I am the Chair of the Nicollet Lake Business Association. In June of 2002 the main speaker for our luncheon meeting was John Wertes. John works for the city of Minneapolis and was to present the results of the traffic study for the 35W Access Project. The board decided not to ask Tom Johnson, the 35W project manager to our meeting. We wanted the attendees, local businesses and neighborhood residents, to have an opportunity to ask questions without being intimidated or bias comments.
I received a call from Mr. Johnson the Friday before our scheduled meeting. He wanted to know why he hadn't received an invitation. When told he lost his temper, threatening to bring this up before the PAC at our next meeting.
Monday before the meeting I received a call from Mr. Johnson. He said that he had been out of line. I agreed. He offered to set up a meeting with the S.E.H. engineer of the project to discuss what could be done during construction to lessen the impact on business. I told him that I would go back to our business association to discuss this offer. Mr. Johnson then said "No I mean your business." I refused.
Wednesday forty-five minuets before the meeting I received a call from Jim Grube. (Jim is a county transportation employee and a man of integrity. He was asked and did attend our meeting.) He said that Peter McLaughlin wanted Tom Johnson at the meeting and that he would be there but would not speak. Not only did Tom Johnson attend without an invitation but McLaughlin's aide, a woman from the Wells Fargo Corporate office, a fellow from the Phillips Partnership and Peter Mclaughlin all came without an invitation. We do have attendance records and minuets if anyone is interested.
The tax payers of Hennepin County deserve better from their elected officials and those doing business for the county.
Tom McGreevy
Former 35W PAC member
