WEBPAGE LETTER
June 20, 2015
Mr. Adam Gruenewald
Norwood Young America Times
510 Faxon Road
PO Box 10
Norwood, Minnesota 55368
Dear Mr. Gruenewald:
Thank you for your inquiry about my Hamburg City Council Member Website; www.hamburgminnesota.com. Information shown below was, at one time, posted on my Hamburg City Council Member Website back in April 2015 and I've 'edited' what was posted a bit to allow me to provide you as much information as possible.
I haven't really 'proofed' it because I wanted to get as much information to you as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you see anything that appears 'contradictory' or just 'doesn't sound right' or doesn't make any sense, please let me know and I'll clarify it for you. Also, please check my Website frequently; I regularly (and continually) update it; did so as recently as just a few minutes ago.
SO HERE GOES ...............................
As I'm sure most everyone knows, persons elected to public office, at all 'levels' of government, have a variety of means to 'stay connected' with their constituents who elected them to the public offices that we hold. While some 'politicians' seek election to public office simply for the 'prestige' or because they have a 'personal agenda', I sought to be elected to the Hamburg City Council because of my wide and varied professional (and personal) experience and because I sincerely believed that I could help the City of Hamburg continue to be the warm, friendly, albeit small, community that it is.
The total reconstruction of the auxiliary 'sewage grinder station' on Jacob Street after it was totally destroyed by an out of control vehicle last summer, is another very important accomplishment of which I am very proud; see www.hamburgminnesota.com/GrinderStationCrash.html.
(Try not being able to flush your toilet for a day because the pumps that serve the city's lift stations aren't working because they don't have any emergency power.)
"Sewage backup 101".
During both of these two very important, major projects with which I was totally involved, I continually kept the Mayor and the other members of the Hamburg City Council, as well as the Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer, fully updated as to what was taking place and the ongoing status of both projects. Without exception, I continually kept the best interests of the city, as well as the 'welfare' and quality of life of our residents, first and foremost in my mind.
Of course, making the information and 'status' of these two projects available on my Hamburg City Council Website allowed the residents of Hamburg to know exactly what was taking place; it's important for citizens to know what their government is doing and how their tax dollars are being spent..
I sincerely believe that is the responsibility and duty of EVERY elected official; to do what's 'best' for the majority; don't be prejudicial or self-serving with a 'personal agenda'.
Regarding my Hamburg City Council Member Website, its purpose is clearly defined at the very beginning: "A Website Designed As A Means That Allows Me, An Elected Hamburg City Official, To Communicate Useful & Meaningful Information To The Many Fine Residents Living In The City Of Hamburg That I Represent And Proudly Serve."
My Hamburg City Council Member Website is serving its intended purpose and serving it well !!
Elected officials throughout the country commonly use 'direct mail' and/or paid advertising to inform their constituents. I choose to use the advantages of a modern day, comprehensive, informative Website that allows the INSTANT dissemination of information, the capability of INSTANT updating of that information and, most importantly, provides the SAME INFORMATION to EVERYONE (from a SINGLE source) and allows ALL Hamburg residents (or anyone else) to INSTANTLY contact me directly, via my Website e-mail as well as via telephone and/or text messaging.
But, it wasn't always that way. Even though I moved to Hamburg in March 2007, the Website wasn't 'launched' until August of that same year. My Website was originally intended to be a means to tell my friends and neighbors in Hamburg, as well as the surrounding areas (and the entire world!!), about items of interest and various functions, fund raisers, social events, benefits, etc., that were taking place in the City of Hamburg and our surrounding area.
Upon its 'launch', my Website became an instantly popular 'success' and continues to be so today.
"Fast forward" to 2012 when two vacancies on the Hamburg City Council would be 'opening up' for two, four year terms. My interest to seek election to the Hamburg City Council was something that I considered carefully for several months; it wasn't an 'overnight' decision. Plus, I felt that I had 'life's experiences' in my favor as well as the time necessary to properly fulfill my obligation if elected.
