This bothers me because I like to small talk with people, and I like to pick the brains of the guys and gals who may be doing an exercise I’ve never done before.

When you try to ask someone with headphones on a question, they always give a dirty look, as if you’ve just interrupted them while something important was being electronically pumped into their brains. They never hear what you said the first time, so they have to pull the buds out of their ears, you ask again, and then they have to go to the trouble of getting those buds put back in their ears.

Coming from the Walkman era, I know iPods and devices like them are nothing new, but they seem to be turning everybody into zombies.

Just 10 years ago, when I was in college, my buddies and I used to go to the gym probably four or five times a week, and we would talk to each and push each other during our workouts. I enjoyed the chatter and the buzz that echoed through the weight room with the banging of weights.

Now, if it weren’t for the radio sitting along the back wall pumping out a local radio station, the 24-hour club I am a member of would be as quiet as a morgue at midnight.

Sometimes, I even view people who are constantly listening to headphones as being disrespectful, in that they don’t care what anybody around them has to say. I saw this Friday night, when I was watching the state hockey tournament.

I noticed, during one of the coach’s pregame talks, that one of the players had one of those headphone buds in his ear. Now, maybe the player had the sound turned off and maybe he was actually listening to his coach’s pep talk, but, I know if I would have kept my headphones on during one of my hockey coach’s pregame talks, even if the sound was off, I would have been watching that game in my street clothes.

Complaining about the stale atmosphere at the gym and how people are becoming zombies are probably just signs that I’m entering that stage of my life where I complain about how new technologies are dumbing-up the world. But I kind of believe it.

Everywhere you go in public, someone has wires growing from their ears. Whatever happened to just listening to the world around you? Everything we do and everywhere we go has its own sounds track. Try listening to that once. No headphoned required.


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Winsted City Council Minutes

AUG. 14, 2000

7 P.M.

Present: Floyd Sneer, Jeff Albers, Gary Lenz, Tom Wiemiller, Bob Kegler

Staff: Attorney Eggert, Betty Zachmann, Pat Radtke

Mayor called the meeting to order.

Albers motioned to accept the minutes of Aug. 1, as written. Lenz seconded, unanimously carried.

Upon recommendation from the ad hoc committee in search of an administrator, Lenz motioned to offer the Administrator's position to Mathew Padhrodsky, with a salary of $40,000, and incentive of $5,000 per year for three years. Kegler seconded, unanimously carried. After probation, employee will fall into salary schedule. Forfeit of incentive would occur, if leaving before the three years.

Council members had met with engineer, contractor, public works director and L. J. Juncewski regarding the elevation of the sanitary sewer service located on Baker. The service line was installed at minimum grade of .04 percent, but altered by owner's contractor (Henning) to .19 percent due to the fact that the apartment building sewer line was at grade or lower. In discussion Henning assured the city that he never had a problem with the .19 percent slope for sewer line flows. It was the City's concern of continual maintenance of the line, and who would pay for that cost. Lenz motioned to pay the $4,800 cost that Henning charged to alter the service line, Kegler seconded, unanimously carried. Several suggestions were discussed, so this does not happen in the future.

The County Auditor informed the City that a change of polling places notice for the coming elections was not within the required time element. Therefore the elections will be held at the Maintenance Building as in the past.

Costs for purchase of the building for city offices was tabled, although audience discussion took place. Council members were questioned by persons present. Albers motioned to table any further conversation, Lenz seconded, unanimously carried.

Upon recommendation of the Mayor, Kegler motioned to appoint Dr. Dennis Jacobson, Winsted Family Clinic, as health officer. Wiemiller seconded, unanimously carried.

SEH Engr. Cynthia Moller Krass was present to discuss the private ditch owned by Charles Gutzman, which is the only outlet from South Lake and is blocked due to build up of cattails. The City is the major contributory to the lake, due to discharge of its wastewater to the Lake, although currently the discharge is down by 50% due to DFA closing. Blockage has been occurring slowly, over the past 15 years, to the point that Gutzman requested it be cleaned. Army Corps, DNR, Gutzman and the City's Engineer have been meeting to determine past lake levels, and other pertinent information. Although Gutzman is the owner, the City has agreed to prepare the necessary permit applications to the agencies. A temporary and permanent easement will be needed from Gutzman in order to proceed with the project. Estimated cost of the project is $40,000.00.

Peopleservice was present with the third year Operation and Maintenance Agreement. Peoples proposed to decrease the cost by $6,300 per year, (which normally would be increased by-CPI), due to the fact that DFA, the largest flow contributor, was no longer operating. Other decreases in operation were discussed by members. The City is in the third year of a five-year contract, and with 50 percent less flow, Peoples stated that asking to renegotiate was not a point that would be considered. Wiemiller motioned to approve the Third Amendment to the Operation and Maintenance contract in the annual amount of $144,396.00. Kegler seconded, unanimously carried.

The roof at the wastewater plant needed to be replaced, and with two quotes and recommendation from Peoples, Lenz motioned to accept a proposal from Muencheow Constr., in the amount of $7,322.50. Wiemiller seconded, unanimously carried.

Wiemiller motioned to pay the following bills:

General 1761-1812 $ 58,435.84

Fire Dept. 3391-3395 $ 31,684.66

Lenz seconded, unanimously carried.

