To the editor:

I cannot let Mark Oberg's letter of March 31 pass without comment. I was at the March 20th meeting of the Chisago Taxpayers For Responsible Land Use meeting, morning session.ÝI saw one Chisago County Deputy in the building, and none outside. Where were Mr. Obergís other 2 "armed guards?" He was taking videos from the roadside, where he was parked next to his sign that said "Secret Meeting" and "No Public Allowed," so maybe these ìarmed guardsî are on his tape.ÝDoes anyone care to challenge him to a public showing of those tapes?

When I came out of the meeting an hour and a half later, both he and the sign were gone.ÝHowever, I have heard it said that he was told to leave by the deputy, first from the building, then from his spot on the shoulder of highway 95, where he may have been presenting a hazard to passing traffic.

For people who may be new to the county, Mr. Oberg considers himself to be a thorn in the side of the "establishment," and who picks a fight where compromise and fair public discussion is called for. I have never known him to offer a constructive opinion on any issue of concern to this county. All he knows is who and what he is against.

I also take exception to the headline of the Post Review above his letter "Why The Armed Guards At Meeting?" Did anyone take the time to call anyone who might have had the answer, or did it just sound good? It is inflammatory and uncalled for.

As a group, we are only trying to have a voice in discussions which have a direct impact on all of the residents of this county, not make public policy in closed meetings.

We do not have the power to make public policy, except as voters and participants in the approved processes of a democratically-elected government.

Neither does Mr. Oberg have the power to tell us what involvement we can and cannot have.

If certain people seek to disrupt an honest meeting, as he has been known to do, it would be better for all if the law were to mediate the situation by being present than for chaos to ensue.

Gary Vennes
North Branch

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