After 'weighing everything', I went to city hall; plunked down my two dollar 'filing fee' and waited for the election to take place and the results to come in. I also openly publicized my election attempt on my Website; www.hamburgminnesota.com. After all the ballots were cast and the results tabulated in November 2012, the results showed that I received 161 votes; I believe my closest opponent (of several 'write-in' candidates) received something like only 29 votes. (Please check that for accuracy.) I took office as a Hamburg City Council Member in January 2013 to serve a four year term.
It was quite evident to me that because I was going to become a member of the Hamburg City Council, the continued use, and enhancement, of my Website as a
modern, up-to-date state-of-the-art means to instantly be able to provide Hamburg residents with valuable, important and needed information was the next logical progression. Its effectiveness and popularity continue as such today, as evidenced by the nearly 39,000 "hits' and very favorable comments that my Hamburg City Council Member Website has received to date.
Of the many times that my Hamburg City Council Member Website was used for the benefit of Hamburg residents, one incident in particular was in February, March and April of 2014 when the city experienced the freezing up of residents water service lines because of the brutally cold sub-zero temperatures.
As an example, I posted information on my Website advising city residents of what four or five residents had already experienced and that the City Council had made the decision to advise residents to run their cold water faucets at a 'trickle' to avoid their water lines from freezing up. (See www.hamburgminnesota.com/index-03-05-14.html).
My Website also became a source of information to Hamburg residents regarding the previously mentioned demolishing of the Jacob Street sewage grinder station as the result of an accident caused by an out of control motor vehicle. (See www.hamburgminnesota.com/GrinderStationCrash.html).
Sadly, it is not uncommon for other elected officials throughout the country, for whatever reason, to simply 'make an appearance' but they really couldn't care less about letting their constituents know what's taking place or what they're doing to help improve their quality of lives in their townships, cities, communities , states and country.
On the other hand, I aggressively choose to share what I'm doing and what's taking place in the city, with the residents of the City of Hamburg, whether they voted for me (161 of them did) or not. As stated on my Website, I DON'T have a 'personal agenda'; I 'work' for the 'good' of the majority.
Now, let’s ‘go through’, together, my very popular and ever-changing Website to see if I can get you more acquainted with it.
When visiting the Homepage of my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website, the first thing that the visitor HEARS is a three minute ‘segment’ of the very popular radio program, “In Fisherman Radio”.
This three minute segment changes everyday (except Sunday) and is a program that is used by hundreds of AM and FM radio stations throughout the United States and Canada. Professionally produced, it is targeted toward avid anglers and fisherman and involves professionals who ‘know the fishing business’. I believe that I am the ONLY Internet based show, of my type, that uses “In Fisherman Radio” in the fashion that I am presenting it.
Being ‘headquartered’ in Hamburg, I’m certain that the Hamburg Hunting and Fishing Club, (which is also promoted on my Hamburg City Council Member Website via a ‘link’ to their Website) and their members, and many other people as well, find the “In Fisherman Radio” fishing ‘tip’ information that I’m providing, via my Website, very interesting and informative.
A very positive ‘service image’ originating from our city, and available to the ENTIRE WORLD !!
After the particular “In Fisherman Radio” segment concludes, the visitors to my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website then will be able to listen to a variety of various programming that I have amassed over my past twelve or fifteen years of radio and Internet broadcasting; INCLUDING my ‘DELTA ON DEMAND’ Shows that feature ‘interesting interviews with interesting people about interesting topics’. And originate right here from Hamburg; a.k.a. DELTAVILLE U.S.A.
