Letter to the Editor: Brumfield

Letter To the Editor:

I supported Duane Quam in the past, and I feel that was a mistake. During the last session, I went to the Capitol to visit with legislators who represent me; I had some information about current issues that I felt should influence their decisions. It is standard practice that lawmakers will make every effort to meet with constituents who come to the Capitol. Nineteen other people also attempted to see Mr. Quam on the same day I was there. We couldn't get an appointment even though we called in advance. We worked with Mr. Quam's office to find a time and place where we could speak for a few minutes. Other legislators came out of the same meetings where he was, to meet with their constituents, and they told Mr. Quam that we waited outside. But Mr. Quam disappeared out the back door. We went back to his office to meet him, his staff tried to help us find a constantly disappearing legislator. He never turned up as expected; his staff directed us back to his next committee meeting where we stood by. But he never showed up. Many of the people filled out comment cards at his office, leaving their contact information. To my knowledge, none of those people have ever been contacted by Duane Quam. When I left, I felt that my Representative was representing his own views, and had no interest in the views of the voter.

Back home, I spoke with other people who had similar experiences with Duane Quam at the Capitol, and I was told that several groups had been unable to meet with him. I heard of one group of teachers who did finally corner him and they felt that they had to block the exit to the room just to get him to hear their concerns. One teacher told me she overheard Mr. Quam tell his staff "Don't let those people get near me.” 

I have firsthand knowledge of Duane Quam’s opponent-John Vossen. For many years I have known John to be a person who will always listen to everyone, consider all the evidence, and come up with decisions that are fair and good. I have known him as someone who can work well with all sides to arrive at equitable solutions.

I cannot condone Mr. Quam's behavior and I apologize to the voters for my part in sending a Representative to the Capitol who has repeatedly refused to  even hear the people whom he was elected to represent. I feel that I made a terrible mistake during the last election and I hope that you will join with me in my efforts to fire Mr. Quam and stop him from using our forum to further his own personal views. Let’s vote together for John Vossen and put representation back in the office of Representative for District 25A.

Jim Brumfield
Kasson, MN

Letter to the editor: Lattner

Letter to the editor:
Criminalizing Minors

You won't believe where our civil liberties are being attacked now. My 13 year old son and two others like him were facing a misdemeanor charge by the Kasson-Mantorville Police School Resource Officer (SRO). The offense was for being offered and/or taking less than $.30 of "Frooties" candy from a friend's locker. The boy who owned the Frooties candy, gave his combination to other boys who opened the locker and were getting candy. My son asked what they were doing and they asked him if he wanted some candy. My son said, "yes" and took approx 20 of the small pieces which he also handed out to his friends during the day. The owner of the locker noticed the candy being gone and reported it to Officer Peck who was nearby. Officer Peck reviewed the school camera film, conducted a recorded interrogation of the minors without a parent or lawyer present, and issued criminal citations that were forwarded to the Dodge County Court.

For this offense, three of the four boys were given a three  day out-of-school suspension and were later charged with criminal misdemeanor theft. Another boy known by the officer received no citation or out-of-school suspension at all. The family of and the boy who reported the missing candy to Officer Peck asked that no charges be brought against these minor boys. Officer Peck pushed it through till it reached the Dodge County Prosecutor and Court. The Court threw the case out when the first minor appeared for this court hearing.

When I spoke with the Kasson-Mantorville Superintendent of Schools, Mark Matuska, he was not aware that the District had signed off on forwarding the charges for some candy and felt the punishment was not proportional to the alleged offense. The Dodge County Court said they would not normally take a case like this but because it was pushed through they are obligated to hear it. The children were being charged under the same statute as taking items off war dead (MN Statute 609.52). No such charges appear from Triton or Hayfield School Districts which also report to the Dodge County Court.

The Districts outside of Kasson-Mantorville refer drug and violence cases which are better suited for the legal system and its limited resources. We never had these problems under our previous SRO through the Dodge County Sherriffs Office. Our Kasson Police Department SRO primarily focuses on candy and food fights for criminal action.

