Residents Speak Up At Town Hall Meeting
Materials Supplier Shuts Down Hugo Warehouse
HUGO - Well over 50 people from Centerville, Forest Lake, Hugo, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake and beyond attended a recent Town Meeting held by area legislative representatives on October 23 at Hugo City Hall.
Representatives Matt Dean (R-Dellwood), Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake) and Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake) scheduled the evening session, and invited Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) to join the panel.
Topics for discussion included tax issues, K-12 education funding, transportation funding, and health care.
Representatives sought constituent input on a potential tax increase that may be proposed during the next legislative session.
Residents urged lawmakers to move beyond politics and work together, to "shelve the special interests" for a couple of years, to control property taxes by eliminating waste, and to address the "broken" funding formula for K-12 education.
School administrators and board members from a number of school districts were present.
"Great ideas come from meetings like this," said Minnesota Republic Caucus Executive Director Andy Gildea, who also attended. "You have four percent of the House here tonight."
Hugo residents who missed the town meeting last week at Hugo City Hall have another opportunity to visit with Rep. Matt Dean, who will be joined by Senator Ray Vandeveer (R-Forest Lake) for a town meeting on Saturday, Nov. 10 fr om 10 a.m. to noon at the Stillwater City Hall, 16 North Fourth Street, Stillwater. Citizens are encouraged to come voice their opinions on the upcoming legislative session and issues of concern.