Locally, former Hamburg Fire Chief Brad Droege has been my guest, as has (retired) Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson, former Carver County Attorney (and now First District Court Judge) Michael Fahey, Twin Cities & Western Railroad (that bi-sects the City of Hamburg) President Mark Wegner, former Minneapolis Police Homicide Captain and now Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, Hamburg Fire Chief Justin Buckentin, Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik, former Commander of the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force Chris Omodt, former Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Board Chairman Tom Graham, former U.S. Senator Dean Barclay, former St. Paul Police Chief Bill Finney, Major Kip Carver, a Forensic Scientist & Director of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Crime Lab, Rick Hildebrandt; Lead Forecaster at the National Weather Service-Chaanhassen and Computer Security & Identity Theft Expert Kelly Archer, to name just a few of my guests on my Internet Show ‘roster’.
My Official Hamburg City Council Member Website has been viewed all around the world. (See the listing of countries on my Website in which people live that have visited my Website). Persons living in countries as far away as Viet Nam, the Philippines, New Zealand and everywhere in between, apparently find my Hamburg City Council Member Website interesting AND informative.
On Sundays, when “In Fisherman Radio” isn’t broadcast on my Website, I broadcast, instead, several hours of commercial free, uninterrupted ‘religious music’; intended to ‘set the tone’ for the Lord’s Day.
Once that religious programming concludes (usually late Sunday afternoon), the “In Fisherman Radio” segments are once again broadcast after which, the visitors to my Website are afforded an opportunity to listen to a variety of different types of programming; including my previous week’s hour long Internet show heard regularly, four times a week on www.247polkaheaven.com, and heard previously via ‘DELTA ON DEMAND’.
Presently, my 2008 ‘Salute To Hamburg’ program, promoting our city and recorded just after our 125th Anniversary Zummerfest Celebration, is being broadcast on my Hamburg City Council Member Website for the entire world to hear. Log on to my Website to hear how well I promote, and speak of, our nice little city!!
Interesting pictures (hundreds; if not thousands) that I've taken since moving to Hamburg greet visitors to my Website and usually are the first thing they SEE upon visiting my Hamburg City Council Member Website.. Pictures of signs displaying the city's name are the first ‘reference’ to the City of Hamburg that visitors to my Website see, when they visit it.
Visitors to my Hamburg City Council Member Website then see “HAMBURG WEATHER AT A GLANCE”; a fully automated display of current weather conditions, in the city, as recorded by my Personal Weather Station (PWS) and uploaded to the Internet every three to five minutes. (You may find it interesting to note that THE OFFICIAL DELTAVILLE U.S.A. AUTOMATED WEATHER STATION began 'collecting' and uploading current weather conditions in Hamburg to the Internet on September 21, 2007 at 11:18AM and has continued providing our local weather conditions in Hamburg to city and local area residents and to the entire world, as well, via the Internet ever since !!)
Weather conditions and information that my Personal Weather Station provides is ALSO accessed periodically by the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE in Chanhassen.
Additionally, visitors to my Homepage are instantly notified if there are any Severe Weather ‘Watches or Warnings’ affecting our area. Should that be the case, the visitor will see the words WEATHER ALERT displayed in red on the Weather Conditions icon on my Hamburg City Council Member Website and can ‘click’ on it and be automatically brought to text that provides complete information about the Severe Weather Watch or Warning affecting our area.
Scrolling down a bit further, visitors to my Hamburg City Council Member Website see a ‘friendly waving hand’, thanking them for visiting my very popular and impressive Website. Also, a ‘running total’ of visitors to my Website since it was launched, is shown as well. Also, a date is shown as to when the Webpage was last updated and elsewhere on my Webpage, an icon encouraging America's drivers to ‘Buckle Up’ while driving, is shown.
Next, visitors to my Hamburg City Council Member Website see various 'Disclaimers': “This Website and/or any of its contents, may NOT be printed, photographed, reproduced, copied, recorded, altered, modified or adapted, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the author.”
“The entire content of this Website is protected under the First Amendment Of The Constitution of the United States of America, and remains the exclusive and sole property of the Website owner and publisher.”
