Growing Budgets, Michele Bachmann and Pricey Parks: Feedback Friday

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments that appeared on Patch sites in Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Shakopee, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation.

(The comments below are not meant to reflect the opinions of Patch or its staff.)

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The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, on a vote of six to one, approved a 2013 county budget of $1.78 billion – a 2.85-percent increase over the 2012 budget, and a .93-percent increase in the net property tax levy over 2012.

Gary commented:

They just don't get it. We are tired of all this excessive spending! When is it going to end???

Lakewinds Co-Op Signs Purchase Agreement With Lyndale Gardens Developer

The long anticipated announcement of a tenant for the future Lyndale Gardens site has kept residents on their toes. Finally, Tuesday night Lakewinds Natural Foods, was announced as the first to sign on to the project. Readers were incredibly happy about the news.

Craig Claeys said:

I think the Cornerstone Group's development plans sound excellent. It'll give that Lyndale corridor a real shot in the arm. Nice work Cornerstone Group and City of Richfield.

And J.T. Wyckoff said:

Really excited for the new addition to our city!! Keep bringing good businesses.

Shakopee Senior Maria Hauger Finishes Third in National Finals Competition

Maria Hauger took third place with a time of 17:30 in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals. She was just five seconds behind the winner of the race.

Dr. Tom Spicer took note of her accomplishment: 

Amazing achievement. Congratulations Ms. Hauger!

Share Your Elf on the Shelf Hiding Spots: What Has that Elf Been Up To?

We asked Patch readers to upload photos and/or tell us where their elves have been hiding in their homes.

Branden Clay said:

My elf was in a cabinet drinking some alcohol.

Ten Inches On The Ground; Schools Open; Delays Expected On Metro Bus Routes

St. Louis Park residents complained on Facebook and Patch about the lack of plowing and enforcement of the parking ban.

Kristin Erdmann said:

I do appreciate the individuals who plow the roads for us and I know this was not their decision. I also understand that this costs money, a lot if a heavy snowfall year. But, I find it interesting that a plow came down my residential road sometime after 11pm on Sunday and again around 6am Monday when I was clearing the end of my driveway. It appears that some poor decisions were made in regards to school opening on time but roads not passable within the city. The roads are STILL bad because people were out driving, regardless of the road being plowed & now you have to drive within ruts, get stuck & spin out. I sincerely hope if we get THIS much snow again and it happens to be during a weekday that the same decision is not made... I wonder if the day of the week had an impact on this decision. I feel for all of those individuals who missed work due to roads not being plowed. It doesn't appear that many businesses were closed. It seems that 'the big picture' needs to be considered, this includes the after effects of waiting, businesses open or closed, residents financial impact AND the financial costs incurred to the city.

Conversely, David Dyer said:

I am really shocked at all these complaints. We got hit with a lot of snow and the city did its best to make sure our streets were clear and safe. Take a trip over to a city like St Paul after just 6 inches of snow and you can see how awful neighborhood streets can be. Thank you SLP and the plow drivers for the work you do.

Bachmann Claims Obama Determined to 'Lift Up the Islamists' and Impose Sharia Law in America

Minnesota's Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on a radio show Saturday criticized the president and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, accusing them of limiting freedom of speech and imposing Sharia law in the U.S. She said that Americans must study Islamist texts just as those who studied Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' in World War II.

Thomas Kline said:

Funny that she should encourage us to read Hitler's Mein Kampf, when she is the person raising hatred towards a certain ethnic group. 

A play at Robbinsdale Middle School ignited the reporting flame in students who write for the school newspaper. This week on Patch, students submitted an announcement that previewed the play, which debuted on Dec. 13.

Patch user Aileen White was excited about the play:

Looking forward to seeing the show after hearing all the singing in the halls at RMS

Consultant Proposes $5.8 Million Cottageville Park Makeover

New Cottageville Park features such as a green roof pavilion and remade landscape could push the redesign cost up to $5.8 million, according to a draft master plan that a consultant presented to the Hopkins City Council on Tuesday.

Park Board member Norman Teigen encouraged people to think of the park’s impact on the community:

City parks are an important part of a city's public face. Residents want to feel good about their community and visitors evaluate a city by what they see. Public parks add value to the community.

The cost of city parks can be thought of as an investment in the future.

I would like to see more information about how much it costs to develop and maintain parks in the wider metro area.

To use an automotive analogy, Hopkins isn't a Lexus Lind of town. Neither do Hopkins people think of their city as a stripped down jalopy. There must be some research available which would indicate where Hopkins fits in with other area communities in the matter of public funding for municipal park development.

As a member of the Hopkins Park Board I am enthusiastic about Hopkins and city park development.