The problem is that SROs are in our schools to protect against real crime: drugs, violence, and bullying. Unfortunately, some like Officer Peck are taking away the rights of active parents to raise their young children and discipline them in a way that brings them to a healthy and productive adulthood. Instead of working with the parents, he throws it into the courts.

The use of school-based citations, interrogations without a parent or attorney present, and arrests as a means of addressing even minor, non-violent disciplinary infractions should raise serious concerns for educators, parents, and the wider community.

While there is no question that guaranteeing the safety of our public schools is important, we must never come to view criminally citing minor infractions committed by minor aged school students as just another approach to discipline.

Instead, every time a school-based citation or other police punishment occurs, we must ask: Was this a rational, proportional, and evenhanded response to the misbehavior? Was it really necessary? Was there another way?

Plainly, SRO’s can help make schools safer. But with the wrong SRO, his presence also may encourage a criminal justice response to misconduct better addressed by school administrators and active parents who work with those administrators.

Unfortunately, there is a trend over the last few years of criminalizing our Kasson- Mantorville children, through increased reliance on selective zero-tolerance school discipline, school-based interrogations, and citations. This is beginning to create an atmosphere of the "school-to-probations pipeline" for our minors.

There is a lot of documentation available in the local media and the Dodge County Court to see this trend occurring here in the K-M School District. The focus is not on drugs, violence, or bullying. This SRO has put his focus on minor infractions and has escalated them to where our court is becoming the mandated parent of our children. Again, is this the most rational, proportional, and evenhanded response to minor misbehavior?

                  Respectfully Submitted,
                      Bernie Lattner

Letter to the editor: Nelson

Letter To the Editor:

For several months now, the Dodge County Independent has published an editorial column from two fictional characters named Flo and Jo.  The amazing thing about the column is the DCI has never published the actual author’s name and they don’t really let the reader know this is an editorial piece.  The column has been used to attack the Kasson City Council on several occasions.  Typically, when a newspaper publishes something like this, they will include the author’s name.  Last week, at least, the column appeared on the editorial page.  It might be more fitting if the DCI had a “fiction” page and it appeared there.  Which leads me to the other amazing thing about the column, rarely does it contain factual data. 

Last week’s column from Flo/Jo was a prime example of how KARE tries to distort the facts or just not even bother with facts.  Yes, several years ago the City of Kasson had to take down the old limestone fireplace in North Park. It had not aged well and was becoming quite dangerous.  The City brought in a professional stone layer to look at it.  The cost to repair was extremely high.  And, it is true that someone from KARE offered the services of a stone layer friend of hers.  However, it was quickly determined this stone layer was not licensed, was not certified, and was not insured.  Unfortunately, upon learning this, the City could not legally use his services.  Regarding the old limestone wall, though, what Flo/Jo wrote is completely false.  The City has never talked about taking down this wall.  I also found it interesting at the recent Dodge County Expo KARE had a picture of the stone wall with the word “Endangered” written across it.  Where does this come from?  Why are they spreading this type of disinformation?

Two weeks ago Kenton Spading wrote a letter to the editor that implied our current City Council does not have good people serving on it.  I was literally shocked and a little hurt by that.  And then, I had to wonder on what does he base his opinion? He hasn’t lived in Kasson since the late 1970’s.  He has been to one Council meeting in the last 8 or 9 years.  Why does he, and his group called KARE, want to spread vitriol and anger in an apparent attempt to divide Kasson?  After reading Kenton’s letter and the last two Flo/Jo columns, I think I now know who the author of Flo/Jo is. 
KARE has asked the City of Kasson for numerous requests over the last few years and the City has been pretty agreeable.  I would now like to ask KARE for something.  Starting immediately, KARE should print the actual author’s name with the Flo/Jo column.  They also need to spell out in their column where the information they are printing comes from.  I have never seen a group given the ability to publish disinformation, innuendo, and fiction in an editorial and then not even be required to include their name.  It baffles me.

The Mayor of Kasson and the City Council has been very respectful and accommodating during the ongoing saga of the Old School building.  It is unfortunate KARE has not always returned that favor.

Sincerely,
Matt Nelson

 

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