Let's move on, Cloquet

The Teapot Dome scandal, Watergate, The Iran Contra affair and Monica Lewinsky are just a few (and I truly mean a few) stains that haunt the history and legacy of this great country and its leaders. Our founding fathers held those who serve the people to a much higher standard than your average neighbor who votes for them. But they also showed the limits of their faith by creating a separation of powers designed to disrupt the trampling of liberty and provide consequence for any abuse of their position.

Injuries amass but none more than these two things: Trust, and the ability for those representing the people to do the work they were elected for.

Trust will take time, Cloquet. For a two-year period we’ve been marred by allegations and investigations that left citizens’ confidence in this great city shaken. With new investigations directed at two city staff and one sitting councilor, I can’t help but feel that this will be another disruption: stealing away the focus of setting sound policy and direction for Cloquet’s administrators.

Maybe it’s just me, but during this last campaign cycle, I heard little about the vision or future for this city and mostly heard a message of truth and transparency — regaining a trust that was lost. Important? Yes, but those campaign promises tell me nothing of how you are going to address housing, infrastructure, the local economy, parks, budgets … the list goes on.

I believe we are fortunate to have the administrative staff that we have, and I would like to praise them for the hard work and dedication they have been giving to their jobs despite the distractions over the last two years.

Let’s evaluate those past two years of work, led by city administrator Aaron Reeves (one of those under investigation):

• The 2019 levy was lowered by 1.5 percent. That’s the first time the levy has been reduced since 2003 and although our county and school referendums continue to elevate our property taxes, seeing our city taxes go down is a refreshing change.

• The original plan was to build/renovate an expensive new police facility and remodel City Hall, but when the city under Reeves realized it could save a lot of money by using the soon-to-be vacant MCCU building, the city successfully negotiated a purchase of the building to house most city offices in one building. The savings potential realized under this new plan could find its way north of $4 million.

• Then, the city sold City Hall to the county — those proceeds will be used to remodel the new city hall — saving about another $750,000.

• There is a new capital improvement plan laying out the next 15-plus years of infrastructural improvement, parks projects, and facility upgrades.

• Implementing a new health and dental plan for city employees resulted in a $130,600 savings, and premiums went up only 3.06 percent.

• A review of the city’s finances showed an overpayment in a utility account that resulted in a $40,000 refund to the city.

I could take up the entire Pine Knot News with all the great work this city has done, but I think you get my point.

The next time you stop in and pay your water bill, let those employees know how much you appreciate the work that they do. These past couple of years haven’t been easy for them either, despite the fact that they are not the focus of these investigations.

If you see a city worker outdoors freezing in this ridiculous weather, give them a wave and a “thank you.” Regardless of your view on our current police department, the officers are still out there working hard to ensure the safety of this community. Instead of glaring in suspicion, introduce yourself and be witness to the very real people that they are.

Let’s get past all this and move on. Because it is clear to me that city officials, under the direction of city administrator Aaron Reeves and led by the city council, know what they are doing. And they are doing it well.

Writer Uriah Wilkinson is a local political contributor, a member of the Cloquet Planning Commission and a history buff.