Another disclaimer, also appears conspicuously on my Website: "Disclaimer: The views, ideas, thoughts, comments and opinions expressed on this Website do not reflect those of the City of Hamburg, it's employees or it's other city officials. Additionally, no endorsement of this Website by the City of Hamburg, its employees or other elected officials is expressed or implied."
Scrolling further down, visitors to my Website see an icon advising them to “Drink Responsibly; Drive Responsibly” as well as to animated E-mail sign that allows visitors to send me virtually anything they want; comments about my Hamburg City Council Member Website or ideas, thoughts, suggestions, pictures, video files; virtually anything, for it.
I believe it 'speaks well' for a city to have a City Council Member who is the host of a very popular Internet based show and equally popular Website, to encourage persons who might choose to drink alcohol, to drink it responsibly and if they do, to drive responsibly as well, or better yet; get a 'designated driver'.
Check with Law Enforcement to get their ‘feelings’ about what I’m doing and how I’m doing it in that regard.
This past April, I posted information about the Hamburg Fire Department Pork Chop Dinner & Open House that was held on Sunday, April 19th from 10AM to 2PM at the Hamburg Fire Hall.
The graphic that was displayed was given to me, so I could post the information and promote the event on my Hamburg City Council Member Website, by Hamburg Firefighter ‘Jason’ several weeks prior to the event when he stopped by selling tickets to the annual Hamburg Community Dance that was held on Saturday, March 21st and sponsored by the Hamburg Fire Department Relief Association.
I believe it is just and prudent for me, as a Hamburg City Council Member, to publicly support, and promote, the Hamburg Fire Department, its dedicated members and actively promote any events that they sponsor, on my Hamburg City Council Member Website.
They are a GREAT GROUP of dedicated people !!
I also purchased two tickets to the 2015 Hamburg Community Dance from Firefighter ‘Jason’. I also posted information about that 'civic event' on my Hamburg City Council Member Website.
Whenever ANY community organization knocks on our door (especially a member of the Hamburg Fire Department), we ALWAYS buy AT LEAST TWO of whatever they happen to be selling at the time; been doing that continuously since we moved here in 2007.
It seems to me that using my City Council Member Website to help promote/publicize/support local events, activities and organizations is fitting and proper.
That's why I do it all, at NO EXPENSE to Hamburg taxpayers !! (Or, anybody else!!!)
What about our annual Zummerfest Celebration ? Every year, I routinely publicize, promote and support that annual event on my Hamburg City Council Member Website. Same thing for similar community events in Norwood Young America, Arlington, Plato, Glencoe, Cologne, etc., etc., etc.
When the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts or some child/children from Emanuel Lutheran Church/School or some other school comes calling with their cookies, magazines or whatever for sale, we give them $20.00 CASH instead of ‘buying their product’ so that the organization they represent gets the ‘full benefit’ of our $20.00 donation to them instead of some ‘administrator’ snatching away a large portion of what they’re trying so hard to earn and collect.
Seems to me, again, that supporting and promoting those and similar organizations on my City Council Member Website is the 'right' thing to do.
On my Internet based show, I always speak kindly about our city and, as much as possible, and talk about the events scheduled to take place in and around the city. I do this to PROMOTE our city, and as an obligation for the honor of being elected by city residents to represent THEM on THEIR City Council. Additionally, the 'Event Schedule' for the Pla-Mor Ballroom in Glencoe (when they provide it to me) is posted on my Hamburg City Council Member Website (at no charge to the Ballroom) as a public service to the residents of Hamburg and the surrounding areas.
Over the years since the 'launch' of my Website, I've actively promoted and posted a variety information about various events. On my Website is an open invitation to virtually ANYONE who would like me to post information about something that they’d like to promote, on my Website; there is NEVER ANY CHARGE to any individual, company or organization for having information posted on my Website !