Lenz motioned to appoint the following election judges for the Primary and General Elections: Bernadette Libor, Karen Schoen, Margaret Quast, Delores Hirsch, Rosemary Stifter, Irene Weinbeck, Amelda Marshall, Marcella Weibel, Arleen Kieser, Betty Diers, and Betty Zachmann, head judge.

Kegler seconded, unanimously carried.

Albers motioned to hold the Truth & Taxation Public Hearing on Dec.7, with continuation date of Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., City Hall. Lenz seconded, unanimously carried.

Kegler motioned to allow horses within the city limits on Sept. 16 and Oct. 7. Wiemiller seconded, unanimously carried.

Kegler motioned to adjourn, Wiemiller seconded, unanimously carried.

Betty Zachmann, City Clerk-Treasurer

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Wright County Board Minutes

FEBRUARY 18, 2014
The Wright County Board met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with Husom, Sawatzke, Daleiden, Potter and Borrell present.
Borrell moved to approve the 2-11-14 County Board Minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Daleiden and carried 5-0.
The following item was petitioned onto the Agenda: Items For Consid. #6, “Change 2-26-14 Committee Meeting Date” (Sawatzke). Daleiden moved to approve the Agenda as amended, seconded by Potter, carried unanimously.
On a motion by Daleiden, second by Potter, all voted to approve the Consent Agenda:
1. Refer To Building Committee Former Sheriff’s Administration Area.
1. Approve Abatement, PID #155-010-067151, David Stromberg (City of Monticello).
2. Approve Abatement, PID #210-144-004050, Steven & Cynthia Grittman (Maple Lake Twp.).
Bob Hiivala, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the December Revenue/Expenditure Budget Report for approval. Hiivala distributed the Report to Departments for review and he has received feedback from all of them. The Report is being released to the Board, and the next step is to create the year-end report. Borrell asked whether the figures in the Report look good because the County opted to delay purchasing some items until 2014 to save on sales tax. Hiivala said purchases were delayed for two departments and it did result in some savings. He did not feel the savings reflected in the Report was driven by the sales tax. Daleiden made a motion to approve the December Revenue/Expenditure Budget Report, seconded by Borrell. Hiivala said the report will be posted to the County website. Sawatzke explained that expenditures were almost at what was budgeted, and revenues were about 3% over (on average). This resulted in an approximate $3.5 to $4 million surplus. The motion carried unanimously.
The claims listing was reviewed.
• Lee Kelly, County Coordinator, referenced Page 4, Corporate Payment Systems ($95.00). He stated this should be paid from the County Board Budget rather than the Coordinator’s Budget as the costs are associated with a meeting attended by Commissioner Potter.
• Kelly referenced Page 8, Wright County Highway Department ($13.73). The payment is scheduled from Budget 100 for Wright County Highway postage. Hiivala said the claim is for the Surveyor Department and should be coded to 01-103, not Budget 100.
• Sawatzke referenced Page 22 and claims associated with Highway Easement & Right-of-Way appearing to be related to the CR 12 Project, which is not scheduled until 2015. Virgil Hawkins, Highway Engineer, said the Project was originally scheduled for 2014. They are proceeding with right-of-way acquisition.
• Daleiden referenced a claim on Page 28, Verizon Wireless, ($4,913.17) for claims funded from the Human Services Exp. Dump Fund. Hiivala said this is a monthly bill for phones for Human Services which are paid from the Dump Fund. Human Services staff will spread these costs out to the various programs.
On a motion by Borrell, second by Daleiden, all voted to approve the claims as listed in the abstract, subject to audit, for a total of $860,813.30, with 202 vendors and 359 transactions.
Virgil Hawkins, Highway Engineer, invited Board members to attend the Transportation Day at the Capitol scheduled for 3-13-14. Board members will have the opportunity to visit with colleagues from all sectors of Transportation and all parts of Minnesota. It is a great opportunity to meet with Legislators and learn about updates on new transportation funding and legislation. Sawatzke moved to authorize attendance, seconded by Daleiden, carried 5-0.
Hawkins presented a draft resolution relating to spring load restrictions on County roads. The 2014 Weight Restriction Map will be placed on the County’s website and mailed to cities and townships to display. The map reflects the change of two 5-ton routes including Hwy. 3 (south of Cokato) and CR 119 (St. Michael). Sawatzke moved to adopt Resolution #14-09, seconded by Daleiden, carried 5-0 on a roll call vote.
Daleiden asked about the salt budget. Hawkins stated that the budget was exceeded for 2013, and they have not placed an order in 2014. Another order may be required depending on the weather in March. Cities and townships have used their allotments and are having to find salt at higher prices. Husom extended appreciation to the Highway Department for keeping the Wright County roads safe. When traveling to other counties, it speaks to the work that the Highway Department does. Hawkins said he is proud of staff, and they do receive a lot of compliments.
A Building Committee Meeting was held on 2-12-14. At today’s County Board Meeting, Daleiden moved to approve the minutes and recommendations. The motion was seconded by Potter and carried 5-0:
I. Replace Sliding Shed Door On The Sheriff’s Office Recreational Services Building.
Hoffman explained that the building was constructed in 1999. A sliding door is located on the north end of the building. All other doors on the building are overhead, similar the Highway Department shed door. Photos were supplied reflecting problems with clearance between the bottom of the door and the cement pad because of snow and ice buildup. In addition, problems have been experienced with the door jamming on the cement pad in the spring and fall. Sometimes they need to pull the door away 6” to gain clearance. The cement slab in front is a floating slab, but the actual door is over the apron.
Hayes said the estimate from Automatic Garage Door is $4,200 for an overhead door (16’ x 14’). Additional expense may be associated with framing and electrical. Hoffman said a remote opener to access the garage is suitable for their needs. The door does not need to be insulated, as this is a cold storage building.
