You don't have to like Tom Notch, but his letter is FACT! Please read it!
Review the bids for yourselves!! The {high} bid of $997,220 from everyone's favorite, Kraus-Anderson, was selected!!
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However, we had this choice at $776,374:
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And the rightful winner at $494,500:
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$502,720....that's a half mill!! No wonder these guys are worried enough about the possibility of me commissioning an audit they need to resort to libel!
Call them...email them...get passionate about this foolishness like the residents of Burnsville district are!
I think the bigger question here is how much of this $502,720 "comes back" as cash stuffed in a brown paper bag and hidden in a dumpster behind the education center?
ReplyDeleteCould it be that certain members, or should I say A MEMBER, is having financial difficulties and some of that 500,000 might find its' way somewhere other than where it's supposed to go. Just wondering...........
DeleteI think that the district residents deserve much better than this from the school board and administration. They should be ashamed of themselves. How much construction could that $500,000 have acomplished. It is too bad that the election for the bond and school board is not being held today. I suspect the results would be much different.
ReplyDeleteThis is a joke, right? There is no way this has happened? What is the rationale?
ReplyDeleteRationale???????? What makes you think there has to be rationale. These are crooked little people living in crooked little houses taking the taxpayers for a crooked little ride. Just where do you think any excess money is going to go......take one big guess! Tom Notch and Don Mailey were right a long time ago when they were trying to expose these crooks for what they are but none of you all wanted to listen. Now we're paying the price. Botts and Borg are the epitomy of shameless, arrogant, thieving, shallow little men. Cowards - both of them. Remember this next time Tom or Don is trying to tell you something.
DeleteIs there anyone out there capable of stopping this crap? Where do we turn? This system is stacked against honest, hard-working, taxpaying citizens.
ReplyDeleteIs the school board subject to chemical screening? I can tell you this would rid us of one of our biggest problems if this became mandatory. Do teachers have to submit at all or has Solidarność aka the teachers' union insulated them from this responsibility as well?
ReplyDeleteIf they made the teachers submit, they couldn't get drunk with students in the Dominican like last year, right Bobb?
DeleteI pity da fools who voted to give these clowns $40,000,000 to steal, waste, misuse and misplace.
ReplyDeletelol...ain't that the truth!
DeleteHalf a million here, half a million there. easy come, easy go.
ReplyDeleteBorg doesn't give a crap. Don't be surprised if the brilliant school board gives him some nice fat bonus for getting this b.s. approved. don't you hear the chant.....more money, more money, more money!
This is the same wise admin who pays 80,000+ a year for a part time Public relations person to spin their yarns just because all other districts do it. gag me....
Lead by the same visionary who fritters away lots of money sending out kindergarten roundup mailings to all residents including families with children enrolled and 80 year olds who haven't had a kid in the household for decades! Never mind that they have a census that tells them exactly where the little children reside (also paid for by us!!).
yep, there's that critical thinking again!
We can only hope that some day taxpayers will revolt.
Just heard this morning there is at least one active board member who is trying to obtain work from Kraus Anderson on this project. How nuts is that??? That person has been a very vocal schill for hiring Kraus Anderson and Kraus Anderson alone since this all came about...go figure.
ReplyDeleteThe statute is very clear on this behavior:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=471.87
I emailed Borg for his thoughts, but of course, will receive no reply.
Don,
DeleteWould you shut your filthy mouth if I was able to explain the cost difference to your satisfaction? I would be willing to meet you face to face so we can exchange ideas like adults. Not hide behind cowardly innuendo. I think anonymous replies to blog posts are almost as bad as taking something from a private conversation (Tom Notch and Me) and getting someone else (you-Don Mailey) to tell all 14 people in his tiny paranoid construction (this goofy blog that I shouldn’t let get under my skin but it’s just so stupid I cannot help myself) a lie that conforms to their world view. Thanks so much Tom Notch for distorting my sincere attempt at explaining why I withheld my vote. There are two types of people in the world and you are neither one of them. Do not ever speak to me again.
So here is why, undistorted. As an architect, I have worked on 2 projects with KA and it is possible that I will again. I certainly hope so. I have also worked with Mortenson, CPMI, Bossardt, and Knutson and knew from the start I might work with them again as well. It is just as likely that, some day, I will work with ICS or R A Morton...fingers crossed! At the start of the selection process I had no way of knowing who was going to win but, since we received proposals from the best companies in the area, an opportunity to work with the winner at some time in the future was possible. I certainly did not want to narrow my professional horizons because a piss-ant like you would try to make it look like I exchanged my vote for work.
You may as well see every skeleton in my closet. I have also worked with 4 of the 9 design teams invited to submit a proposal; Wold, KKE (now merged with DLR), DLR, and I teamed up with TSP on a project in the late 90’s. I would not mind working with one of them again or with Cunningham, P+W, LHB, ATSR, or ARY. I’m withholding my vote on the design team selection, also.
In short, I withhold my vote, NOT because of a potential conflict of interest. I withhold it so you can not invent one.
