Buffalo Mayoral Forum Fact Check

This is a fact-check of claims made during the 2022 Public Forum for Mayor of Buffalo. Link to the KRWC podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFNxGWulSzQ&t=222s

Disclaimer: This was paid and prepared for by the Campaign to Elect Jeremiah Patrick for Mayor (jpforbuffalo.com)

Fact Summary with sources
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(01:05) Buffalo takes up highest percentage of your taxes (40%) followed by BHM school district (31%) and Wright County (29%)
Source
- 2022 Budget (pdf pg 43, doc pg 38)
https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/790/2022-Budget-PDF
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(01:24) Wild Marsh was not sold because COVID made it profitable- the city decided to sell after the utility funds could no longer support taking on debt to support the golf course.

The city had the decision to bring in an external firm to run the golf course, sell the golf course with the restriction that it must stay a golf course, or piece it out and sell the property without restriction. The city chose to sell it and keep it as a golf course.

Source
- 2021 Budget Workshop City Council (May 17,2021) - where the funding problem is brought up.
https://rumble.com/vh7cbp-buffalo-city-council-budget-goal-setting-workshop.html (at 27:15 mins)
- City Council Workshop- This meeting laid out the options of what could be done with the golf course, going into detail about the three options listed above (Oct 4, 2021)
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=NsbjrbZHwQQG
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(02:06) Wild Marsh was not in the black for two years. The fund had a net positive of about $67k in 2020, but it still operated at a loss of $92k for the same year
Source:
City Council Meeting June 21, 2021- Part of the yearly audit presentation.
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=0W7IP5Q5JCLY# (1:14:38-1:14:58)
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(02:39) Teri’s said that her job is to listen to you

Teri called citizens’ input biased for wanting a community center and noting no absolutely no high density housing for the old government center. Teri was part of the Wright County EDA, the group which released the RFP for the government center. Said RFP weighted evaluated proposals heavily in favor of high-density housing. The included concepts did not include a community center.

- City Council Government Center Workshop – Sept 7 2021
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=vKGHzZIABeiw (11:26-21:00, video segment 14:18 – 14:43 )
- Requests for Proposals (pdf page 14, document Pages B2 and B3)
https://www.co.wright.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/26235/RFP---Redevelopment-of-the-old-Wright-County-Government-Center-Site-PDF

Another thing to note is in April of 2021 the city released its 2040 downtown plan. In the plan, the city lists out two places for a potential community center. The plan noted that the government center site had 'potential to support a larger activity program and possibly include some spaces that have the views of the lake. The plan notes that the other location on 1st St S 'is limited in depth and dimension'.
- Downtown 2040 Plan- April 2021 (page 42)
https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/227/Full-Downtown-2040-Plan-PDF

Additional Notes:
ALO Apartments
Many citizens went to public forums for planning commission and city council to protest the 60 unit apartments building. Many people believed that the building was too big for the area, would cause traffic and parking issues, and that downtown was not a blighted area thus did not deserve receiving a TIF.
Sources:
Planning Commission Meeting April 2019- PH-Roer Investments LLC (public input- 1:25:00-1:56:52)
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=YvLPICf6Pnxo#

Buffalo City Council Meeting Sept 16, 2019- Public Hearing First Ave. Lofts Tax Increment Financing (public input 1:01:30-1:47)
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=BWU9GEF01fnJ

Teri accepted money as 2020 campaign donations from the Roer’s developer. Roers built ALO and Havenwood; they received TIF a ALO. Teri also accepted a donation from the realtor of Commercial Realty Solutions (CRS) which has (as of 10/31) 15 properties in Buffalo listed for sale.

Sources:
https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/236/Teri-Lachermeier-Campaign-Financial-Report-2020-PDF
https://crs-mn.com/team/wayne-elam/
https://crs-mn.com/properties/

ALO reciving the TIF
City Council Meeting Sept 16, 2019 (2:09:50)
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=BWU9GEF01fnJ#
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(03:09) Debt takes up 35% of the total levies
Source:
City Council Meeting Minutes for September 19, 2022- 2023
Proposed Tax Levy for 2023 (Page 36)
https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09192022-150
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(03:34) 36% of the General Fund is safety
Source:
2022 Budget (page 46)
https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/790/2022-Budget-PDF?bidId=
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(03:40) Adopt a park program
Screencap of an email from Lee Ryan, Director of Parks and Recreation in Buffalo
The adopt a park program is on hiatus to revise and restart the program. The program should be released again in the Spring or Summer. Many parks will be available for adoption. Any one interested in being apart of the program should email Lee Ryan.
Source:
Direct email to Lee Ryan (Parks and Recreation Director) received Oct 17, 2022
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(03:55) Liquor Store supports the Parks
Screencap of an email from Kelly Horn, Finance Director of Buffalo
The liquor store fund supports parks by Transfers- Out and not all liquor store profits go toward parks.