I’m particularly proud of the fact that I have been contacted in the past to post information about fund raising events for persons (and their families) that have experienced ‘difficult times’ because of a serious medical situation or other ‘misfortune’. (See www.hamburgminnesota.com/index-03-05-14.html and 'scroll down' the Webpage to see a classic example.).
I’ll CONTINUE to do that as long as the requests are made to me.
At no charge, of course.
The city's local bank, the State Bank of Hamburg is also being promoted on my City Council Member Website as is the electronic sign in Bi-Centennial Park. ‘Contact Information’ about the city is provided on this image as well as a notification of when City Council Meetings are held.
You'll also notice, no doubt, an “If You See Something; Say Something” graphic. We all know the ‘concept’ behind that nationwide program.
I've also included the telephone number that Hamburg and other Carver County residents can call to anonymously report crime tip information to the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement agencies, nationwide, need as much ’help’ and information from the public as they can get.
My Hamburg City Council Member Website helps ’get the word out’ for our local Law Enforcement Agency; Sheriff Jim Olson and the Carver County Sheriff's Office.
Contact Law Enforcement (again) and get their ‘thoughts’ about how I’m attempting to aid them by positively promoting Law Enforcement generally and our local Sheriff’s Office, specifically.
The schedule for garbage and recycling pickup in Hamburg by Waste Management is also included on my City Council Member Website.
Continuing down my Hamburg City Council Member Website is evidence that I ‘do my best’ to ensure accuracy of information; here’s what’s posted: “Every effort is constantly being made to ensure that all of the information contained on this Website is correct, current and up-to-date. If anyone has any comments, suggestions or corrections, please contact me. Also, please see the Disclaimer elsewhere on this Website.”
Hosting a Website is not an easy task, nor is it one that I take lightly. I’ve spent thousands of hours and lots of money to design, construct and maintain all of my Websites, including my Hamburg City Council Member Website, since back in about 2001. In addition to being very capable and proficient in Website design, I’ve also gained a reputation of being a responsible ‘Web Host’ as well. I’ve developed an impressive ’following’ of visitors to my Websites, (all of them) because of the due diligence that I continue to exhibit to ensure that my Websites are informative, entertaining and contain accurate information.
I even posted a picture with information about an elderly, white haired lady hugging her German Shepard. This lady was in danger of ‘losing her home’ and there was an effort underway to raise $2,000.00 to prevent that from happening. A ‘link’ to another Website containing additional information and where donations could be send was provided to visitors to my Hamburg City Council Member Website.
She was able to 'save' her home; thanks to the donations generous people sent in !! Yet another 'positive example' of how an elected official, using his very popular Website, informs, and benefits, people.
A couple of more graphics encouraging people not to drink and drive as well as a graphic stating that my Website is a “Bully Free Zone” brings us to an area of my
Hamburg City Council Member Website containing a few of the many comments that I’ve received about this Website as well as my many others. Here are just some of the countless comments praising my Hamburg City Council Member Website that I’ve received and have posted there:
"Your Life Record Is Very Impressive. I Highly Commend You For Your Fine Record Of Public Service."
"Good Morning Richard: The website looks great!! It has a completely different look GREAT JOB!! Thank you so much for all the hard work you do, for the city and for your listeners. I wish we had someone like you in our city government."
"Dick:
Thanks for your public service; you do so much and probably don't get recognized for any of it. But, you are a wonderful asset for Carver County and Hamburg and for your radio listening community; you're just a great guy.
Thanks so much."
“Mr. Odoms, Website looks great !!"
"Your website about Hamburg is awesome, Thanks for taking the time and doing it. Hope you have great New Year and please keep up the great job you have done with your Website for the City of Hamburg."
"Keep up the GREAT WORK As Only YOU Can."
"Hello Delta! It's really very interesting to read all this information concerning your Hamburg Webpage and to see these nice pictures!"
"Delta Dick, I like what you have done with the Website. It is much easier to open in the new Windows."
