Ward I seat filled
November 12th, 2007 by 
Alica
The Brandon City Council appointed John Saarloos as Ward I councilman at tonight’s special City Council meeting. It took three votes to get the four votes needed to appoint the new member. Saarloos will take the oath and begin his council duteis at the Nov. 19 council meeting.
Others who applied for the seat were Brent Anderson, Blaine Jones, Karmen Sawh, Matt Sawh, Heath Tople and Darrell Schroeder.
Saarloos moved to Brandon in 2000 from Luverne, Minn.
What are your thoughts on this appointment?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
November 12th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
What does Mr Saarloos do for a living? There were several great candidates overlooked, this guy better be able to show he is competant for this position.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
He buys cattle for Tyson. See this week’s Brandon Valley Challenger for a full story on tonight’s special council meeting.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Sarcasm alert.
OH MY GOD, ANOTHER GOB! Even though I do not know who this guy is, I guarantee you he is a member of the GOB club.
GOB Club Qualifications:
1.Cannot be an alien
2.Must know where Brandon,SD is on the map.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
John, let me be one of the first to say congratulations. You have an uphill battle in front of you. I’m very proud of our city, and with persons such as yourself willing to step foward for the right reasons, we will continue our proud heritage. Thank you John, and CONGRATULATIONS.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I want to congratulate John on being chosen for this important position. As my newest representive, I pray that he will serve the rest of us in Ward I and for the greater good of Brandon. However, only time and actions will tell. Speaking of time and actions, I believe the most telling indicators of the character of the 6 others tonight (me included), is who has the commitment and courage to actually run for the position. Let me asure you John, that it is much easier to convince 5 biased people than it is to sway 2500. All 6 councilmembers and Mayor can count on one thing…..the people of Brandon will be watching you and what you do. I meant what I said tonight, and hope you took it to heart!
November 12th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
anti-bitch…you forgot the most important thing that makes a person a GOB. Your name ends in HAMMOND, RUBIN, KARBER, or BUCK.
Seriously, guy/kid/madame. Don’t be bratty.
I’m sure he goes to church with KARBER. Or golfs with BUCK or races cars at RUBIN’S track, or gets gas at the same gas station as HAMMOND. Whatever. There is no one, short of a complete opponent to the ambulance/Sneaker’s issues that they could have chosen that would not have looked fishy. Just a fact.
They brought all this suspicion on themselves.
I hope I can register my complaints with the new guy up at Sneakers like I do with the current council…but I just hate bugging them while they study for their medical exams.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:40 am
I would say they pick a very good replacement.
Good luck John.
Heath don’t sound so bitter.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:48 am
John, congratulations on your appointment. Please keep an open mind and please do what is best for Brandon as a whole. Look forward and help make Brandon the best place to live in South Dakota. I think you have some hard work in front of you. Thanks for stepping up.
November 13th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I was in attendance for the interviews and subsequent appointment. Having been in business for many years, I was stunned at the councils decision. I felt there were more highly qualified individuals who could have brought a sound business sense and balance to the council. My take is that the council chose an individual who would not challange the status quo. This will be an interesting period of time for this council.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I agree that the council has been picking people that would not challenge what the majority on the council want to do. It certainly will be an interesting election in May. We need people on the coucnil that do not have “hidden agendas”. I know that the newest member has one!! He has been trying to limited home daycares in this town for the past year.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Wow…John hasn’t even been on the council for 24 hours and you guys are attacking him. (9 and 10!)I feel for you John. You are a brave man to subject yourself to these negative people on these blogs who can’t seem to want to give you a fair shot! Best of luck to you…I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes if they paid me!
November 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Tracy….I certainly am not attacking him. I’m sure he is a very nice man and I am hoping that he will do a good job. My point was that he has some “unfinished” business with this council. I also hope for this cities sake, he will not go with the status quo and will stand on his own. Time will tell!!!
November 13th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Some people like to use the word agenda to describe new , innovative , fresh , different , energetic , enthusiasm or informed.
A lot of times when someone runs or in this case appointed to an office it is usually BECAUSE they have a desire to serve. The desire to serve can come from many motivators like disagreement with prior decisions , bad PR from current / prior decision makers and a drive for balanced voice amongst the voting council members.
