Outgoing Councilwoman Young on stepping up, taking flack and forecasting the future
December 3, 2014 By Michelle Miron
FOREST LAKE — Judging by comments on Facebook and at recent city meetings, some residents hold grudges against longtime City Councilwoman Susan Young due to her vote in favor of City Center and the new YMCA.
In fact, many don't hesitate to complain to her face when she's shopping for groceries or otherwise out in the community.
Others support her decisions and appreciate the countless hours of community service she's logged in her past 12 years on the council.
Factors in her loss may have included the aforementioned pro-tax votes, her comparative lack of campaigning and/or the mathematical odds against her, but in any case the polite but outspoken Young was edged 3,292-2,656 by newcomer Ed Eigner in elections Nov. 4.
In spite of all that she has no regrets, is still optimistic about the future of Forest Lake and would vote the same way given a second chance. Why? She absolutely believes the city must make such improvements in order to show its willingness to invest in itself, to attract new, younger families and new development and to keep from demographically aging out as a community.
“In a representative democracy, those elected have to make choices people might not want to make for themselves,” she said. “(Otherwise) people feel safe with the immediate 'My taxes this year are good' as opposed to the long-term good of the community. I think every elected person is judged by what happens five,10, 15 years down the line, and I have no doubt I am going to be very happy with what I see.”
Young has also maintained a sense of humor. She recounted, for example, controversy over the city's first low-income housing unit, the Duffy project, remembering that “Church folks told me in a public meeting I would go to Hell (for my vote)” (she said the elders later apologized).
“I've been on the council 12 years and had a chance to irritate everybody in Forest Lake at least seven or eight times,” she added.
Still, she said, she found it “macabre” when fellow councilmen Mike Freer and Ben Winnick, opponents of building the complex without a public vote, sought to delay public viewings of the new City Center project until next year when Young and Mayor Chris Johnson are out of office. That decision was reversed last month when an open house was scheduled for Dec. 8, but Young said it was odd Winnick wished to present the building since he was once affiliated with the plaintiffs who unsuccessfully sued the city over a City Center referendum. Winnick explained Nov. 24 he sees no reason to celebrate.
Another subject of anti-Young criticism has been that the school district may be unable to pass its second attempt at a facilities bond next spring because taxpayers may feel overburdened due to the YMCA and City Center.
“I don't think that's true,” Young responded. “People are thoughtful in Forest Lake, and if there's a project they believe is needed, they will support it. On the last bond issue, folks knew what the recommendation of the task force was and what the final bond was, and there was a feeling of piling on.”
Some have also blamed Young and her fellow City Center and YMCA supporters for some council members' last-minute attempt Nov. 21 to reduce the 2015 budget by nearly $1 million. At press time $274,784 of those cuts were still on the table for consideration, but Young was among those successfully lobbying to keep two police officers, the K-9 unit, the city administrator and committee wages.
The idea of cutting the parks director job to half time, which remains unresolved, hit a nerve with Young.
“Can you imagine … moving your whole family to Forest Lake to take a job, and a year later it's like 'See ya, wouldn't want to be ya?'” she asked.
Cutting the fire inspector would also be a bad move, she said, since the inspector has been crucial to identifying unsafe conditions at area businesses and the city is due soon to be audited by the insurance industry.
That said, Young noted she's used to disagreeing over how the city spends its money. She pointed to Forest Lake's expensive previous attempts to annex Columbus and deter low-income housing.
One project she regrets supporting is the backage road off Broadway, which she believes
backfired on the city when land owners involved overcharged the city for easements.
Asked what she's most proud of helping accomplish during her tenure, she pointed to Lakeside Park, Broadway Avenue, the Broadway roundabout, City Center, the FLAAA fields, the Duffy project, the Forest Lake Airport, the Washington County Government Center, the Hardwood Creek Library and the two senior housing project in the Headwaters complex.
“The council gig has been a great ride, and even though I needed to make time choices that kept me from some fun stuff, I wouldn't have traded it for any of those times back,” she emphasized.
The 60-year-old mom who works by day as an environmental consultant has been a city councilwoman 12 years, but has also volunteered on the township and city planning commissions; city fire board, personnel committee and Human Rights Commission; and community endeavors including the Yellow Ribbon Committee; Airport Board; FLAAA Board; Most FL; Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau; I-35 Task Force; and Rush Line Corridor Task Force. That's not counting leading youth soccer and Scout groups.
Some might take it as a slap in the face to under such criticism after that kind of service record, but she's not the type to be insulted as such.
“I offer to serve,” she said. “This isn't something going to beg for … and there are a lot of other ways I can be of service to Forest Lake than being on the council.
She is concerned, however, that locals who supported her campaign may be taking flack. And she pointed to the criticism fellow project supporters Molly Bonnett and Mayor Chris Johnson (and in some cases their families) have undergone as well.
“It really isn't about the person who is on office,” she commented. “There are folks now who believe they have the right to take potshots at anybody else, and can say anything because it's their First Amendment right. I really do think we have some challenges with civility when exchanging ideas or having polite discourse.
“I can't be responsible for, or quite frankly take seriously, somebody elses behavior from childhood. They worry more about being right, about 'It's my way or the highway.' I've watched for 35 years now … people being more and more mean-spirited, and I can't take that personally any more than a dog reacts in fear and bites me.”
That said, she sometimes worries worthy people will stop running for public office or taking volunteer roles because of the threat of criticism.
“We should have had five people running for council, at least, in Forest Lake,” she said. “But people don't run because they don't want to expose their families to that.”
Next, she's getting ready to propose a “Community Involvement 101” community ed class that will offer tips on navigating volunteerism.
“We're not doing enough in Forest Lake to bring those folks out,” she said. “All of us together can start making conversation more civil (by discussing) 'Here's how you ignore mean-spirited people who don't have a great vocabulary.'”
Asked about her five-year plan, she planned to spend Thanksgiving on Sanibel Island, Florida then evaluate options for her free time, since she definitely considers herself a Type A personality. She may foster a couple horses on her property, get more fit and volunteer more with the Youth Service Bureau.
Her advice for the new councilmen?
“It's more than showing up for a couple of meetings a month. I hope they do their homework and read every page of materials presented. I hope the council continues to be very involved in the liaison jobs they're assigned to.
"My hope is that folks will say 'Yes, this is an amazing community and it's up to us to serve in ways that are even more active, and try to help build a stronger and more inclusive community.' As much as there are people who say mean things to you, or mean things in email, even more say kind things and helpful things. The biggest compliment I ever got as a council member was 'You know, Susan, we don't always agree, but I know you always thought things through and did what you thought was best for residents