Recommendation: Obtain three quotes and proceed with replacing the 16’ x 14’ door. Funding will be from Site Improvements.
II. Install Card Key Access On The Sheriff’s Office Arms Room Door.
Hoffman said the request will allow specific people to gain access and will eliminate the need to issue keys. Hayes obtained a quote from IFS for $2,670. The cost is higher than other card reader installations because conduit must be run and because the card reader is being installed on a concrete surface.
Recommendation: Approve the request with funding from Jail/LEC Repairs & Maintenance.
III. Request To Utilize Former Jail As Alternate For Emergency Back-Up Plan For Community Behavioral Health Hospital in Annandale.
Kelly stated that Dave Olafson from the MN Department of Human Services was unable to attend the Committee Meeting to explain the request more in depth. Kelly understands the Community Behavioral Health Hospital in Annandale is looking for a back-up emergency site and has inquired whether the County would be willing to have the former Jail site designated for this purpose. Kelly is unsure whether the County will be able to provide the space, which was articulated to Olafson. Some of the prohibitive issues include costs associated with placing locks on doors and portions of the former Jail needing to be secured. The County previously removed internal locks from the former Jail due to fire code.
Recommendation: Olafson may tour the site to see if it is suitable for his needs and present his request at a future Committee Meeting if desired.
IV. Suggestion Box.
1. A request for weather stripping on outside doors. The consensus was that Building Maintenance should look at all outside doors to see if replacement is needed.
2. A request for a magazine rack in the 1st Floor Lunchroom. Kelly said Human Services will keep the bookcase that was located in the 3rd Floor Lunchroom. A magazine rack will be ordered for the new Lunchroom.
3. A request to hold holiday lunches in the former Dispatch area. Hayes indicated the floor is uneven and there is hanging wire conduit. It was the consensus of the Committee that this will not be an option for that area without repairs.
(End of 2-12-14 Building Committee Minutes)
A Personnel Committee Meeting was held on 2-12-14. At today’s County Board Meeting, Sawatzke moved to approve the minutes and recommendations, seconded by Potter, carried 5-0:
I. Job Descriptions For Senior Appraiser And Deputy County Assessor.
Kramber said legislative changes in 2013 require license level increases throughout the assessment profession. There are currently four levels of assessment professionals: Certified Minnesota Assessor (CMA), Certified Minnesota Assessor Specialist (CMAS), Accredited Minnesota Assessor (AMA), and Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (SAMA).
Kramber said current appraisers holding the CMA designation must achieve CMAS designation by July 1, 2016, and must achieve AMA status by July 1, 2019.
Kramber said the County Board recently approved replacement of the Deputy Assessor position. Since they will be going through the hiring process, he wants to make sure the job description specifies the new requirements, and that candidates meet those qualifications.
Sawatzke asked what qualifications other counties require for similar positions. Kramber said neighboring counties require the SAMA designation for Deputy Assessor positions. The law will require at least an AMA.
Kramber distributed two job descriptions with proposed changes for the Deputy County Assessor and the Senior Appraiser positions (see attachments). Kramber said on Page 1 of the Deputy County Assessor job description, the end of the first paragraph under Essential Duties and Responsibilities, has a proposed additional line: “Performs County Assessor’s duties in his/her absence.”
On Page 3, under Minimum Qualifications, the first two paragraphs have the following proposed changes:
1) Change the first paragraph to state:
“Position requires a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience in assessment management and administration including two years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must hold a professional designation as a Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (SAMA), or hold the designation of Accredited Minnesota Assessor (AMA) and obtain SAMA within two years of hiring, and must satisfy continuing education requirements as established by the State Board of Assessors to maintain license. A valid driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required.”
2) The proposed second paragraph under Minimum Qualifications states:
“Five years of progressive administrative or supervisory experience in an office setting, Certified General Real Property Appraiser License from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Certified Assessment Evaluator designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers, and MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute.”
Bigelow said for the sake of consistency, she would like to research other County supervisory job descriptions regarding the years of supervision experience required. Bigelow said other counties also require a SAMA designation for this level of position.
Kramber said he is proposing that supervisors in the Assessor’s Office hold a SAMA designation. Sawatzke clarified that the law does not require that level of certification. Husom said it would be efficient in the event Kramber was out of the office for a period of time. In that event, staff would be legally certified to step in and perform Kramber’s functions.
Kramber said the second job description is for the Senior Appraiser position. He said Bigelow, Kelly and he reviewed the current one in light of upcoming changes in licensing requirements for 2016.
Sawatzke asked whether the SAMA designation is required for positions other than the County Assessor. Kramber said other counties he surveyed required a SAMA for Senior Appraisers.
Sawatzke said the legislative changes do not require SAMA certification for 2016. Kramber concurred, and said his goal is to position the County for future requirements. He added that half of the districts in Wright County utilize local assessors. Other counties have in-house staff to perform assessing functions.
Sawatzke said the County may see a drop in the number of districts utilizing local assessors. Kramber said his goal is to update the Senior Appraiser job description to reflect upcoming designation requirements. He said a Senior Appraiser should hold a senior designation such as SAMA to avoid restrictions from certain assessing activities due to their license level.