Anyway, if you want to sit down, I’m willing. Just send an email to the only address I’ll conduct school board business on bondd@westonka.k12.mn.us
David Bond
Proud of Westonka!
Didn't you switch to de-caf, Dave? I don't recall mentioning anyone by name, Dave, but thanks for narrowing it down for all 14 of us! Sorry to disaapoint you, but my world does extend a bit beyond Tom Notch...it's pretty sad that the current school board and chief Borg's worlds do not. Much more on your post later; it's a very busy morning here is Pissantville!
Delete"Shut my filthy mouth, Dave?" Did I use profanity? All this name-calling?? I certainly hope you didn't have a voice in developing the distict's policy on bullying?? Pretty scary to see erratic diatribe like this coming from a sitting school board member. Pretty sure this will help open enrollment big time! I'm sure those prospective employers will love this as well!
DeleteSounds to me like you are unemployed, Mr Bond? Did you run for school board for the health insurance benefits?
DeleteWhy do you think not voting means anything you hillbilly? You have been beating the war drums for KA since last fall before and after you were elected. To ever go to work for any company that receives contracts while you are on the board is just wrong if you voted or not. Of course, if your standard is equal to that of some, cheep, sleazy, washed-up burned out politician jumping on a gravy train after getting voted out of office have at it......................
DeleteSay Mr.Bond I would be willing to give you some air time on the Local PA show speakout to explain why the highest of 3 bids was acceptted. We could also take a look at the Ehlers bond question and why they were two million dollars higher for their service than comparable companies servicing similar bonds. I didn't read of any bids taken on this. I'm sure you have all the information to answer these two questions. If not I'm sure Mr. Botts or Mr. Borg could fill you in. We could have Mr. Notch and Mr. Mailey present to ask other relevant questions related to the districts other activities that bring up large question marks in the minds of concerned citizens like myself. I guarantee it will be civil. Give me a call 952-472-2342 and we'll talk. Brad Curtis
DeletePublic exposure is not the school board way Mr Curtis. It's hide behind the apronstrings of the teachers' union and hunker down in their bunker on Sunnyfield where they can control, distort and lose information. I would guess borg has already slapped a muzzle on bond for his actions here that seem to have provoked a veritable buzzsaw response. This is not what they want. They want as little attention drawn to what they are doing as possible.
DeleteToo bad Joe Soucheray (St Paul Pioneer Press) doesn't take a magnifying glass to Borg's 'recommendations' to his board. Soucheray's coverage of Burnsville's "double speak" has some parallels to the Westonka super.
ReplyDeleteP.S. BTW, I am proud of Westonka students & teachers, but, not our super.
So DAVID BOND it looks like your true colors have come out. What a disgrace to the students and taxpayers of 277. You have been as they say been a SCHILL for KA big time and it doesn't take a genius to see what you have pulled off here. Mark my word - this is going to come back at you 20 fold. We will not stop until you step your sorry behind down and get the hell out of Dodge. There is no room for crooks and decievers on the school board.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bond the school board meetings are televised and available online. My husband and I were shocked to see the flimsy excuse given for hiring Kraus-Anderson, and thought it was chicken crap that you abstained from voting. Now that I read on this blog that you are unemployed, it all makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThe real losers in this community are families that don't work for the school district - they are squeezed for more money by these crooks that pretend they care for kids while they shove our money in their back pockets. Less money to spend on our own kids. How sad!
ReplyDeleteSounds like Borg got more than he bargained for kissing up to Bonds. Complete incoherent WACKO.
ReplyDeleteDon, I would be careful of David Bond if I were you, for he his trained in the ancient martial art of Taescissordo. As quick as lightning and before you can react your tie will be history. HIIIIIIIIIIIICHHHHOOOOPP@@@##$#$%^^^WAAAAAAAAAHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Davidsan is know as "son of the dragon" among his fellow school boards members and holds the record for most boards broken with his bare head--yes, head! Chop! Chop! Chop!
ReplyDeleteAny YES folks reading this? Just wanted to thank you for all you have done TO our school district.
ReplyDeleteThe Brad Curtis invitation sounds like a fair way for Mr. Bond to rationally explain why the school board and Borg decided to go with the highest bidder. I would save Don and Tom for another show.
ReplyDeleteYou have been publically called out Mr. Bond. I would include Borg but he has proven that he's nothing but a puppet and a waste of time. Do you have the vegetables to take the offer by Brad Curtis and explain to the hard working taxpayers of District 277 why the highest bid was approved by the board and then answer some questions about the bond? What is it you're waiting for? Is Krauss Anderson going to help pull you out of this mess or is there just no explanation for what you and your fellow partners in crime have pulled here other than a little greed and under the table favors?
