[Mpls] I 35W Access Project

Wed Oct 30 06:43:00 2002

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I have been a PAC member of the I 35W access project since it's inception, 
representing the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and the Nicollet Lake 
Business Association. At our first meeting Commissioner McClaughlin said that 
the county has long over looked South Minneapolis. This project was to 
revitalize this area.

In July of 2001, just days before Brian Herron made public his mistakes, a 
meeting was held at St. Mary's to discuss the city and county position on 
expanding the project to accommodate additional lanes on 35W.  Former Mayor 
Sales-Belton, her body guard, Peter McClaughlin, Brian Herron, Jim Grube, a 
rep from the Phillips Partnership and others were in attendance. Attendance 
records and minuets should exist but were not distributed.  The outcome of 
this meeting was a letter to MNDOT Commissioner Tinkelburg stating that the 
city and county did not want this project to become an 35W expansion project. 
This letter and Tinkelburgs reply were discussed by the project PAC and TAC 
in December of 2001.

During the meeting at St. Mary's Commissioner McClaughlin stated that he had 
told Wells Fargo that if they were to acquire the Honey Well campus that he 
would try to get them access. McCaulghlin also said 'How would the county 
look to other businesses looking to come into our area if we can't deliver on 
this'. 

My perspective of the project and motivation for the same changed at that 
meeting. I believe that the primary reason for the project is not as 
McClaughlin had said at our first PAC meeting. The primary reason for the 
project is access to big businesses. Layered into all of the monies is the 
hook for the neighborhoods that $30 million may be available for mitigation 
and enhancement. 

As further evidence of McClaughlins commitment- when the lack of monies at 
MNDOT became evident he proposed the county bond $95 million of the project 
with no guarantee that the state will repay the county. 

I agree with Commissioner McClaughlin that the county has long over looked 
investing in South Minneapolis. This project however is not a direct 
investment for the betterment of neighborhoods and small businesses of South 
Minneapolis and should be stopped. 

Tom McGreevy

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<HTML>I have been a PAC member of the I 35W access project since it's inception, representing the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and the Nicollet Lake Business Association. At our first meeting Commissioner McClaughlin said that the county has long over looked South Minneapolis. This project was to revitalize this area. 
 
In July of 2001, just days before Brian Herron made public his mistakes, a meeting was held at St. Mary's to discuss the city and county position on expanding the project to accommodate additional lanes on 35W.&nbsp; Former Mayor Sales-Belton, her body guard, Peter McClaughlin, Brian Herron, Jim Grube, a rep from the Phillips Partnership and others were in attendance. Attendance records and minuets should exist but were not distributed.&nbsp; The outcome of this meeting was a letter to MNDOT Commissioner Tinkelburg stating that the city and county did not want this project to become an 35W expansion project. This letter and Tinkelburgs reply were discussed by the project PAC and TAC in December of 2001. 
 
During the meeting at St. Mary's Commissioner McClaughlin stated that he had told Wells Fargo that if they were to acquire the Honey Well campus that he would try to get them access. McCaulghlin also said 'How would the county look to other businesses looking to come into our area if we can't deliver on this'. 
 
My perspective of the project and motivation for the same changed at that meeting. I believe that the primary reason for the project is not as McClaughlin had said at our first PAC meeting. The primary reason for the project is access to big businesses. Layered into all of the monies is the hook for the neighborhoods that $30 million may be available for mitigation and enhancement. 
 
As further evidence of McClaughlins commitment- when the lack of monies at MNDOT became evident he proposed the county bond $95 million of the project with no guarantee that the state will repay the county. 
 
I agree with Commissioner McClaughlin that the county has long over looked investing in South Minneapolis. This project however is not a direct investment for the betterment of neighborhoods and small businesses of South Minneapolis and should be stopped. 
 
Tom McGreevy</HTML>

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