Sawatzke said the Deputy County Assessor job description is satisfactory. He asked Bigelow to research the Senior Appraiser job description. He asked her if this will have to be analyzed for a point system. Bigelow said if the job descriptions are approved by the County Board, both should be evaluated.
Recommendation: Support the revisions to Deputy County Assessor job description. Bigelow will research the Senior Appraiser job description.
II. Backfill Of Corrections Officer Position.
O’Malley said this request is to backfill a Corrections Officer position currently vacant.
Recommendation: Replacement of Corrections Officer position.
(End of 2-12-14 Personnel Committee Minutes)
A Technology Committee Meeting was held on 2-12-14. At today’s County Board Meeting, Daleiden said that the reason the Committee is recommending the three Human Services personnel be allowed onto the pilot program for BYOD is that the phones the County provides are broken. Those staff members are using their own phones at this time. Daleiden said the Committee recommendation is for Kelly to contact MCIT. Kelly said that he has been in contact with MCIT. MCIT generally does not take an official position for or against a policy such as BYOD. Kelly said there are language changes required to Items 14 & 15 of the BYOD Agreement, as well as some areas of the Technology Policy. MCIT cited FLSA and making employees aware that they are carrying County data on their phones. If a lawsuit does arise, the employee’s phone may be retained as evidence. Kelly asked that the Board allow staff to work on the language changes and for this item to be referred back to the Technology Committee. Sawatzke referenced language on the bottom of the first page relating to employees receiving a stipend while on unpaid leave status or non-working status such as FMLA or workers comp. Sawatzke does not feel an employee should receive a stipend in these situations. Daleiden said the Committee discussed whether it is worth prorating a stipend if the leave were only for two days, for example. Sawatzke questioned whether an employee would be on leave for two days under FMLA. Kelly said although it would be rare, it could happen. The following correction was made to the minutes: Page 1, last paragraph, last sentence should read, “It was the consensus of the Committee that MCIT should provide an opinion on whether employees should receive a stipend while on short-term, unpaid leave status or non-working status such as FMLA or workers comp.” Sawatzke suggested prorating the stipend for anything beyond one week. He also asked whether the stipend would be prorated for a half-time employee. Daleiden is unsure whether half-time employees would be issued a County cell phone. Sawatzke said that by virtue of usage, they would not receive a full stipend. He suggested the following language be placed in the Policy: “Part time employees will not receive more than a prorated stipend based on the hours that they work.” Potter moved to approve the Minutes and recommendations, seconded by Daleiden. The motion carried 5-0:
I. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).
A pilot project was implemented in Public Works. The BYOD Agreement was to be presented back to the Committee with suggested changes. The Leadership Team has recommended putting this into practice for other departments. Swing distributed a draft of the Wright County BYOD Agreement with changes highlighted (see attached). Hiivala said many of the County owned phones were turned off in January. He reviewed the Verizon statements and the County is realizing a financial savings.
Discussion included how employees’ devices vary. MacMillan said there needs to be flexibility in the Policy while keeping within budget. Daleiden noted that Voice and Data, as listed separately, reflect a total reimbursement of $40/month; together they total $50/month. Hiivala said the costs need to be standardized for payroll purposes and for consistency amongst departments. One of the tangible benefits will be fewer bills to review.
The Committee discussed the option of tiers and it was decided to proceed as outlined in the draft BYOD Agreement. The department head will use their discretion to determine which stipend will apply. MacMillan referenced Item 14 of the BYOD Agreement which reflects that the employee will “comply with Section 711.08.c of the County’s Personnel Policy Manual that addresses use of portable devices. Failure to comply with these policies or the requirements of the Agreement may result in the cancellation of the stipend and/or deactivation of the device from the County’s mail server/network.” MacMillan said the County’s Personnel Policy addresses, in part, the use of portable devices. He thinks the Agreement and Personnel Policy language contradict one another. Swing said that the purpose is to protect the network and to secure data. Language revisions may be necessary as when this draft BYOD was created, he did not review the fine points of the Personnel Policy. The Committee discussed how the policies prohibited activities that are otherwise legal on personal time. There was a question of the County’s liability if an employee were to violate the law using a personal device. It was the consensus that Kelly should contact MCIT to provide an opinion on this topic.
Howell stated a situation which may arise in the Sheriff’s Department is damage to a personal phone while on duty. Currently, the Sheriff’s Department owns the phones used for business and the phones may be eligible for replacement if damaged. If an employee chooses to use their personal device and it is damaged during the course of duty, there could be claims for equipment replacement. Hiivala said the employee is responsible for their own device. Another topic of discussion included employee stipends while on leaves of absence. Swing said that is addressed in Item #8 of the BYOD draft Agreement. It was the consensus of the Committee that MCIT should provide an opinion on whether employees should receive a stipend while on a short-term, unpaid leave status or non-working status such as FMLA or workers comp.
