Pat Brink has now lived in Otsego for three years. During that time he was the editor of the Otsego View, the city's newsletter, for a year and a half. As the editor, Brink attended all the City Council meetings, the special events and sat in on commission meetings.
During his time as editor the newsletter was published six times per year, had photos, was full color and included a wide variety of stories. The stories were not strictly about city government, instead the newsletters included interesting people, business and events in the community
Brink has been in the public relations, communications and television news industries for more than 30 years. Today he operates his own public relations firm, Brink PR.
As a television reporter in Southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities, Brink covered city council, county board and school board meetings. In addition he was the political reporter who covered the legislature and the legislators.
In his public relations career Brink has worked with and for the cities of Eden Prairie, Maple Grove and Plymouth in addition to Otsego. Brink has also worked with school districts in Osseo, Robbinsdale and Pelican Rapids and with SouthWest Transit, Plymouth Metrolink and Maple Grove Transit. This government experience will be very valuable as a member of the Otsego City Council.
Brink is running for City Council because he believes Otsego must do a much better job of :
* Communicating with its residents and businesses;
* Business development; and
* Letting people in the Twin Cities and statewide know about
Otsego and what it has to offer.
These activities will greatly help Otsego in all areas from citizen involvement to attracting new businesses and seeing Otsego become an even better city.
On Tuesday, November 6 please vote for Pat Brink for Otsego City Council.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Star News Voters Guide
The Elk River Star News has published its Voters Guide. The special section in the October 27, 2012 edition of the paper has a number of different political races included. One of these is the Otsego City Council race
All five candidates for the two open positions on the Otsego City Council are featured in the special section. Each candidate completed a questionnaire that was prepared by the staff of the newspaper.
Pat Brink
Website: http://brinkforcitycouncil.blogspot.com/
Age: 54
Family: Father of four children – three daughters and a son and Grandfather of two boys.
Occupation: Public Relations and Communications Executive — Owns and operates Brink PR
Previous civic and community involvement: Newsletter Editor for City Of Otsego for 1 1/2 years. Worked as Communications Manager for the City Of Eden Prairie and have assisted other governmental agencies including cities, school districts and transit providers. Covered City Councils and County Boards as television reporter.
1. What prompted you to run for the Otsego City Council?
There have been a great many changes in the city over the past year or so and residents and business owners are not being kept informed. The city cut back its newsletter from six issues to four; There is no broadcast, webcast or radio broadcast of council meetings; Topics of Work Sessions are non – existent or very broad. Communications must improve!
2. What makes you qualified to be a member of the City Council?
Otsego now has nearly 15,000 residents and my experience with larger cities including Eden Prairie, Maple Grove,and Plymouth will be very beneficial. I understand the need to “do more with less” and “to make wise investments” and I will use that knowledge to help make Otsego an even better. place to live and work.
3. What are the top three issues facing the City of Otsego?
1) Business Development
2) Community Identity
3) Communication with residents and businesses
By doing a better job of telling Otsego’s story, its benefits, its direction and its commitment to improving the city we will have more people and businesses looking to become a part of our community.
4. What distinguishes you from your opponents and makes you a better choice for the position?
Number one, I’m a nice guy!
This may seem trite, but it’s true and it’s important.
I can talk with just about anyone and understand the position they have on a particular issue; By listening to them and working with them it’s likely we will be able to reach some sort of compromise that is good for everyone.
5. What decisions of the council have you liked, and which ones have you disliked?
I’ve liked that the council is slowly becoming more transparent. However it needs to go much further.
In the last year or so there’s been a new website, new city administrator, new park and rec director, new logo, remodeled office space to house city functions and much more.
It’s tough to know what the “good” and “bad” decisions have been without more information.
6. What should the city’s role be in improving transportation in the short-term and the long term.
Continue working with neighboring communities to ensure the needs of the entire area are met, while also working to make Otsego itself an easier and more accessible place to live and work.