Source:
Direct email to Kelly Horn (Finance Director) received on Oct 25, 2022
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(04:07) COVID wasn't the reason why the roads aren't fixed
The city a Pavement Management Survey in 2017. This outlined which roads needed to be repaired or replaced. To keep on track, the city would have to spend between $1.5-2 M a year. The city of Buffalo did not fund the maintenance of roads to this amount. A 2021 city workshop explained that loans were taken out varying by years to fund the project more; but not to the plan’s standards.
Due to the pavement plan not being followed; the city council ordered a new pavement survey this year. According to the 2022 budget the pavement budget is projected to be funded at $500K/year through 2026.

Sources:
- https://rumble.com/vh7cbp-buffalo-city-council-budget-goal-setting-workshop.html(39 min) Buffalo MN City Coucil Budget Goal May 17, 2021
Different year’s budget numbers
+ 2022 Budget (also notes projections until 2026)
https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/790/2022-Budget-PDF?bidId (pdf page 187, doc page 182) under 'Pavement Management (Mill and Overlay)'
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Not listed in video: How much did fighting Johnsonville cost the city?

The total cost of bring Johnsonville to court is difficult to determine, and has not yet been determined. Bringing Jay Johnson to court meant the following costs:
- At least 9 city council meetings; where city employees had to attend and prepare for. (April 5, 2021, April 19, 2021, May 3, 2021, May 17, 2021, June 7, 2021, Sept 20, 2021, Jan 3, 2022, Jan 18, 2022 May 16, 2022);
- Countless hours of City Staff researching and taking complaints from citizens (both for and against)
- Reoccurring Police enforcement
- According to the Financial Director for Buffalo, Sue Dege (Attorney for Buffalo) cost $10,472. The low cost of attorney charges can be attributed to the following:
+ Online attendance. Most of the 9 city council meetings; she attended was via ZOOM and was only charging for parts of the meetings
+ It was a low research case
+Buffalo's Attorney charged under $200 dollars an hour
This figure does not include time reviewing changes to ordinance changes for Sept 20, 2022 meeting. Jay Johnson is in violation of those changed ordinances. The attorney's charge was not directed toward Johnsonville (see 58 min on Sept 20, 2021 City Council Meeting, link below)

Sources:
- Attorney cost, Direct email (Oct 20, 2022) with Kelly Horn (Financial Director)
- Attorney cost breakdown
In person conversion with Kelly Horn (Financial Director). She is willing to break down the cost with anyone
-9 Council meetings about Johnsonville
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=qCyGitMXI2x7# April 5, 2021(23:41 min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=ONnKJtEJQ2qJ April 19, 2021 (11:13 min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=VWeO1rwokV0g May 3, 2021 (3:00 min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=ONnKJtEJQ2qJ May 17, 2021 (11:13min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=E9d1gA85mye8 June 7, 2021 (29:39min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=2jF68Z5009mn# Sept 20, 2021 (9:45min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=7l5hneilLypB# Jan 3, 2022 (11:51min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=5TkGXk1t3DdX Jan 18, 2022 (28:10 min)
+ https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=edVDMoB2EanA# May 16, 2022 (36:51min)
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Jay Johnson’s attorney argued and won on the argument that flying the giant Trump flag is a 1st amendment right. Due ordinance change on Sept 20, 2021 (See New Buisness-Planning Comission Matters) Jay Johnson is currently being fined $200/day.

Sources:
- 1st Amendment argument won the case
https://krwc1360.com/mn-court-of-appeals-rules-trump-flag-in-buffalo-to-be-protected-free-speech/
- Jan 3, 2022 City Council Meeting: (From video 20 min- Jay’s Johnson attorney)
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=edVDMoB2EanA#
- Fines for the flag pole that are still ongoing: May 16, 2022 (42:29min)
https://buffalo.viebit.com/player.php?hash=edVDMoB2EanA#