"The website looks great!! It has a completely different look; GREAT JOB!!"
My Hamburg City Council Member Website also provides information about how I saved over $200.00 a year on our vehicle and homeowner’s insurance by switching to a different, reputable insurance company.
My intent, obviously, was to let visitors to my Hamburg City Council Member Website know that there are ’options’ (other than a ‘lizard’ or a lady that wears too much lipstick) to saving money when buying insurance; I gave them a classic example of what I had just experienced.
That was a substantial savings for us; why not ‘spread the word’ so that others may benefit?
Similarly, I found a way in which we save $22.75 a quarter (that’s saving $91.00 a year!!) on our Minneapolis Star-Tribune subscription.
Everyone likes to spend as little money as necessary, If I learn of a way, why not 'share' my knowledge with them via my Hamburg City Council Member Website ?
Government, and those of us elected to public office, are ACCOUNTABLE to those who 'put us in office'.
City residents, of ANY city, MUST KNOW what is going on inside the walls of their city hall and how their hard earned taxpayer dollars are being used (or abused).
Citizens in ALL cities, counties, states, townships and ’burbs’, throughout the country, DESERVE TO KNOW how their elected officials are spending the tax dollars that they pay and they DESERVE TO KNOW what’s ‘going on’ in their cities and with their elected officials.
I think that's called 'Open Government"; something I rigorously support. My Hamburg City Council Member Website thoroughly, and actively, supports that concept.
I sincerely believe it is MY OBLIGATION to keep the residents of Hamburg, who elected me to the office that I now hold (and will hold for at least another eighteen months), to KNOW what their ‘city government’ is doing and how our performance, as a governing body, is ‘impacting’ our city, our residents and our ‘quality of life’.
My choice of how to keep my constituents informed of what is taking place in our city is through my Hamburg City Council Member Website, for the many reasons stated above.
And it's NOT costing taxpayers a single penny for me to be able to do that !!
Scroll down now a little bit more and you are now at the section of my Homepage that highlights my support for Law Enforcement and also acknowledges the dedication of the members of the Hamburg Fire Department. I recently created a Website for them, at no charge, of course. Check it out at www.hamburgminnesota.com/hamburgfiredepartment-2015.html.
I also designed and printed up Fire Department business cards for Chief Buckentin and his five other Officers of the Hamburg Fire Department. NO CHARGE, OF COURSE !!
The picture of the Fire Department members that is posted is the THIRD time that I've taken a group picture of the them; I’ve contacted our Hamburg Fire Chief Justin Buckentin (and what a great and wonderful person HE is) and we recorded, together, an Internet 'show' wherein we talk about the HAMBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT. (That program is available by going the HAMBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT's Webpage).
Speaking of him, I knew Justin Buckentin long before he became Chief of the Hamburg Fire Department. He’s an impressive guy with a cool head, a ‘keen eye’ and a unique sense of humor. He knows the importance of any Fire Department having qualified, knowledgeable leadership; capable of providing the much needed ‘direction’ any organized group of people need. I’m sure that his qualifications and experience at least meet, and may exceed, those of other Fire Chiefs in Carver and the surrounding counties.
I believe that I have more than adequately demonstrated my sincere belief in, and trust of, our recently elected Fire Chief and his entire department: During my two years as a Hamburg City Council member, I have steadfastly, and continually, given the Hamburg Fire Department, and its leadership, past and present, my TOTAL allegiance and sought to introduce ‘Motions To Approve’, and/or have voted in favor of, virtually EVERY request brought before the Hamburg City Council by the Hamburg Fire Department. If you don't have the 'tools', you can't do the 'job' !!
Just recently, three long time members of the Hamburg Fire Department retired.