Begin to demand from the state and MNDOT that Otsego not be a “second class” city on highway signs in our area. “Perception is reality” and Otsego needs to be recognized.
7. There has been economic activity of late stimulating Otsego’s downtown. What more can be done to speed up economic development in the downtown area or further development elsewhere in the city.
An Economic Development person would be a key hire for the city.
Someone whose job it is to talk with realtors, developers, businesses and entrepreneurs to put the idea of creating or relocating a business to the city in their mind. The city administrator and mayor can do only a part of this. outreach...someone else must find the interested parties and work with them.
8. What will your approach be to balancing the city’s budget. Under what conditions would you support a tax increase.
The city council has done a very good job of keeping the budget in check. As the economy improves I believe there are some capital investments that are dearly needed…first and foremost a way to broadcast city meetings to the public, most likely on the internet. It’s time to make the investment needed to bring city government to the people.
I'm hopeful that you will agree with my ideas and thoughts on the direction the city should take and that on November 6, 2012 you will vote for Pat Brink for Otsego City Council.
All five candidates for the two open positions on the Otsego City Council are featured in the special section. Each candidate completed a questionnaire that was prepared by the staff of the newspaper.
Pat Brink, Otsego City Council
Pat Brink
Website: http://brinkforcitycouncil.blogspot.com/
Age: 54
Family: Father of four children – three daughters and a son and Grandfather of two boys.
Occupation: Public Relations and Communications Executive — Owns and operates Brink PR
Previous civic and community involvement: Newsletter Editor for City Of Otsego for 1 1/2 years. Worked as Communications Manager for the City Of Eden Prairie and have assisted other governmental agencies including cities, school districts and transit providers. Covered City Councils and County Boards as television reporter.
1. What prompted you to run for the Otsego City Council?
There have been a great many changes in the city over the past year or so and residents and business owners are not being kept informed. The city cut back its newsletter from six issues to four; There is no broadcast, webcast or radio broadcast of council meetings; Topics of Work Sessions are non – existent or very broad. Communications must improve!
2. What makes you qualified to be a member of the City Council?
Otsego now has nearly 15,000 residents and my experience with larger cities including Eden Prairie, Maple Grove,and Plymouth will be very beneficial. I understand the need to “do more with less” and “to make wise investments” and I will use that knowledge to help make Otsego an even better. place to live and work.
3. What are the top three issues facing the City of Otsego?
1) Business Development
2) Community Identity
3) Communication with residents and businesses
By doing a better job of telling Otsego’s story, its benefits, its direction and its commitment to improving the city we will have more people and businesses looking to become a part of our community.
4. What distinguishes you from your opponents and makes you a better choice for the position?
Number one, I’m a nice guy!
This may seem trite, but it’s true and it’s important.
I can talk with just about anyone and understand the position they have on a particular issue; By listening to them and working with them it’s likely we will be able to reach some sort of compromise that is good for everyone.
5. What decisions of the council have you liked, and which ones have you disliked?
I’ve liked that the council is slowly becoming more transparent. However it needs to go much further.
In the last year or so there’s been a new website, new city administrator, new park and rec director, new logo, remodeled office space to house city functions and much more.
It’s tough to know what the “good” and “bad” decisions have been without more information.
6. What should the city’s role be in improving transportation in the short-term and the long term.
Continue working with neighboring communities to ensure the needs of the entire area are met, while also working to make Otsego itself an easier and more accessible place to live and work.
Begin to demand from the state and MNDOT that Otsego not be a “second class” city on highway signs in our area. “Perception is reality” and Otsego needs to be recognized.
7. There has been economic activity of late stimulating Otsego’s downtown. What more can be done to speed up economic development in the downtown area or further development elsewhere in the city.
An Economic Development person would be a key hire for the city.
Someone whose job it is to talk with realtors, developers, businesses and entrepreneurs to put the idea of creating or relocating a business to the city in their mind. The city administrator and mayor can do only a part of this. outreach...someone else must find the interested parties and work with them.
