It's been a good week as I have been out meeting people and talking with them about Otsego and what they like and what they want to see changed.
This photo was taken one morning in early September at the VFW park in Otsego.
The sun was not quite above the horizon and the fog shrouded the playground equipment.
Communications between the city and its residents and businesses is the lynch pin of my campaign for City Council. I believe the city can do a much better job of communicating with its key groups, and do so with a minimal investment of dollars.
The City's updated web site is nice, and has a lot of information, but I think it can be kept more current and when there are updates to the site people can be notified. The city's quarterly newsletter is posted on the website, but there is not a list of people that wish to receive it by email. The city sends its newsletters out using first class mail....there is now an option from the post office that allows people to spend just 14 1/2 cents to have the mail delivered.
Right now the only way to see and hear what is happening at a council meeting is to actually be in the room. There is no cable broadcast or internet broadcast of the meetings. I believe this should change...and yes it will take money to make this change. However when you look at this as an investment that will be in place for 10 or more years, the dollars necessary to make this change will be well spent.
I'd like to hear more from you the residents and business owners here in Otsego. Let me know what you think of the way the city is being operated and what changes you think are needed.
It's now Official -- My very First Lawn Sign has been Planted!
It's all systems go from now until November 6. The very first sign went onto the lawn of a great supporter of mine and it's on a corner!
From that first sign three more have been planted along major roadways in the eastern part of the city. Beginning tomorrow I will be door knocking and asking those people in strategic locations if they would allow me to place my sign in their yard.
There are 44 more signs to be placed, so it make take a little while until they are all up and asking Otsego residents to elect me to the City Council.
I
'm off to a bit of a slow start on my campaign for a city council seat in Otsego. I have ordered signs, but they have not yet arrived -- but the stakes to put them in the ground are here!
I've also realized that many people here in Otsego only know me by my first name, so I have created a business card that has my photo and my first and LAST name. I guess it is important that people who already know me know who it is they will be voting for come November 6.
I completed the information the Star Tribune has requested so that I will be in the Strib's Voter guide - at least the online version.
As far as campaign literature, I need to finalize what form it is to take...a postcard, a door hanger, traditional three panel brochure or something else. I am taking part in the Otsego Festival on September 15, so it's kind of important that I have the campaign material ready by then!
My spot at the Otsego Festival is actually designed to display (and hopefully sell) some of the photos I have taken over the past few years. I think they are quite good, and I hope others do as well.
Please stop by the Otsego Festival. on Saturday, September 15 from 10am to 5pm at Prairie Park, which is right behind the "old" city hall building. And if you come, be sure to thank Rose Cassady, the woman who almost single handily puts this event on each yaer.
