This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Minnesota Government Shutdown: Day One in Rosemount

Rosemount reacts to the state government's failed agreements in its first day

It was too great a rift: Weeks of passionate negotiation attempts
between DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders have yielded no useful results, and Minnesota’s state government has officially begun an historic shutdown.

In Rosemount, strong viewpoints are varied – but residents share feelings of anger, disappointment and shock.

“I think it’s embarrassing,” said Kiale Kahnert, a waitress
at Suzie’s Kitchen. “I can’t believe they can’t come to a solution. I mean, voting for the governor was embarrassing, and now this. It’s one thing after another.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I ordered my [vehicle] tabs online 16 days ago, and I haven’t gotten
them yet – they’re so backed up. Are you kidding? I mean, what do our tax dollars go for – for them to sit there and argue?  I don’t get it.”

Kahnert is in her third year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “I have all these textbooks, and in almost every one of them, Minnesota is mentioned positively. People look to Minnesota as a successful state, one that leads by example in so many things … What happened in the two years since these books were published? Honestly … I didn’t think they would let it happen.”

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I’m just totally PO’ed,” said Neil Burnette, a customer at Suzie’s Kitchen with strong political views. “I’m 77 years old. I’m not a
Democrat or a Republican. I vote independent. And I’ll tell you – in all my years, I’ve seen the country go to hell whenever the Republicans are in office.

"They’re holding things up – I mean, everything, in my opinion. I live in a senior high-rise down the road here. Most of the people there don’t vote Republican. Every time Republicans are in office, the little man gets hurt."

He said he’s affected personally by the shutdown, mainly with “rent rebate checks. This hurts me and a lot of folks where I live. I live in HUD housing and I’m on Social Security. I have no medical insurance.

"Luckily, I am [getting help from the] VA because I’m a Korean War vet. But rent rebate checks, we get them every August, and if [the state government is] shut down, we’re not getting checks. That hurts us big time … these folks rely on it for food, clothes, medicine.”

“Some of it is frustrating, with the amount of time they’ve had
– and it affects so many people,” said a city employee who did not want to be identified.

With state parks closed for the Fourth of July weekend, especially those with camping facilities, “that’s hundreds or thousands of dollars in camp rental income and lost revenue in just a few days.”

Despite the state shutdown, Dakota County continues to keep
its parks, libraries and license centers open, which is good news for those who frequent the Robert Trail Library: “At this time, Dakota County Library does not expect any immediate changes to our service levels, hours or staffing during the state government shutdown,” according to the library system's website.

Mary Brandenburg, Robert Trail License Center manager, said the Rosemount location and other deputy registrar offices will continue to be open, and that there is “quite a lot you can [still] do with the right paperwork [in hand],” including renewing tabs in person, as most systems are still up and running for that purpose.  

However, those who have tried to renew tabs online (including
Kahnert) likely found that the state-run system had been shut down – in advance of today's shutdown. Then, “you’re stuck in a queue,” Brandenburg said. “It’s a logistics thing – they just want to make sure people can get what they need.”

Also, there is “no DNR stuff – no fishing licenses or renewal of boat tabs” available during the shutdown.

It's also business as usual at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount:  “We are at work and our students are going to school,” said Chris Hayes, communications coordinator, who reported the good news that layoff notices were rescinded and salaries and benefits continue. “The system's continued operation through the summer term will be funded through tuition receipts and fund balances at each of the colleges and universities.”

"We are deeply appreciative of the governor's action to support uninterrupted instruction and services at the state colleges and
universities,” Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Chancellor James H. McCormick said last month. “This is a critical time for the 67,000 students taking summer session courses at our schools and for the tens of thousands of students preparing to enroll in the fall term."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?