8. What will your approach be to balancing the city’s budget. Under what conditions would you support a tax increase.
The city council has done a very good job of keeping the budget in check. As the economy improves I believe there are some capital investments that are dearly needed…first and foremost a way to broadcast city meetings to the public, most likely on the internet. It’s time to make the investment needed to bring city government to the people.
I'm hopeful that you will agree with my ideas and thoughts on the direction the city should take and that on November 6, 2012 you will vote for Pat Brink for Otsego City Council.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Someone is Taking (Stealing?) my Campaign Signs
Wednesday, Oct. 31 Update I really dislike updating this section of my Blog, but my signs keep disappearing. This morning on the way into my part time job at Holiday Gas Station I passed three of my signs. When I left this afternoon all three of the signs had been taken. This means that more than half of all the signs I've put out have been stolen. That is a very sad state of affairs.
Saturday, Oct. 27 Update Three more of my signs have been taken and these were in spots where I had just replaced other stolen ones. This means that nearly 1/2 of the signs I purchased have vanished. That's not a very good statistic!
Update: In looking further around the city I found that four more of my signs were missing. Please stop taking my signs!
It is truly disheartening to check on some of my camapign signs and find that all but one of those I checked were gone. Not just blown over, no, someone is maliciously taking my signs.
Thus far in the campaign nearly 20 of the: Vote - Pat Brink - Otsego City Council signs have vanished. Seven of them I discovered missing just this afternoon.
I have no idea who is taking my signs or why they are being taken. However, I am asking that whoever you are that you please stop taking my signs. If you have the signs, dump them in my front yard (the address is on each sign!)
Otsego residents will have five names to choose from for two positions on the city council. I made the decision to run for the council and I purchased the campaign signs (which were not cheap.) I put the signs up so that people would recognize my name when they were voting on November 6. A big part of my campaign includes increasing name awareness, that's why I bought and placed the signs.
Please, stop taking my signs.
Saturday, Oct. 27 Update Three more of my signs have been taken and these were in spots where I had just replaced other stolen ones. This means that nearly 1/2 of the signs I purchased have vanished. That's not a very good statistic!
Update: In looking further around the city I found that four more of my signs were missing. Please stop taking my signs!
It is truly disheartening to check on some of my camapign signs and find that all but one of those I checked were gone. Not just blown over, no, someone is maliciously taking my signs.
Thus far in the campaign nearly 20 of the: Vote - Pat Brink - Otsego City Council signs have vanished. Seven of them I discovered missing just this afternoon.
I have no idea who is taking my signs or why they are being taken. However, I am asking that whoever you are that you please stop taking my signs. If you have the signs, dump them in my front yard (the address is on each sign!)
Otsego residents will have five names to choose from for two positions on the city council. I made the decision to run for the council and I purchased the campaign signs (which were not cheap.) I put the signs up so that people would recognize my name when they were voting on November 6. A big part of my campaign includes increasing name awareness, that's why I bought and placed the signs.
Please, stop taking my signs.
Monday, October 22, 2012
News from the City Council Meeting
At its meeting this evening the City Council
approved a revised sign ordinance. Among other things, the ordinance will allow
businesses near Hwy 101 and Co. Rd. 39 to have taller signs so that the
signage is visible from the highway.
The revised ordinance also allows placing smaller (3 sq ft) signs onto their property along the roadway. Denny's on Co. Rd. 39 has been using these types of signs and other businesses such as the Holiday Station will be able to use them as well. There are other limitations on these signs and businesses should look for a letter from the city explaining the new sign ordinance.
There was also an update on Otsego's contribution to Rogers to work on installing a crossover bridge at Hwy 101 and 141st Avenue in Rogers. Last June the council agreed to provide $100,000 to Rogers for work in planning the new overpass. The information tonight concerned when the city will pay its $100,000 -- $50,000 will be paid when the project is let, while the other $50,000 will be paid when the project is substantially completed.
Council members agreed to make the contribution because so many of Otsego residents use Hwy 101 to get to school or to I-94. Traffic will move significantly better in the area when the overpass is completed.