Partlow said there are two employees in Human Services (supervisor and manager) who have held off purchasing a personal device plan because of the pending BYOD Agreement. She said it is important that they move forward with obtaining their devices. Partlow previously purchased a plan assuming the BYOD Agreement had been approved when it was only being rolled out to the Public Works employees. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee that those three employees be included in the pilot for BYOD devices. Kelly said that the County must be cognizant of setting precedence, and the figures in the Agreement must be agreed upon before it is rolled out. Daleiden said MCIT should provide an opinion on the Agreement language. The numbers reflected in the draft will remain as is. If MCIT identifies anything of concern, the Agreement should be brought back to Committee before it is offered to other departments. Once this is rolled out, Daleiden said that the Supervisor or Department Head should be filling out the BYOD Agreement for employees (selecting the stipend option that best fits the need). Swing said it is implied that no devices should be connected to the County’s network without having this form signed. In order for a device to connect, a stipend must be involved.
• The Administration Department will consult with MCIT for an opinion on:
1) The BYOD Agreement and the County’s liability.
2) Stipend payments relating to unpaid leave status or non-working status.
• If MCIT approves of the draft BYOD Agreement, it can be implemented in other Departments. Otherwise, this topic will be brought back to the Technology Committee.
• Three Human Services employees (Partlow and two management personnel) are authorized to proceed under the pilot BYOD Agreement.
• Revise Items 14 & 15 of the BYOD Agreement.
(End of 2-12-14 Technology Committee Minutes)
A Ways & Means Committee Meeting was held on 2-12-14. The Committee discussed the employees of the Law Library. At today’s County Board Meeting, Sawatzke indicated that the funding for the staff of the Law Library comes from fines and fees collected from tickets (also funds books and supplies for the Law Library). If the County decides to employ the staff of the Law Library, it would not impact the County financially and the County would be reimbursed for their salaries. The County does provide the Law Library with space. Sawatzke said State law and comparable worth requirements would need to be met. One of the current Law Library employees is paid more in lieu of health insurance. That would not be the case if employed by the County, and the County is required to provide health insurance. Sawatzke made the following change to the Minutes: Page 2, 9th paragraph, 2nd to last sentence should read, “Bigelow thought Norgren’s may not be because of Norgren’s job requirements.” A job description will need to be developed for Norgren’s position through Trusight, including assignment of points and potentially a bargaining unit. With the second position in the Law Library, review would take place to see if a current County job description and points would fit the position. Sawatzke said that the process will determine the pay, but the positions may not be able to be paid what they are now. Local governments are required to have comp worth set up with point and salaries are paid in ratio to other employees. This is not done in 49 other States; it is costly to local government. The Committee also discussed supervision of the two Law Library staff members. It appears there may be a conflict of interest with supervision by the County Attorney, Tom Kelly. In addition, T. Kelly was asked to provide his social security number because of the need for an employer identification number. That is how this topic came up. Sawatzke understands that Hiivala is required to provide his social security number for Wright County’s federal identification number. An option would be to have the Law Library supervised by the County Coordinator. Daleiden referenced the opinion received on the Law Library fourteen years ago from Frank Madden’s Office. He suggested contacting them again to see whether their position remains the same due to any changes that could have arisen in legal or other requirements. Sawatzke said other counties are reviewing this same issue. Daleiden suggested contacting local Representatives to get something changed. Sawatzke felt that was a good idea, although that may hold up action for a number of months. Potter moved to approve the 2-12-14 Ways & Means Committee Minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by Daleiden and carried 5-0:
I. Wright County Law Library.
T. Kelly distributed two letters, one from Susan K. Hansen of Frank Madden & Associates dated 5-4-99, and another from T. Kelly dated 2-12-14 as President of the Wright County Law Library.
T. Kelly said payroll and benefits for the two Law Library employees are channeled through County Administration and the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office. Bigelow had brought to his attention that public employers are required to conform to reporting standards for pay equity reports, taxes, workers compensation, property casualty and personal injury insurance.
T. Kelly noted that Hansen indicated that State Statute does not overwhelmingly favor law librarians to be employed by either the County or the Law Library Board. T. Kelly suggested that the County become the public employer of the two Law Library staff, and the Law Library Board pay the cost and manage the library.
T. Kelly said if the Law Library Board continues to employ the staff, he, as President, would have to provide his Social Security number to the State in place of Federal and State Employer Identification numbers. He was reticent to do so, as he has no knowledge the reporting and tax requirements.
T. Kelly referenced Page 2, Paragraph 1 of his letter dated 2-14-14 that states the Law Library served 4,526 citizens in 2013. In addition, the Law Library runs a free Law Clinic for people who can’t afford legal advice. In 2013, 381 people utilized this service. He believes it is reasonable for the County to act as employer of the Law Library staff. T. Kelly said the County Human Resources Department has the expertise to comply with the ACA requirements. He has no experience in such areas. He said the County’s only expense would be administration involved with two additional part time employees.
Sawatzke said the County has to consider that the Law Library receives a certain amount of funds and doesn’t provide health insurance for their staff. Would Library staff expect more money in lieu of health insurance? Sawatzke said if they became County employees, they would not have that option. The County cannot give employees additional dollars in the place of health insurance. The points for their respective positions will be calculated and their pay derived from that study.
