Opinion

A sad reality is that the CLP Board has vigorously avoided informing our member- owners that our 5 Director voting districts are extremely unequal. Their actions speak much louder than their words, or excuses as in the April 7 article. The Board’s rejected every motion made to equalize our districts. At the same time they refuse to take action until more members say it’s a problem the Board and CEO repeatedly turned down all my requests to tell members of the inequity and ask for their input. It’s hard to believe member input is really valued if the Board won’t even tell them there’s a problem. A board should always seek and welcome member input, especially if they are unsure about a discretionary decision. But ensuring equal member representation, a fundamental principles of all co-op business models, is not discretionary. Every member should expect their elected representative to uphold this foundational democratic co-op principle without question.

Is there anything more American than one person, one vote to elect our officials at all levels who make the decisions that govern? Down to the local level, where amongst other things Cooperative Light & Power's Board of Directors approves changes to the prices that members pay for our electricity.

The April 7th Lake County Press report, “Co-op Light and Power seeks member input on representation”, had inaccuracies regarding the recent history of unequal district representation. The CLP CEO and Board President implied that the Board has considered equalization of Districts but had “run out of time” to “evaluate redistricting” or “get this issue on the agenda for a full discussion in April”.

Our local electric co-op and members, that means us, are facing great changes in how we get power. Switching to solar and wind is already happening all over the world. I have been attending meetings to get more information on what I can do individually to make the changes necessary. The solar garden project was a great answer for those of us without enough roof space or land and I was hoping to hear more about the future plans. What I eventually learned after several years was that this project stopped and the land was sold. This never appeared in the newsletter.

In 2022, the nearly 26 percent of students living in Lake County met income eligibility to receive free or reducedcost lunches. That’s over 350 kids living in households experiencing financial circumstances which put them at risk of inadequate nutrition. It’s hard for children to learn when they are hungry. And it’s also hard for kids to deal with the stigma of having a different color lunch ticket or wondering whether there will be any money in your lunch account when get in line at the cafeteria. Even for those not eligible for the benefit, many families struggle to keep balances in their children’s food accounts. For schools, among the last things they want to do is keep track of these accounts, call parents to ask for payments, and have to deny a child a regular breakfast or lunch if they don’t have the funds to pay. Thanks to the DFL-led legislature, and Governor Tim Walz, these worries will now be a thing of the past. Every child will now have unfettered access to adequate nutrition at school—no questions asked. No student will have to worry about whether they will be fed. No parent will have to worry whether they are able to afford putting money in their child’s lunch account. And no cafeteria server or teacher or principal will have to agonize over whether or not to feed a child in a Minnesota school.

Election Tuesday, April 11th On April 6 the two candidates, Lew Conner and Robin Glaser, running for mayor of Two Harbors answered questions in a forum at city hall. The forum was sponsored by KTWH Community Radio, the Lake County Press, and Two Harbors Community TV.

The Friends of the Library book sales have been held since the 1990’s. This long tradition was not accurately reflected in the article “Got Books? Friends of the Library need your help” printed in last week’s issue, March 24, 2023. “Keep Tuggin’”in last week’s article about a report given by Paul Lamarre to the Two Harbors city council it was incorrectly stated that LaMarre recommended ownership of the Edna G tugboat be transferred to the Friends of the Edna G. Edna G ownership is proposed to be retained by the city, with a more formal management arrangement by the Friends of the Edna G.