Work on the overpass will begin next year and the intersection at 141st will be relocated north to 147th while the overpass is being built.
The revised ordinance also allows placing smaller (3 sq ft) signs onto their property along the roadway. Denny's on Co. Rd. 39 has been using these types of signs and other businesses such as the Holiday Station will be able to use them as well. There are other limitations on these signs and businesses should look for a letter from the city explaining the new sign ordinance.
There was also an update on Otsego's contribution to Rogers to work on installing a crossover bridge at Hwy 101 and 141st Avenue in Rogers. Last June the council agreed to provide $100,000 to Rogers for work in planning the new overpass. The information tonight concerned when the city will pay its $100,000 -- $50,000 will be paid when the project is let, while the other $50,000 will be paid when the project is substantially completed.
Council members agreed to make the contribution because so many of Otsego residents use Hwy 101 to get to school or to I-94. Traffic will move significantly better in the area when the overpass is completed.
Work on the overpass will begin next year and the intersection at 141st will be relocated north to 147th while the overpass is being built.
Photos of Pumpkin Patch Event Removed
UPDATE October 22. 2012 -- There have been some concerns voiced about the photos from the Pumpkin Patch event being posted on this site.
To ensure that no one is uncomfortable with the photos, they have all been taken down from the web.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email me at brinkforcitycouncil@gmail.com
Thanks,
Pat Brink
To ensure that no one is uncomfortable with the photos, they have all been taken down from the web.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email me at brinkforcitycouncil@gmail.com
Thanks,
Pat Brink
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Otsego Pumpkin Patch
Special thanks to the Cub Scouts who first put out all the pumpkins and then helped parents and children take their pumpkins to their cars.
It was also great for me to meet so many people at the event.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Commissions in Otsego
Are you aware that there are commissions set up here in Otsego to make recommendations to the City Council on various issues? Well there are!
There's the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Police Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission. The purpose of each commission is pretty clear.
Residents are appointed by the City Council to serve on these commissions. The members work to make the city a better place -- whether it be through parks or saving parts of the city's history or working in conjunction with the Wright County Sheriff's Department
These commissions play important roles, but if you want to know who serves on each commission you are out of luck, unless you do some serious sleuthing on the City's website. By going to the listing of the commission and opening up the minutes of a past meeting you are able to find the names of the members who were present for that particular meeting.
Why aren't the members of each commission listed as soon as you click on the name of each commission?
I think the names should be listed and perhaps even a group photo should be included. It would also be helpful to post a schedule of when and where each commission meets. Why? So that you know who is making recommendations to the council and so that you can attend a meeting if you have ideas or concerns.
This is one more example of the ways communication between the city and residents can be improved.
On November 6 please vote for more open communications between the city and its residents by voting for Pat Brink for Otsego City Council.
There's the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Police Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission. The purpose of each commission is pretty clear.
Residents are appointed by the City Council to serve on these commissions. The members work to make the city a better place -- whether it be through parks or saving parts of the city's history or working in conjunction with the Wright County Sheriff's Department
These commissions play important roles, but if you want to know who serves on each commission you are out of luck, unless you do some serious sleuthing on the City's website. By going to the listing of the commission and opening up the minutes of a past meeting you are able to find the names of the members who were present for that particular meeting.
Why aren't the members of each commission listed as soon as you click on the name of each commission?
I think the names should be listed and perhaps even a group photo should be included. It would also be helpful to post a schedule of when and where each commission meets. Why? So that you know who is making recommendations to the council and so that you can attend a meeting if you have ideas or concerns.
This is one more example of the ways communication between the city and residents can be improved.
On November 6 please vote for more open communications between the city and its residents by voting for Pat Brink for Otsego City Council.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Lack of Interest from other Candidates Forces Cancellation of Candidate Forum
It's unfortunate, but the Otsego City Council Candidate Forum that was scheduled for next Wednesday, October 17 has been cancelled.