Good Luck John !! Casting a vote is easy. The difficult part is the impact that vote has on all citizens throughout the community.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Anonymous…
Attacking…Questioning his intentions…same…same…
November 13th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Good Luck John. Todd forgot to mention that ‘Agenda’ means any idea that does not agree with the writer’s idea. In the next week we’ll know which waitress you left a large tip to, which of the GOB you’ve talked to, where you drink and what you have against kids:) We can all hope the third time was a charm for Brandon!
November 13th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I am thinking like “interested observer” I’m a bit befuddled too. I don’t know John and have nothing against him, but I also believe there were a few choices that would have been better. One guy (I can’t remember which)has lived here 30 years, one with police experience, one with a degree in paralegal, and my personal choice would have been Blaine Jones. He was a comfortable and eloquent speaker, has police experience, a level head and business experience, what more could we ask for? I don’t get it.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Hopefully all this negative energy toward the council carries into the ballot box in April. Who’s gonna take out petitions to challenge Mr. Rubin and Mr. Saarloos. I don’t know that John deserves to be kicked off the council since he hasn’t even been to one meeting since his appointment, but since there are SO many people who know how to run Brandon on this blog…
November 14th, 2007 at 8:36 am
My thoughts are what qualifications does it take to be a council member? From what I hear from the interview process it doesn’t take much. One of the people being interviewed didn’t even know how the process worked prior to interviewing. You get up and say a few words about yourself and the council votes. That’s all it takes to get appointed? No research on the canidates? Maybe they should have checked with Mr. Saarloos’s next door neighbor to see what kind of person they were truly appointing or how many complaints have been made to the police department in his neighborhood which has him involved in some way. I am sure they would have chosen another canidate based on that knowledge OR maybe NOT he obviously fits the mold of a GOB.
I also heard that the votes were by secret ballot. Why?
Seriously concerned in Brandon!
November 14th, 2007 at 9:48 am
CONGRATS TO JOHN FOR TAKING THE BIG LEAP AND JUMPING INTO THE SNAKEPIT… I AM SURPRISED THOUGH , THAT WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE BLOGS OUT THERE AGAINST YOU , THAT THERE WERE NOT ALOT MORE EDUCATED PERSONALLITIES OUT TRYING TO FILL THE WARD ONE SEAT.. THANKS AGAIN JOHN..
November 14th, 2007 at 11:28 am
#19 all those educated persons must know better.
November 14th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Concerned Citizen-As a person involved in the things you are implying about John and his next door nieghbor MAYBE YOU should get the FACTS straight.
John is a kind hearted, caring, DECENT person who deserves to be judge on what he does as a council member and not by a couple who happen to not agree with his point of view.
Let it go already!
November 14th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
NO, “true statement” John should be judged not only on his acts and decisions as a council member, but his past actions and blatant lie that he had “…..no hidden agenda….” The man does have an agenda and a paticular issue that is driving him. I don’t know if he is kind hearted, decent, or caring, but his past actions say that he IS NOT all of those things. Unless you are John or the “couple” that you reference you DON’T know what has happened in the past. I agree with #5, it will be interesting to see who is REALLY committed to serving and that this council (John included) is being watched.
November 15th, 2007 at 1:37 am
what i want to know is..why where these interview’s conducted in an open meeting when the last appointment ( kloster’s) was treated as a personnell inssue and conducted in a closed meeting? if thats the case then.it should be an open meeting to interview all the candidates for new chief.
I also agree that there seemed better qualified person’s for the open seat and the person that was picked was a meek person who would do what the rest of the council told him to do
November 15th, 2007 at 8:14 am
God bless you John for stepping up. But reference to the new Chief, I was told that Wade Else was going to be the next Chief, so congratulations Wade. How did you beat those other applicants?
November 15th, 2007 at 9:17 am
What are you guys teaching the youth of our city? It seems as though you all “believe what you hear” and “judge a book by its cover”. How many of you have tried comforting your children when they come home from school, crying because someone at school has talked behind their back? From what I see here, you’re telling everyone that it’s okay to do that. I know for a fact that John has no hidden agenda. I also know for a fact that John is a caring and decent person. Give the guy a chance.