In all three instances, the retiring firefighters appeared individually at City Council meetings and were presented with plaques by Hamburg Mayor Richard Malz acknowledging their dedication and contribution to the City of Hamburg. I was on-hand to take pictures of these three dedicated individuals receiving their plaques expressing the city’s appreciation so that I could post them on my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website for all to see. Dedicated public servants need to be shown respect and appreciation; pictures of the three firefighters are prominently posted on my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website.
Also posted on the Homepage of my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website are pictures of deceased Hamburg Firefighters Kerry Buckentin and Rob Trebesch. Kerry’s tragic death was accidental and occurred on his farm that abuts the City of Hamburg. He was also our neighbor; he was our friend.
Because I personally knew Kerry and because, like his son Justin, he, too, was the great and wonderful person that he was, I decided to put together an Internet Show dedicated to him and in his memory. That Internet Show, which is still available for listening off of a link on the Homepage of my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website, (and FREE CD copies are still available) remains the MOST REQUESTED SHOW that I’ve ever received since I began broadcasting back in 2002 !!
I was a firefighter in the United States Air Force back in the ’60’s; hence my interest in the Fire Service. I've also designed a special Webpage that provides ‘links’ to all of the Fire Department's Webpages in Carver County to recognize and acknowledge their efforts and dedication.
When anyone in Carver County (or elsewhere) mentions the words ‘Fire Department’, all attention, most likely, is directed to Retired Hamburg Fire Chief Brad Droege.
Brad was a member of the Hamburg Fire Department for about 38 years; he retired just this past December after serving for nineteen years as it’s Fire Chief.
Brad was responsible for the City of Hamburg receiving somewhere in the neighborhood of $400,000.00 in financial grants. Brad also is a Paramedic with the Ridgeview Ambulance Service as well as an organizer of a ’Junior Firefighters’ group consisting of young adults from Hamburg, Norwood Young America and Cologne.
Brad was one of the first people that I met upon moving to Hamburg and I instantly gained tons of respect for him, for what he represented and for everything that he had done for the City of Hamburg up to that point. (And continues to do!)
So impressed, in fact was I, that I wanted to have him as a guest on my Internet Show so that his many, impressive accomplishments could be made public. I went to his home, set up my recording equipment and we talked extensively about his impressive career.
I then decided to design and construct a Webpage dedicated to Brad and all of the great things he had done for the City of Hamburg, Carver County and the surrounding area. That ‘program’ that I put together honoring Brad, like the Webpage that I designed and constructed for Kerry Buckentin, is still a part of my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website; the interview I had with Brad is still available for your listening enjoyment and is played periodically as the ‘background audio’ of my Website. See http://hamburgminnesota.homestead.com/FormerChiefBradDroege.html.
Brad’s ‘legacy’ will live forever in Hamburg, Carver County and, probably, the ENTIRE STATE OF MINNESOTA !!
Speaking of Brad, he was the ‘driving force’ behind constructing the Hamburg Service Memorial. While it was ‘still on the drawing board’, Brad came to me with this ‘concept’ and artists rendering of what the Memorial might look like. I immediately posted that rendering on my Website and explained what was being proposed. Donations for money, materials and service began pouring in. (I’d like to think that my ‘promoting’ the ‘project’ on my Website aided Brad’s efforts in securing donations.)
Once construction began, I was there to take zillions of pictures to post on my Hamburg City Council Member Website so that everyone, Hamburg resident or not, could ‘follow’ the progress of this massive undertaking.
Once the Memorial was finished, I’ve continued to take pictures of it, in all seasons, from all angles, to post on my Hamburg City Council Member Website. And, yes; I’ve even gone there to cut the grass numerous times so that the landscape would enhance, rather than detract from, this spectacular project ‘spearheaded’ by Brad.
.
I could continue to accurately describe additional entries and information that exist on my Hamburg City Council Member Website, but I believe the preceding information gives you much more than you ever dreamed you'd receive.
