By: Brian_Sanburn on 11/4/09
"It will be business as usual for Brent Svenby."

A most telling statement that, in my opinion, does not bode well for Owatonna.

Congratulations and thanks to Dale and his wife for the time and other resources they expended trying to rid Owatonna of Mr. Svenby. Maybe next time....

By: doitnow on 11/4/09
Looks like we are going to keep going down the same dark hole.

By: Whereiscommonsense on 11/4/09
In my personal life and work experiences, the "over-educated" personalities are just that...over the top in their ideologies and practices. Furthermore, with ALL of Mr. Fairbanks education and work experience of what he claims to be a significant high level compared to others...why is it he continues to jump around from different towns, countries, companies...why hasn't he landed in a town, country, and job and plated roots and grown with all his alleged "significant" education and work experience, why does he keep drifting???

By: charliebrown on 11/4/09
Why don't you call him up and ask him? No one here can answer that question.

By: NoteTaker on 11/4/09

Point one: as charliebrown stated, why not "call him up and ask him?" Dale's a really nice guy. I'm sure he'd be delighted to converse with you. In fact, maybe a significant number of voters have the same questions. You might actually be doing him a favor by being direct yet pleasant with him with your questions.

Point two: you accuse Dale of "drifting." Perhaps there is more to the story. You seem very pleased to share with the rest of us here your questions. I'd like to think that after you called Dale and got your questions answered you'd be just as pleased to report back on what those answers were.

Deal?

By: pookah on 11/4/09
I think Dale is a great person. He needed some help and it came a little late. I think he knows he learned the lesson of campaigning - get organized quickly and stay on the incumbent throughout the process.

By: indian on 11/4/09
Sanburn loves to slam anyone that doesn't play his game. If Sanburn wants change why did he not run for the school board or council himself?

By: NoteTaker on 11/4/09

indian...lol...tell me something. Why did you vote for whom you voted? Was it because you wanted change, however we define that?

On the one hand you criticize those who complain and don't vote because they're doing nothing to change things, then on the other hand you rail on Mr. Sanburn because he didn't run considering all the "change" he wants. What? Voting for change is sufficient for you but not for him?

You can't have it both ways. If you could, then the question would be: why didn't you "run for the school board or council..."?

By: charliebrown on 11/4/09
Indian-Mr. Sanburn has other things to consume his time-he works out of town and his wife is battling cancer. It has been a tough year for him.

You like to slam anybody you do not agree with...pot calling the kettle black. IMO

By: dfairbanks on 11/7/09
To Whereiscommonsense,
Since you go by a pseudonym, you certainly have one up on me. I have no idea if you have been in the military, ever gone to school, ever traveled outside the state, etc. Buts that okay, I shall not pass judgment on you for what you have or have not done in your life.
I guess I am confused. You seem to criticize changes that others are trying to make, rather than criticize the things in this community that you acknowledge need to be changed. Actually, if I remember correctly, you were also critical of lean.
One of the advantages, or drawbacks depending on your perspective, is the Army sends you where it wants you to go. I spend 20 years on active duty so that people could continue to have their own opinion. Although I have lived in a lot of places, I have chosen Owatonna to live because I like this community. My wife, her father, and her grandfather are all life time residents of Owatonna. I fully understand why they chose to stay here. So, were you born here, or did you move here?
Yes, I have an advanced degree. Since there is no work available in the area in my area of expertise, I chose to be proactive, (something doers do), rather than sit around and wait for the world to hand me a free pass. I went back to school because I believe that we never stop learning. Also, more skills will help me open more doors in the area. Perhaps if you knew me, you would know that I don’t flaunt my education. Actually, if you knew me, you would realize that I am rather humble fellow. Most of the people I know did not know I had a degree until it came out in the paper. If 60 is too old to go to school, then could you share with me the correct age to stop learning?
I made no campaign promises. I did say that I would help to implement proven management principles to make the city work more efficiently with the resources we currently have. If we continue to do things the way we always have, how can we expect different results. How long do I need to live here to become apathetic to what goes on? In the short time I have lived here, I have seen the good old boys do their business. This does not make it right because it has always gone on.
Rather than assume that you know me, call me. My phone number is in the book. If I am out hauling fertilizer in my semi, give your number to my wife. She will contact me and I shall call you back. I won’t even ask your name. I am always willing to listen to advice and suggestions to improve both myself and the community I am living in.
Remember – you have a choice, you can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. Have a nice day.