Say Anything Blog

Never mind the laws that were broken.  We can count on the largest by far news organization in the state (with the obvious exception of Say Anything) will be doing their best to sweep it all under the rug.  The CEO of Forum Communications has deemed the matter silly. 

I call it criminal.

The latest such project at NDSU — the president’s house — has become a silly debate among the Development Foundation, the chancellor’s office, the Board of Higher Education, the Chapmans, radio talk show hosts and anybody with an opinion.

Yes, mistakes were made: the Development Foundation’s lack of oversight on the project; the Chapmans’ push for an early completion; the NDSU facilities management involvement in the landscaping agreement that was not spelled out; the chancellor’s office; the Board of Higher Education that had no formal progress reports.

There is plenty of blame to go around and a lot of silly finger pointing.

But, let’s face it: From a taxpayer’s point of view, the two presidents’ houses are a real deal. We, the taxpayers of North Dakota, received millions of dollars in assets for little to nothing, which reduces the state’s future costs for providing housing for the presidents…

More students and high-level dignitaries will visit these two homes than any other facility in the state. A perfect example recently presented itself when Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer visited Fargo. Is there a better place to entertain Ballmer?

We need to get this affair behind us. Too much damage has already been done. NDSU lost arguably its most successful president, and divisions have developed between the Development Foundation, the Board of Higher Education, leaders in the Legislature and NDSU.

Bill, can I call you bill?  Bill the state legislature set a legal limit for the building.  That limit was absolutely ignored.  They spent state money on the project. 

If Sandy Blunt, the former CEO of ND WSI can be prosecuted for misspending state money then this is a slam dunk prosecution.  Of course some people are apparently above the law, that is if they’re buddies with the right people.

Marcil also went on to say that it was entirely appropriate for the state to get stuck with the landscaping and site preparation.  That point of view is outrageous.  Of course it’s part of the building cost.  Then he sad that maybe the legislature will require the devopment foundation to mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalk.

For most of us mowing the lawn and shoveling the snow is our own responsibility.  Why doesn’t the guy that lives there take care of the bill to do so?

Finally I have to chortle at his claim that we’re going to be judged by the CEO of Microsoft (and other VIPs) by how fancy the university’s President’s home is.  North Dakotan’s think that conspicuous wealth, especially for a public servant is just wrong.  I think we should be impressing VIPs with how down to Earth and responsible we are rather than showing off the Presidential Palace.

I’ll bet you Ballmer left thinking that North Dakotans are easy marks and he should demand a couple million dollars more in development money.