Sawatzke asked which union the Law Library staff would belong to if they became County employees. Perhaps, after all factors are considered, the Law Library Board could be the employer, and the County could help T. Kelly resolve his reporting and administrative concerns.
Sawatzke asked Norgren about her vacation policy. Norgren said she follows the County policy. She works three full days or 24 hours per week. Sawatzke said with that number of hours, she would be qualified to receive prorated benefits as a County employee. Bigelow interjected that she would be entitled, but not required to enroll in those benefits.
T. Kelly asked about paying Norgren a market wage. He said a classification study was never done on that position. Sawatzke said they would gather information about her position, draft a job description and apply it to the existing point system.
Bigelow said job descriptions for both Law Library positions would be sent to the County’s consultant. She would work with them to identify a minimum and maximum pay range, and determine which union the positions would belong to, if applicable. She and Norgren have discussed whether Norgren could start higher than Step 1 on the Salary Schedule. Bigelow said she cannot start below the minimum or above the maximum pay range. She hopes the County could negotiate a reasonable classification for the position.
Husom asked whether the Law Library staff could fall within the County Attorney’s organizational structure. Sawatzke cited possible conflicts of interest if Law Library staff had clients who were being prosecuted by the Attorney’s Office.
Sawatzke said it wouldn’t cost taxpayers more money if Law Library staff became County employees, since the Library Board pays their wages.
T. Kelly asked if the Law Library Board would have to pay for workers compensation, property casualty, and personal injury insurance if they were designated the employer.
Sawatzke said the County has a similar arrangement with the County Historical Society. The County doesn’t pay the premiums, but the employees are included under the policy. The County does the payroll, but the employees are separated out under their own identification number. Bigelow said the County’s insurer, Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT), said they would cover the Historical Society, but as a separate entity.
Sawatzke suggested the County develop job descriptions for the Law Library staff and evaluate them via the classification process. The Law Library Board and T. Kelly may review the results and determine whether they wish to continue as the official employer of Law Library staff.
T. Kelly asked Norgren if she preferred being employed by the Law Library or the County. Norgren had no preference. She expressed no objections to working with Bigelow and T. Kelly on a job description. Norgren said another job description will be needed for the other Law Library employee, who performs different functions than Norgren.
Sawatzke said the second position may be equivalent to the Office Technician position in the County. Bigelow thought Norgren’s may not be because of Norgren’s job requirements. She will send Norgren a job description.
Bigelow asked to whom Norgren and the other staff person will report. The Department Head must sign off on the job description, especially if this becomes a future County position. T. Kelly suggested that the Law Library become a Department on its own. That would avoid potential conflicts of interest with the Attorney’s Office.
Sawatzke questioned why a County employee would be supervised by the Law Library Board. Sawatzke said Bigelow should obtain an opinion from the County’s consultant. He asked who law library staff traditionally report to at other counties. Bigelow did not get that information from those she surveyed. She added that if a county has a large law library, it makes sense for them to be a separate department.
T. Kelly said State Statute 134A.01 states that “any county may establish a county law library.” He said nowhere does it mention the County Attorney’s Office. If Law Library staff becomes County employees, they will need to report to someone else in the County. He suggested the Administration Department. State Statute says the County may be the employer of law librarians.
It also says the Law Library Board of Trustees manages the affairs of the Law Library. Sawatzke said in that instance, the Law Library Board must communicate with, (for example), L. Kelly regarding changes. There has to be cooperation. Bigelow said the Law Library Board would have to respect L. Kelly’s authority.
Sawatzke directed staff to check with other counties regarding who employs their law librarians. Bigelow should create job descriptions and work with the consultant to assign points. The County will then ask the Library Board to decide whether the results are acceptable to them.
Sawatzke did not think the second position would be hard to classify. He asked what the Law Library pays the second employee. T. Kelly said $12 per hour, 16 hours per week, with no vacation or sick leave benefits.
Bigelow said they have to follow union contracts. She said they will work on a questionnaire for both positions, work with the consultant, determine points and review union contracts. At that point, they would identify salary ranges. Bigelow asked whether Norgren will supervise the second employee. That needs to be addressed in the questionnaire.
Sawatzke said it has not yet been determined which entity will be designated the official employer of the Law Library staff.
1) Bigelow will work with Norgren and T. Kelly to create job descriptions for both Law Library positions.
2) Bigelow will consult with Trusight to designate classification points and identify a potential salary range.
3) A determination will be made regarding whether the County or the Law Library Board will serve as the official employer of the County Law Library.
(End of 2-12-14 Ways & Means Committee Minutes)
Potter requested the Board authorize attendance at the Legislative Sessions Dinner being held next week in St. Paul. The Legislature begins meeting on 2-25-14 and the Dinner is part of the activities. It is an opportunity to meet with elected officials in St. Paul on the upcoming session and the priority list. The cost is anticipated at $95. Sawatzke requested more information on the event. Potter asked to table the item to the next meeting.
