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2B N THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2000
<br /> III
<br /> HuG0
<br /> Kellison,
<br /> 1973comprehensive plan.
<br /> Kwho spent five years
<br /> on the commission, said,he wor-
<br /> •CONTINUED FROM 16 ried about how people perceived
<br /> + his projects, but added that con-
<br /> HUGO Jim's a man of integrity," he said, flicts are rare.
<br /> • ' "" but added that situations like this Qualified candidates often don't
<br /> are "another log to throw on the seek posts because of that con-
<br /> ,Appearance • " ' . fire" for those who don't trust cern, he said. Still, being a mem-
<br /> public officials. ber may have its privileges.
<br /> 1 Council Member Becky Petryk "It always has-an influence.
<br /> iniprokiety,
<br /> of ., .
<br /> , said she didn't think that legally People in those positions come to
<br /> this is a conflict, but it should rely on the expertise of others in
<br /> have been brought out earlier. that position," Kellison said.
<br /> dOgs officials "I think it would have been in Schumann and Puleo said they
<br /> • ' Mr. Leroux's best interest, and think a member of the public is
<br /> AMY BECKER STAFF WRITER certainly the council's best interest more likely to have an unusual
<br /> as a whole if he had disclosed request granted than is a member
<br /> /�
<br /> this," she said. of the planning commission.
<br /> An outgoing Hugo City Council member - - Remi Stone, an attorney for the Hugo resident Ron Gray, who
<br /> announced Tuesday evening he recently; League of Minnesota cities, said has watched development issues
<br /> sold property to.a developer whose other without knowing all the details of closely, said he felt at least one
<br /> projects have been"before- the city in: the arrangement, it's difficult to commission member has received
<br /> recent months. - fi; , tell if a conflict exists. "It's better favorable treatment in recent
<br /> Jim Leroux voted several times on mat=. j to err on the side of disclosure. If years. It's useful to have people
<br /> ters that involved a company owned by Len' - he had called us, I think I would with development experience, he
<br /> Pratt, who is leading a development hi: have recommended he discuss it said, but he would prefer they not
<br /> Hugo called Victor Gardens. It was the first.: - with the city's attorney," she said. have projects within the city lim-
<br /> public disclosure of Leroux's business deal. '. Planning commission members its.
<br /> ip "I haven't been particularly secretive; made their connection to the pro- Schumann said more serious
<br /> about this, but I haven't been disclosing it; , , jects clear and refrained from vot- conflicts occur when people join
<br /> because I don't see it as a conflict," Leroux , • ing on them, which is less of a the planning commission to pursue
<br /> said.He has consistently supported develop-; concern, she said. a hidden agenda.
<br /> ment issues, not just those projects involv-; General contractor and develop- The potential for conflicts is
<br /> ing Pratt, to whom he sold land last month.; - er Jim Kellison resigned from the higher in small communities, espe-
<br /> Tuesday's announcement underscores a, L., Hugo planning commission recent- cially in greater Minnesota, said
<br /> common problem in smaller cities: How to; •-; ly. He has brought two businesses Stone, with the League of Min-
<br /> find qualified people who want to con-; -, to the Hugo industrial park and nesota Cities.
<br /> tribute to the community without running; - withdrew a controversial proposal "We recommend they disclose
<br /> intd conflicts of interest. for a third the night he resigned. any time they have a sense that
<br /> Council Member Chuck Haas said the, _ _ Two other members of the plan- something may be improper," she
<br /> late-night disclosure was a surprise. ping commission have been said. "Provided they've disclosed
<br /> "It doesn't trouble me because I know,. ; involved with projects before the and recused themselves . . . I
<br /> •: commission in the past couple of don't see a problem.
<br /> HUGO CONTINUED ON 2B ►. :% years. Vice-Chairman Dave Schu- Leroux said filling such posts
<br /> mann was allowed to plat nearly has been difficult.
<br /> Ip.,:"..:: twice the usual number of homes "It gets a little more complicat-
<br /> •, on a property he was developing. ed as development pressure is
<br /> In return, he removed three non- involving more and more property
<br /> conforming, auto-related business- owners in the city," he said. "Can
<br /> es from the site. Chairman and • any of us be totally disinterested
<br /> City Council candidate Frank across the board? It's like picking
<br /> Puleo may have his land included a jury.,
<br /> in a future development zone
<br /> • along with at least one other prop- Amy Becker,who covers Washington
<br /> - erty owner, under a long-standing County,can be reached at abecker@
<br /> agreement based on the city's pioneerpress.com or(651)228-5465.
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