Watch Council Meetings Live!

Last week, I completed a test of streaming the council meeting live via the Internet. I did this using my laptop, which I use during meetings to review information in the council packets. In the future, you'll be able to listen and watch the the council meetings live at my website, http://www.ByronMNBlog.com.

To watch, simply click on the "Live! Council Meetings" link on the right column starting at 6pm. My hope is that you'll find this method convenient and tune in as time allows on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Please note this is NOT an official stream by the City of Byron, and is only a reflection of my own quest for government transparency in Byron.

Street Project Bids Awarded

As the last meeting, Council members approved the winning bids for the 2009 street project. They were as follows:

• $7,511 to Rochester Service Company for crack sealing.

• $17,392 to Bob Braaten Construction for catch basin replacement.

• $600,916 to Rochester Sand and Gravel for overlay and seal coat.

As you may recall from my previous post, we had estimated these repairs to cost $755,000. Due to a drop in asphalt prices, the bids came in about $130,000 less than expected. Bill Angerman (engineer from WHKS Co.) and Greg Rud (Public Works Superintendent) have been challenged to see if we should take advantage of the low bids to repair additional roads (such as doing some repair work to the frontage road) or if we reduce the overall project cost. My feeling is that we'll ultimately see a combination of both.

Road construction in Byron will begin later this month.




Disclaimer: Articles posted on ByronMNBlog.com are the opinions of Councilman Alan De Keyrel only and do not reflect the opinion of the Byron City Council or the City of Byron. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be deemed accurate until verified.

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Government Transparency in Byron, MN

As of today, I've been a Councilman in Byron, MN for approximately 60 days. Up to this point, I've spent hundreds of hours learning, researching, and speaking with people who are involved with the decisions that run our great city.

Unfortunately, I have not received one call or email about any issue that I've been presented with thus far. I actually received more emails in the 60 days I ran for office than I've received since being in office. This seems wrong to me.

I'm sure that residents are talking about the decisions we're making each week. Each Tuesday, I run to my mailbox to grab the Byron Review and see how I was quoted at the previous meeting. It's a nerve racking experience for me as this is the only thing that residents "hear" each week.

I believe in government transparency and involvement by "the people". True, I may be the person who is representing you at city hall, but I should only be a reflection of those who put me into office. This means that I need to hear from you.

This blog will be a place where I can voice my opinion on matters and hopefully get feedback from you, "the people". I understand that you may not have time to attend each council meeting, but hopefully you have a couple hours each month to check this website and provide some feedback. If not, maybe forward this to someone who may find it interesting.

Each week, I'll be posting about an issue that you'll hopefully find important and relevant. The first post will come after tonight's council meeting (3/12/09).

Thanks!

Alan De Keyrel
Byron, MN Councilman