November 15th, 2007 at 9:17 am
What are you guys teaching the youth of our city? It seems as though you all “believe what you hear” and “judge a book by its cover”. How many of you have tried comforting your children when they come home from school, crying because someone at school has talked behind their back? From what I see here, you’re telling everyone that it’s okay to do that. I know for a fact that John has no hidden agenda. I also know for a fact that John is a caring and decent person. Give the guy a chance.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
The problem is not with John more so is the confidence of the current council and their integrity in relationship with the community and being out of touch with the people they represent. We need to explore another form of council to represent this community.
November 15th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Just to bad ,that the people that now it all , “Can’t do it all “……… Good luck to you John !!!!!!!!!!!
November 15th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I was just wondering. The council has made some controversial decision in the recent past on changing the ordinance for MEDstar, not putting out any information or having a informational meeting on whether or not to contract with the Sheriff’s Office, the Kloster appointment, Sneakers Bar and now poor John, who I hope does a good job. But, I know one thing, the council has an important pick coming up for a new Police Chief and if they don’t pick the most qualified applicant to be the new Chief and I know some of the applicant’s resumes’, I will be the first one to sign a petition to change the governing body for Brandon. If you haven’t looked we are in the Argus Leader about as much as Garretson used to be and Harrisburg and Canton.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
This guy John, what exactly is his “hidden agenda”??
November 15th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
This city council has made several mistakes with Med-Star and the ambulance issue,attempting to put a council person in Ward 1 for the fourth time without asking the voters in that ward to vote for a replacement to avoid the good old boy approach.
I feel that there is no leadership with this current council.
We are a community of nearly 10,000 people but we have a current government which is still lost.
We have too many pat your back good old boy special interest indivduals representing Brandon.
Come on wake up we need new blood on this council.
November 16th, 2007 at 6:23 am
As long as it’s left up to them to appoint, ward 1 will suffer.
It’s so obvious that there were more qualified candidates. He’s been here 7 years, no business experience, compared to 40 years, police work, business experience? No brainer.
But here’s the difference….if you buck the boys (like during the police meeting) you’re SOL.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
#29 The Chief is appointed by the Mayor, I’m sure with input for the GOB society. I know several of the candidates and there are more qualified candidates than the current intern? Let’s sit back and see what happens with that one, any bets?
#31 I whole heartily agree with you until someone other than the GOB’S can pick the open seats they will continue to screw up this city making decisions for their own agendas. We are a rapidly growing city and it obvious they don’t have a clue and when and if they ever get one we will remain light years behind.
November 17th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
SuzieQ, so you believe that if you haven’t lived in Brandon long enough, how long is long enough. I have been living here for 17 yrs, would that be long enough. You say he has no business experience, well I don’t agree, he buys cattle, so he has to no marketing, so that is out, he doesn’t have any police experience, does anyone else on the council, no. I just glad he stepped up, lets see how he does, at least at one meeting before we cut him down. I also agree with #29 and #32, we will see and we are watching
November 18th, 2007 at 7:10 am
depressed,
My point was there was MORE qualified people that DID step up. I wasn’t saying that police experience was a must, I meant that someone that served on our force knows our city well. I’m also saying that someone that’s lived here 30-40 years has seen this town from a population of 1500 grow to 8,000 and are more qualified than someone that’s been here 7. If you would have listened to all 7 candidates I think you would have seen the better choices too. I’m glad you think we need a change and hope we can place a new council when spring rolls around. Let’s just hope it’s not too late.
November 18th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
If you are tired of this council why wait to change it in the spring. The damage is already done are we the people need to start to look at changes in this government soon. Look at the history of this council. It is time for a house cleaning.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
SuzieQ, form what I read on this blog the biggest bitch against the council is the GOB factor. If the intent is to break that up, shouldn’t the people we look to put on the council be exactly the opposite of what you claim? I mean really, who is more likely to be a so-called “GOB”; someone who has lived in Brandon from the time it was a cow pasture/bean field or someone who has moved here within the last 5-10 years?
November 19th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Wes, I firmly believe, not only who ever is appointed but who ever is elected will become part of the GOB.Dosen’t matter how long you have lived here. The GOB starts within the walls of the city hall. You don’t have to run around or associate with the coucil to long before the title of member of the GOB club will get attached to you. The GOB has existed a long time. Heath Tople keeps bringing up Mr. Schultz, Mr. Polzin. These guys had there GOB along with MR. Olson. Figure it out MS. Nelson, once a member of the council at the same time as this group, did not run for re-election and bag has a job with the city. GOB”S been here a long time and will remain.