Any reasonable person would conclude that what my Hamburg City Council Member Website represents is ‘positive information’ (maybe even ‘uplifting’) about a myriad of ‘people, places and things’. I'm only too happy to be able to use my talents and experience to positively promote the City of Hamburg, our residents, our surrounding communities, local events and all of our friends and neighbors.
Lastly, here’s a short list showing some of those ‘people, places and things’ of which I’ve ‘positively promoted’ on my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website at one time or another; starting off with my remarks about the Carver County Library System:
“If all government agencies and offices were administered as well as the Carver County Library System, the world would be a much better place and our country wouldn't be $17 TRILLION dollars in debt !!”
UFC Farm Supply
William Mueller & Sons, Inc.
Hamburg Hawks Baseball Team (I had the honor of them asking me to work in their concession stand last year !!)
Broadband MN (This company leases space on the Hamburg Water Tower to provide high speed Internet access to areas surrounding Hamburg where it’s not available. I was instrumental in making that happen as well as renewing their lease with the city, resulting in generating income for the City of Hamburg.)
State Bank of Hamburg
Norwood-Young America Chamber of Commerce
St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church (They even ASKED to be included on my Website!)
Mid-County Co-Op Holiday Gas Station—Cologne
Cologne Fire Department (My Hamburg City Council Member Website regularly promotes their Annual Steak Fry, outdoor summer movie event as well as anything else that I am made aware of.)
Emanuel Lutheran Church, School & Cemetery
C.A.S.E. Partnership (Citizens Against Senior Exploitation teaches seniors how to guard against being financially and otherwise exploited. I also provided the design of and maintain their Website at NO CHARGE for this very worthwhile effort of First Minnesota District Court Judge Michael Fahey.) You may visit that Website for the C.A.S.E. Partnership of Minnesota at www.thedeltashow.com/CasePartnership.html.
Norwood Dental (Everybody rinse !!)
Mary’s Wish (Over 5,000 critically low income families served.)
Pla-Mor Ballroom (When they provide me with the information, I publish their event schedule on my Official Hamburg City Council Member Website as a public service to residents of Hamburg and our surrounding communities at no charge to the ballroom.)
Hamburg Community Center/Hamburg Community Hall (And update about the 'issues' of this structure that needs extensive, and expensive repairs that is predicted to cost Hamburg taxpayers ($40,000.00 to $80.000.00) on a building that, according to the Hamburg City Clerk/Treasurer, is already LOSING BETWEEN $12,00.00 to $20,000.00 EVERY YEAR !!) Needless to say, that concerns me, not only as a City Council Member, but ALSO as a taxpaying resident of Hamburg !!!
And while the city has been fully aware of the serious 'mold problem' for SEVERAL YEARS, nothing was done to abate this health hazard (where city employees are REQUIRED to work) until I started calling attention to the seriousness of the problem via my Hamburg City Council Member Website.
Retired Carver County Sheriff “Bud” Olson (I’ve designed and dedicated an entire Webpage to him, containing audio of all of our interviews, to recognize him for his three term dedication and service to Carver County, and its residents, as our Sheriff. See www.thedeltashow.com/sheriffbudolson.html.)
So, that's 'The Fifty Cent Tour' of my Hamburg City Council Member Website. THANKS !! for taking time to learn more about it; and the positive information it presents. It's updated daily (sometimes; several times in a single day).
I sincerely WELCOME EVERYONE's COMMENTS about my PROFESSIONALLY DESIGNED and continuously maintained Hamburg City Council Member Website !! It is my PROMISE to respond to EVERY inquiry that I receive. Those that I find 'interesting' might even appear on the Website. STAY TUNED !!
In closing, thanks for your interest in this very worthwhile and positive effort that I strive to keep interesting and informative. I PROMISE to continue to keep it that way. If you see any 'errors' or incorrect information posted anywhere on my Website, I'd sure appreciate a call telling me about the error or incorrect information.
Sincerely,
Richard Odoms
Hamburg City Council Member
150 Jacob Street
(612) 460-8212