In an email sent to me, Rhonda Baack, President of the I-94 West Chamber of Commerce stated the forum was "...cancelled due to lack of candidate participation."
I know I responded Yes to the invitation.
I want Otsego residents and businesses to understand why I am running for a seat on the Council I’m running so that everyone is better informed of what is going on in our city.
Please encourage your neighbors and friends to read my blog, send me any questions they have (brinkforcitycouncil@gmail.com)
and of course, Vote for Pat Brink on November 6.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Lots of Farmland in Otsego
It's easy to forget as we drive to and from the major highways that surround Otsego that a great deal of the city is still farmland.
In the western half of the city farmland is just about everywhere. Cornfields seem to be in the entire area bordered by Co Road 39 (95th Street) in the north to N.E,. 80th Street in the south and from the city's border with Monticello Township on the west to Nashua Ave NE in the east. And then in the southeast part of the city there is also a great deal of farmland.
This photo was taken from just west of the intersection of Co. Road 37 (70th Street) and Quaday Avenue and highlights the beauty of the land and the barn as the sun was setting.
Agriculture played a very important role in the establishment of the city, and continues to be an important part of Otsego. Chris Wilson has written a book documenting the history of the city. The book, "Images from Otsego - America" is available for sale for $20. That book and other books about Otsego written by the Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission can be found by clicking here.
I mention the history of the city because times have changed. The city now has nearly 15,000 residents, more than 100 new home building permits have been issued in 2012, there are some 5,000 households in the city...but communication between the city and its residents and businesses is lacking. Where once it was acceptable to post a notice outside City Hall about an upcoming meeting (and it's still legal to do so today) it's no longer enough. People need to know what plans the city has for the future, how will we get there, and what will it cost.
I'm running for City Council in large part because of what I perceive as a serious lack of communication. I'd like your vote November 6 and I will work to improve how the city talks and listens to residents and businesses here in Otsego.
In the western half of the city farmland is just about everywhere. Cornfields seem to be in the entire area bordered by Co Road 39 (95th Street) in the north to N.E,. 80th Street in the south and from the city's border with Monticello Township on the west to Nashua Ave NE in the east. And then in the southeast part of the city there is also a great deal of farmland.
Agriculture played a very important role in the establishment of the city, and continues to be an important part of Otsego. Chris Wilson has written a book documenting the history of the city. The book, "Images from Otsego - America" is available for sale for $20. That book and other books about Otsego written by the Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission can be found by clicking here.
I mention the history of the city because times have changed. The city now has nearly 15,000 residents, more than 100 new home building permits have been issued in 2012, there are some 5,000 households in the city...but communication between the city and its residents and businesses is lacking. Where once it was acceptable to post a notice outside City Hall about an upcoming meeting (and it's still legal to do so today) it's no longer enough. People need to know what plans the city has for the future, how will we get there, and what will it cost.
I'm running for City Council in large part because of what I perceive as a serious lack of communication. I'd like your vote November 6 and I will work to improve how the city talks and listens to residents and businesses here in Otsego.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Not a Debate but a Candidate Forum
UPDATE: 10/9/12 - Candidate Forum Cancelled because of a lack of participation from other candidates.
Did you watch the Presidential Debate tonight? We learned a lot more about the candidates and their plans. What about here in Otsego...have you heard anything about the five people running for the two seats on the Otsego City Council?
If you have questions and want to learn more about the candidates mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 17. That night, at 7:00 pm the I 94 West Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a first of its kind (in Otsego) candidate forum at the Otsego City Council Chambers.
Unfortunately the city does not have the ability to broadcast proceedings from its council chambers. Not television, not cable vision, not radio, not even on the internet. So if you want to see and hear more about the five people running to represent you, please come to the candidate forum.
The format will likely be very simple, each candidate will spend a minute or two introducing themselves and then people in attendance can ask their questions. I'm hopeful the council chambers will be filled with residents.
I'd like your vote on November 6 and I look forward to talking with you and answering your questions.
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