Husom brought forth information on LEAN Training. LEAN is improving operations by engaging employees to reduce waste and defects within processes to increase productivity, reliability, staff morale, and customer service. LEAN emphasizes efficiency, reducing cost and time, and action. She suggested a LEAN Kaizen event which aims to systematically improve a process (select a process, take it apart, and put it back together in a better way). Husom provided an example of intake areas in Human Services. Each intake station could be set up the same so that workers are familiar with the stations. Daleiden suggested starting with the Administration Department. Sawatzke felt this would be good as Administration could then assist other departments in going through this process. Borrell felt the topic should proceed to the Leadership Committee. Kelly stated there are many areas within LEAN including standardization, reduction of steps, and analyzing processes. He suggested the County pursue hosting LEAN training and possibly put together a multi-departmental team. AMC offers this training and he could look into this further upon Board direction. It was suggested that Kelly bring this information back to the next Board Meeting, including what is entailed with hosting a LEAN Kaizen event. Kelly will contact the former Human Services Director, Jay Kieft, to find out what was involved with the LEAN Training provided to Wright County Human Services staff and other agencies (who attended and the outcome). Kelly said that a Kaizen Event normally includes 5-8 people on a team for a 3-day event, and it is specific to a process. Daleiden made a motion to direct Kelly to obtain information on LEAN training including costs and to contact Kieft for more information and outcomes on the Human Services LEAN Training. Borrell asked that the topic be addressed at a future Leadership Team Meeting. The motion was seconded by Potter and carried 5-0.
Daleiden presented a draft resolution supporting Legislation that would allow counties to designate their website to publish public notices. This is a platform at AMC, and press members have brought up issues and concerns. Daleiden said the reason he is bringing this forth is for other counties that have issues with printed media. Sawatzke said Wright County is fortunate to have multiple newspapers and to receive great pricing from the Herald Journal, the official newspaper. Perhaps in some counties, there is only one newspaper. This may impact the competitive bid process. This action would provide for those counties and potentially set a standard rate. Daleiden said another concern is the current legal newspaper is located in the western end of the County. Those residents in the northeast end of the County may not subscribe to that newspaper, although the information may be available online. He would like to be able to get the information out to people easily and to as many as possible. He said that Borrell made a good suggestion of having a link to this information on Wright County’s website. Daleiden asked that this topic be laid over so he can complete more research with AMC.
There were no Advisory Committee/Advisory Board updates.
Sawatzke said the next Committee Meeting date is 2-26-14, and the AMC Legislative Conference is set for 2-26-14 and 2-27-14. He asked Kelly what items are scheduled for the next Committee date. Kelly said there is a request for the Building Committee to discuss the former Sheriff’s Administration area. Sawatzke said that due to the size of the project, holding that discussion in March will not hold anything up. Kelly said there are items for Human Services that are time sensitive that need to be discussed by the Personnel Committee. Sawatzke made a motion to set a Personnel Committee Meeting for 2-25-14 at 10:30 A.M. or immediately following the Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by Daleiden and carried 5-0.
Bills Approved
A M Maus & Son Inc $29,138.80
Albion Township 22,105.45
APEC Ind. Sales & Serv. 1,463.91
Aramark Services Inc 6,905.41
Archonix Systems LLC 9,370.00
Arens/Richard J and Joy M 5,321.00
Black Box Resale Services 212.00
Bolton & Menk Inc 4,038.50
Boyer Truck Parts 123.50
Bryant/David J 1,629.00
Buffalo Hospital 5,035.87
Buffalo Township 20,333.30
Center Point Energy 11,126.08
Centra Sota Coop. - Buffalo 6,253.07
Central McGowan Inc 111.49
CenturyLink 3,336.17
CenturyLink 1,623.17
Chatham Township 15,574.57
Clearwater Township 18,548.06
Clearwater/City of 811.60
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP 16,100.00
Cokato Township 21,887.38
Commissioner of Transp. 255.00
Corinna Township 32,249.82
Corporate Payment Systems 1,080.89
Croteau Plumbing 1,385.00
Crow River Tools 303.12
Culligan of Buffalo 300.00
Dakota County Sheriff 210.00
Databank IMX LLC 3,665.00
Dell Marketing LP 149.98
Design Elect. Inc-Cold Spring 11,103.26
Emergent Networks 40,690.00
Envirotech Services Inc 15,301.02
Federal Signal Corporation 107.73
Force America Inc 665.72
Franklin Township 36,720.91
French Lake Township 21,327.73
Gerald Whitcomb Excavating 6,642.00
Greenview Inc 1,152.66
Hennepin County Sheriff 140.00
Hillyard Inc - Minneapolis 4,167.71
IDC Automatic 252.25
Intereum Inc 4,277.00
Jans/Ruth A 4,489.00
Jerrys Towing & Repair 221.77
Karels Towing 178.48
Lebovsky/Gary 137.00
Loberg Electric 170.00
M & M Express Sales/Service 534.36
Maple Lake Township 28,161.39
Marco 2,959.78
Martin-McAllisters Consulting 450.00
Marysville Township 26,139.44
Maximus 6,175.00
MCIT 101.00
Menards - Buffalo 262.48
Meritide Inc 2,056.25
Middleville Township 19,623.70
Midstates Equip and Supply 57,743.43
MN Office of Enterprise Tech. 2,100.00
MN Sheriffs Association 120.00
Monticello Township 36,460.82
Nelson Auto Center 47,341.22
North American Salt Co 7,920.08
O’Ryans Conoco Marathon 135.00
Office Depot 3,568.79
Ortquist/Marvin J and Donna 9,299.00
Pederson/Grace M 5,004.00
PSS World Medical Inc 2,954.45
Public Agency Training Council 275.00
Regents of the University of MN 285.00
Rinke-Noonan 200.00
Rockford Township 36,736.61
Russell Security Resource Inc 211.25
Silver Creek Township 33,343.29
Southside Township 21,441.95
Stockholm Township 19,568.95
Straughan Hardware Co Inc 872.31
Synergy Graphics 1,421.97
TASC 1,095.00
Total Printing 579.75
Tractor Supply Credit Plan 123.17
Uniforms Unlimited 1,926.55
Verizon Wireless 6,273.27
Victor Township 20,972.11
W D Larson Companies Ltd 1,002.27
West Payment Center 1,013.24
Windstream 405.86
Woodland Township 18,483.32
Wright County Highway Dept 45,561.91
Wright Hennepin Electric 211.88
24 Payments less than $100 1,307.07
Final total $860,813.30
The meeting adjourned at 10:18 A.M
Published in the Herald Journal March 10, 2014.


