Our View

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers: To the “Home for the Holidays” organizers for the spectacular fireworks display last Saturday in Cloquet. Not only was the weather good (25 degrees is just fine for the first week of December) and the timing great (it gets dark at 5:30 p.m., so it’s easier for kids to enjoy the fireworks without falling asleep in daddy’s arms), but the display itself was great, with rapid-fire displays of loud, colorful and plentiful fireworks. It’s going to be hard to beat this year’s Home for the Holidays fireworks display.

Cheers: To the Cloquet Police Department and the Fond du Lac Police Department for the spicy chili feed last Wednesday to kick off the Home for the Holidays events. The two police departments often work closely together to enforce the law, but when they team up to produce big batches of chili, and collaborate on planning, serving, and cleaning up after hungry civilians, they truly shine. Did we mention it was all free?

Jeers: To Enbridge, the pipeline company that happens to be Carlton County’s largest taxpayer, for its over-aggressive bid to lower its property tax bills. As the largest taxpayer, Enbridge is entitled to some perks and deference from the county. But it is being short-sighted in challenging it tax valuations in court. While they have been successful in reducing the tax they are obligated to pay, they have also sought refunds for their belief that they have been over-taxed for a decade. Refunding property taxes to Enbridge may help its bottom line and please its shareholders. But it is not the action of a true corporate community partner. When Enbridge needs the county’s help, maybe from law enforcement, or emergency services, or even routine public works assistance, the county will be ill-prepared to help them. Let’s hope Enbridge is reasonable and considers the impact on our community when it negotiates property tax paybacks from Carlton County.

Jeers: For those businesses who don’t get their sidewalks shoveled in a timely fashion. Sure, it’s a chore, and while some thrive on snow shoveling, most of us find it a burden. But we live in snowy northern Minnesota, and the small gesture of keeping your sidewalks cleared is greatly appreciated by those who use the sidewalks regularly. We’d like to see residents clear the sidewalks in front of their houses, too, but it’s too early in the season to consider that issue a “jeer” yet.

Cheers: To the Esko Jazz ensembles, under the direction of jazz-man Rich Mowers, for their terrific jazz concert last week at Esko High School. Not only were parents and jazz fans treated to some smooth (and well-rehearsed) sounds, the student-musicians were taught all the terms of being a working musician: set-up, tear-down and no-pay, as well as the adoration of the fans. We’re looking forward to their annual dinner show this spring. It would just be nice if they could hold it in Esko rather than out of town.