First Elected Action

I received my first email as “commissioner-elect” about two weeks after the election. “There is a dead Canadian goose near the shoreline freezing into the ice and I am concerned that it will stay there all winter. Can you help?” 

With my campaign signs “Your Parks. I’m Listening.” still fresh in my memory and uncertain of how to handle customer service issues with MPRB closed for the weekend…I took the challenge.  Rummaging in my garage I found my SUP paddle, two pairs of gloves and a large trash bag. I headed to the lake, climbed down the incline, donned my gloves, and started chopping the thin layer of ice around the goose with my paddle.

 ”What are you doing down there?” asked an elderly woman and her friend as they walked by. My response was (in a tone like this was a usual activity for a chilly Saturday morning in November),

“Getting the dead goose out.” Simple. Normal. Maybe not…. 

“Do you need any help?”  they asked (I LOVE my fellow Minnesotans!!).  

“Yes I do, “ I replied, “Could you hold the bag?” 

My new friends climbed down the small embankment, co-held open the bag while I grabbed the 20-pound fowl, double-gloved, out of the ice cold water and placed it gently in the bag. Together we tied it up, carried it up the incline together and disposed of the dear creature in the most respectful manner we could.  I told the women thank you for their assistance and as they began to continue down the path on their walk, they turned.  

“Who are you?” they asked.

“I’m your new park commissioner,“  I replied.

I think it is simple. I think it can be normal. It’s about doing what is best for our parks.