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Paul G. Hoese

Funeral services for Paul G. Hoese, 86, of Watertown were held on Friday, June 22, at Zion Lutheran Church of Mayer, with the Rev. Peter Meier officiating.

Mr. Hoese died on Sunday, June 17, 2001, at Glencoe Regional Health Services.

Pallbearers were grandsons, Brian Hoese, Eric Hoese, Nathan Hoese, Jason Hoese, Greg Hoese, Tim Hoese and Ben Hoese. Interment were in the church cemetery.

Mr. Hoese was born on July 27, 1914, in Watertown Township, Carver County, to Paul and Auguste (Ziebell) Hoese. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Mayer by the Rev. F.W. Erthal and confirmed by the Rev. Erthal on April 1, 1928.

On June 11, 1938, he was united in marriage to Anita M. Luedtke at St. John's Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America by the Rev. W. Kramer.

Mr. Hoese farmed his entire life. He enjoyed his family, going fishing and watching the Mayer baseball team play. He was a former member of the Zion Lutheran School Board.

Survivors include his wife, Anita; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Lavonne Hoese of New Hope, Luther and Eyvonne Hoese of Osakis, Charles and Kirsten Hoese of Little Falls, Ronald and Karen Hoese of Mayer, Michael Hoese of Mayer; grandchildren, Lisa and Rob Ingvaldson, Brian and Shannon Hoese, Eric Hoese, Nathan Hoese, Jason Hoese, Greg Hoese, Amy and Chris Schultz, Mark and Kristine Friske, Ben Hoese, Tim and Lynn Hoese, Becky Hoese; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Emma Schneewind of Waconia; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Delores Neumann of Waconia and George and Lorna Luedtke of Norwood Young America; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Elmer and Edwin Hoese; sisters, Edna Gongoll, Anna Hogan and Elsie Zieroth.

The Johnson Funeral Home of Waconia handled arrangements.

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text:
As professor Stephen Shore learned first-hand, sometimes things don’t work out and a change of plan is required.

Speaking to a group of students, faculty and members of the public at Bristol Community College last week, Shore related his experiences as an “autistic individual,” as he said he preferred to be called.

A public speaker, author of several books and a professor at Adelphi University, Shore was non-verbal until age four. Diagnosed with “atypical development and strong autistic tendencies,” he said doctors back then recommended he be institutionalized. Instead, his parents opted to home school him with what would be considered today to be an “intensive, home-based early intervention program” that emphasized music, movement and sensory integration.

At first, he said, his parents tried to get him to imitate them, a common teaching technique, but one that wasn’t suited to his needs as an autistic individual. Then his parents flipped it around and started imitating him, and once they did that, he became aware of his environment. “To reach an autistic individual you have to develop a trusting relationship – you have to get to where they are,” said Shore.

Today, he said, he is in an institution — one of higher education — where his research is focused on matching best practices to the needs of autistic individuals. “The three A's of autism — awareness, acceptance and appreciation — are the pathways to opening the doors to leading a fulfilling life,” said Shore.

Rather than looking at autism as a series of deficits and disabilities, he said the focus should be on asking, “What can an autistic individual do?”

Traits associated with autism such as being detail-oriented, factual, truthful, data-driven and repetitive are assets in some fields of study and careers, he said.

Some of the situations where it might be advantageous include working with statistics, IT and accounting. “It might be possible to say if you put a ‘typical person’ in (these types of fields) the ‘typical person’ has a deficit in detail-oriented thinking. You can go that way,” he said of the reframed view of autistic characteristics.

“We’re starting to see a groundswell of organizations/companies actively seeking autistic individuals as their employees because they know there are certain things that some of us can do that make a great contribution to that organization,” he said.

Software companies like Microsoft and large accounting firms such as Ernst and Young are hiring autistic individuals and not in what Shore called “charity positions,” that they created to be good citizens. “That’s an example of hiring autistic individuals for the right reason and turning away from what I call charity employment, where an organization doesn’t really have a position, but they’ll create a position.”

Shore is the author of several books including “Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome” and co-author of “Understanding Autism for Dummies.”

Shore’s appearance at Bristol Community College was part of this year’s OneBook Project at the college. This year’s OneBook read is the autobiography “Born on a Blue Day,” by Daniel Tammet, an autistic savant with extraordinary skills in math and learning languages.

Email Linda Murphy at lmurphy@heraldnews.com.