Angry Rodger Olson Bullies Clay Commissioner

“Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing!”

There are a lot of meetings and going’s on behind the scenes of the Fargo Dam and FM Diversion project.

On April 9th, in an unseemly exchange during the Land Management Meeting, the typical “if you’re not with us, you’re against us” zealots tried to intimidate Clay County Commissioner Jenny Mongeau.

Previously, during the March 17th, 2015 Diversion Assessment meeting Rodger Olson implied that he’s just a regular guy, willing to roll up his sleeves, get some dirt under his nails and work for a days pay.

Perhaps it’s just a feeble attempt at misdirection in hopes of duping some unwitting souls into believing that he does not have that stank [Read more] of Fargo/Cass imperialism on his breath…, or not?

Afterall, who wouldn’t trust a “salt of the earth farmer type” in a poorly fitted sport coat…?

Listen to this clip:

So what would prompt a “regular guy” to badger and disrespect Clay county’s newest commissioner in an accusatory manner over the BRRWD – Buffalo Red River Watershed District’s decision to table the FY2015 until after the Minnesota DNR has completed its EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)?

In a January 2015 Buffalo Red meeting, Diversion proponents failed to get the Diversion Authority’s budget to pass. Thereafter, Diversion Authority officials repeatedly contacted BRRWD members and pressured them to reconsider. The pressure included veiled threats and claims of conflict of interest. Diversion Authority leaders seem to believe being benefited by the diversion creates no conflict of interest, but being negatively impacted does.

So the Fargo Diversion Authority is pouting, they didn’t get their way and like immature children they can’t understand the concept of “NO” or “be patient”. Despite trotting 11 members and representatives out to another BRRWD meeting to “help” the watershed manager “better understand the project”, the exchange that took place on April 9th is a head-scratcher…

Listen to the exchange and read the transcript:

Let’s give Rodger Olson the benefit of the doubt and see if he is truly a regular “salt of the earth” guy and have him answer a few questions pertinent to the matter at hand.

Questions for Roger:

1. Rodger, the FM Diversion Authority recently gave $10,500,000.00 to the Oxbow Country Club for a new club house. Why would you favor a private golf course with 10 million dollars but ignore a single hardship buyout in Minnesota? What plausible rationale can justify $10.499 million dollar payout to a rich private golf course but then use a single Minnesota hardship case to try to pressure the Buffalo-Red Water District Managers?

2. Rodger, how many members of your organization, the FM Diversion Authority, or people acting on behalf of your organization, have called Mark Anderson to try to pressure him to change his vote?

3. Rodger, you and your fellow Fargo Diversion Authority members have promoted the FM Diversion as necessary as it would give the FM Metro the ability to defend a flood of 46 feet. Consequently, your stated purpose benefits Gerald Van Amburg and Breanna L. Kobiela, Moorhead residents. Should these two persons recuse themselves from voting on the FM Diversion budget as they clearly have a conflict of interest?

4. Rodger, will you travel to the one proposed hardship buyout and explain to them that you and your fellow FM Diversion Authority leaders, have already paid $400,000.00 to a private golf course consultant, Robert Trent Jones, and expect to pay another $300,000.00? Will you explain to him that this is clearly more important to the Diversion Authority than any Minnesota hardship buyout?

Just in case you were wondering…

2stank
noun \ˈstaŋk\
Definition of STANK

1: dial British
a : pond, pool
b : a ditch containing water

2: British : a small dam : weir

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