On behalf of the City of Albert Lea, Flaherty & Hood recently reached out to area residents and businesses to ensure high attendance and vocal opposition to Alliant Energy's proposed 22 percent electric rate increase at a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) public hearing (to read more about the rate hike issue, click here).
For decades, the MPCA has had a water quality standard of less than 10 parts per million for sulfate released into waters where wild rice grows. The standard has rarely been enforced and few studies have been conducted to determine whether or not this standard is appropriate.
On November 15, the Winona City Council appointed attorney/shareholder Chris Hood to serve as its new city attorney following the retirement of current city attorney Richard Blahnik. Flaherty & Hood was chosen among three finalists interviewed by the City Council in October.
To cut personnel costs and avoid layoffs, many employers are considering or have implemented "furloughs" (i.e., reducing normal hours worked without paying employees for such reduction).
Phosphorus standards recently adopted in Wisconsin may result in significantly more restrictive and expensive compliance requirements for Minnesota municipalities and agricultural interests.
The Minnesota Environmental Science and Economic Review Board (MESERB) held its 2010 fall meeting in Melrose. Flaherty & Hood attorneys Steve Nyhus and J.D. Burton provided staffing assistance and a legal activities report to the group.
The federal Clean Water Act requires states to identify lakes and streams that do not meet state water quality standards ("impaired waters") and develop Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans to clean them up.
U.S. Sen. Al Franken joined members of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) on Veterans Day as keynote speaker for the organization’s annual fall conference, which was held November 10 – 12 in Alexandria.
Conventional wisdom at the Capitol held that if both houses remained in Democratic hands and Mark Dayton took the governor’s office, a large bonding bill would jumpstart the 2011 legislative session and revisit projects vetoed by Governor Pawlenty in 2010.
The change in party control of the legislature will also bring a change in its committee structure. On November 16, the House and Senate Republican majority leadership unveiled their plan to "streamline" the House and Senate committees, including reducing the number of Senate committees from 25 to 16, and the number of House committees from 36 to 24.
During the 2011 legislative session, the City of Red Wing and Flaherty & Hood will continue an initiative launched in 2010 that aims to find a legislative solution to the city’s long-term nuclear waste storage.
The team at Flaherty & Hood has long recognized that a successful advocacy program requires more than just boots on the ground at the Capitol. It also requires a strong public relations and media program to help inform the public and shape the discussion.
Flaherty & Hood is excited to launch its redesigned website at www.flaherty-hood.com. The new site, designed by communications specialist Erin Flaherty, features a more dynamic display of Flaherty & Hood news and connects the dots between our attorneys and staff and their practice areas and recent accomplishments.
Flaherty & Hood senior attorney Brandon Fitzsimmons conducted a workshop on October 20 for the City of Austin’s supervisors and managers entitled "Handling Personnel Performance and Conduct and Performance Evaluations."
This summer, the Minnesota Association of Rehabilitation Providers (MARP) successfully fended off potentially devastating rule changes through quick action, strong analytical and communication efforts, and teamwork.
Improving the state-local relationship sparked constructive debate amongst the candidates for governor and state auditor who joined the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) in Winona August 19.