ReplyDeletepsssssst...David Bond...how's this "goofy" blogging thing working out for you? Hurry back and enlighten the 14 of us further!! :)
ReplyDeleteNostradamus predicts this weeks Laker will be filled with rants and raves from borg apologists, union thugs and sycophants who believe all is ducky in kevin's kingdom and crhouse handerthemsomemoremoney is the greatest thing since partying with your teachers and board members in the dominican republic.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea to me. David Bonds ran around all last fall promoting the his big Bond. He went door to door in the community working tiressly to promote this big cause for Westonka. I couldn't drive through town without seeing his truck with the flag. Now I think he should be man enough to go before the public and explain why they went with the most expensive proposal. I voted to fix the schools not pad Kraus-Anderson's pockets.
ReplyDeleteIf all this is "for the kids," why is well over a $1,000,000 of this money going to be spent on the admin building aka Pam's Palace? Let's see, because borg & co. spend their time there and feel entitled, right? For those keeping score at home, the admin building is by far the newest building on the entire campus and less than 10 years of age. Good thing the kids and teachers at Grandview have agreed to swelter without AC so these pigs can root in solid comfort.
ReplyDeletehttp://dreambigwestonka.blogspot.com/2012/02/borg-botts-finest-hour.html
ReplyDeleteI'm going to write to the Laker and see if they will publish this link to all the taxpayers in the district so they are aware that there is a blog with lots of information. I am going to urge all the hardworking/ HONEST taxpayers to pass the word about these crooks and demand answers. Could use any help there is out there. If the Laker won't publish then my next step is to go door to door and hand out this link so everyone can get an idea of what's going on.
Looks like Bond is stupid enough to defend Borg's actions in the Laker. Borg got himself a real jewel there!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/recall-of-local-officials.aspx
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Don! Keep exposing the truth. Sounds like we have some piss-ants running our schools.
ReplyDeleteThanks! However, members of ant colonies tend to look out for their community at large instead of their own "special" interests! :)
DeleteHave you guys seen the "Bork Report" on the district website? How does the district justify paying Bork's personal PR person $90,000 per year for part time work? Check out the endorsement of KrausA in the "Bork Report." That buildup had to come straight from some of KA's own marketing material. Funny how it was never mentioned KA was the HIGH bidder by far, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty obvious that Bond is in bed with KA and it doesn't look like anyone or anything can be done about it. Little man Borg and David "the sleeze" Bond will not provide any type of documentation, explanation, comparative bid sheets, etc. Know why - they don't exist. The little shits are hoping that as time goes by everyone will stop wondering what has happened and eventually things will settle down - right DAVID BOTTS? Someone sent a link out to Don's blog. All we can hope is that more and more taxpaying citizens go to the blog. There is a statute in Minnesota that can be used to get rid (recall) the trash we have running the District but it's complicated, takes a court hearing and then 25% of the voters have to sign a petition.
ReplyDeleteThese are confusing times. Don't the good people of Burnsville understand that superintedents are never wrong?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.startribune.com/local/south/141499673.html
In Anoka, the bullied receive massive payouts while at Westonka the bullies are elected to the school board.
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/141427303.html
SOMETHING IS ABSOLUTELY REMISS WITH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. FIRST, DESPITE THE HEAT AND EXPOSURE, THEY HUNKER DOWN AND STEADFASTEDLY USHER IN EHLERS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO HINT OF COMPETITION. NEXT, AMID THE SAME PRESSURES, THEY GIVE KA A $500,000 BONUS JUST FOR SHOWING UP. DAVID BOND AND DAVID BOTTS--THE TWO WITH THE MOST TO GAIN--HAVE BEEN HINTING SINCE LAST FALL KA WOULD RECEIVE THE SAME PREFERENTIAL ESCORT EHLERS RECEIVED WITH NO COMPETITION TO THE SIGNING OF A CONTRACT. NOT ONLY DID THEY RUN INTERFERENCE FOR KA ALL THE WAY TO THE GOAL LINE, NOW THEY ARE MAD ABOUT BEING EXPOSED FOR "SELECTING" THE HIGHEST BIDDER. THERE HAS TO BE A VERY BIG REASON FOR THESE GUYS TO IGNORE THE PUBLIC OUTRAGE AND JUST KEEP MARCHING DOWN THIS ROAD. THE REWARD MUST BE QUITE LARGE FOR THEM TO TOSS AWAY THEIR REPUTATIONS LIKE THIS.
ReplyDeleteThey never had a good reputation. It wasn't until Tom Notch and Don Mailey started calling them out and making the taxpayers aware that something was starting to smell bad. These two are the sleeziest type of operators. They think they have all the bases covered but sooner or later something is going to upset their cart and the shit will hit the fan. They will not offer any evidence of proper procedure because they didn't follow one. Does the word KICKBACK sound familiar?
DeleteI think the time has come for Kevin to man up and admit being a supt of schools isn't his thing and go back to teaching study hall or whatever is was he was doing when he was simply handed this job.
ReplyDeleteWhat would it take to hire a superintendent for the district who actually cares enough about what he his doing to answer email from the taxpayers who pay his exorbitant salary? This guy has a full-time secretary, a full-time assistant superintendent and a part-time PR person, yet he can't answer a simple email from a billpayer?
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