Even the late Ms. Ford was running around the campaign trail with Mr. Buck, so you see she was even part of the GOB.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
We can ALL change that crap come spring. I’m so tired of the BIG O’L BUCK being the speaker for Brandon I could just vomit in my mouth. What a piece of work he is. To many hidden agenda’s!
November 20th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Well, “Always Listening,” there is one thing that I can say about the fine people I had the priviledge to serve with on the Council. Mayor Mike Schultz, Sue Wildes, Dave Bakke, Dan Mostek, Tim Polzin, and Mary Brooks are all some of the finest public servants you could ask for. These people never had a hidden agenda or did anything that would lead me to believe their decisions were ever motivated by personal gain. In many cases, they bent over backward and sacrified their own personal and business interests for the sake of the City. I honestly, don’t think that can be said about all of the current members of that body. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this, but I agree with the Community Advisor, we can all change this at the ballot box. Regular scheduled elections are only a few short months away, but I have a feeling we won’t have to wait for that, with a possible recall election looming.
November 20th, 2007 at 7:59 am
GOB’s are GOB’s no matter how your sugar coat it Heath. Hidden agenda’s were things those listed did have, you just don’t want to admit it.
November 20th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Contributing to the problem is that we have a very weak mayor. I don’t see much “leading” coming from him. He must not say much at the meetings and have opinions on things because he is never quoted in the paper. And by the way, Kathy Ford was a GOB too. She was a very close friend to the Beesleys.
November 20th, 2007 at 10:19 am
I agree with #42, I believe one of the major problems is our weak mayor. I like Larry, but he is not very mayoral. Like everyone said, we can change most of our problems this next spring.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:10 am
If we think waiting to spring is the right choice to change the make up of the council then maybe we should be setting up a meeting on the ideas of governmental change options that the community can explore and understand the benefits of more representation to the council?
November 20th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
#42, you win the prize. All I see on here are complaints about the council. Who is our leader?? I beleive our mayor is a nice guy, but there are a lot of nice guys in this town and that doesn’t make them a good mayor! We need a leader whom has a vision towards shaping the future of Brandon.
November 20th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
The way it looks there are a number of complainers in this town and no one wants to stand up for what they believe in.
I guess if you are happy with this style on government you might as well as accept defeat and stop complaining about how our community is run by these elected souls.
November 20th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
No sugar coating Always listening…sorry to move a bit off topic…but I’m just curious what “agendas” or actions motivated by personal gain can you point to from any of those people….ME included? Be specific, if you can.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:55 am
Oh, lets see gain knowlegde of growth paterns for futhure developments in order to purchase and direct development, Enhance spouse’s political career by name reconition, use of office for stepping stone for politcal office outside of the city, EGO,etc. its there Heath. Wear your blinders if you want.
I can only think of perhaps two with out an agenda.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:01 am
If you are going to have open dialogue on changing forms of government how do you do that under the anonymous titling?
The willing people will have to step forward to lead the change. You will have a lot of educating the rest of the voting public and organize the potential change. This will take time and money!!
Then the anonymous bloggers will have to publicly face the current city council , mayor and city mgr. I BET those bloggers drumming for change will experience MUCH resistance, new outlook of public office and have to overcome the AGENDA card.
Boy, will the potential tables turn for the opposers of the GOP. You might find out that your current council, city mgr, and mayor are doing a better job than they are being given credit for right now.
Food for thought ????
November 21st, 2007 at 10:24 am
Todd, I like your last paragraph. I think everyone should read that and think about it.
These people on here who constantly complain are really a piece of work. You people do not realize how great of a community we live in.
As long as you have food and water you really should not bitch about much at all.
Its Thanksgiving. How about Alica start a thread about what we are THANKFUL for in BRANDON.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:55 am
Thanks for your comment #49. Your words are very wise. Until you have been in a public position that calls for listening and not always speaking, I think it would be hard to comment. #50 you are right on about our great community. Right now we have a young gal from our community in the intensive care unit at Avera. The prayers and concerns for her family shown by our very giving community are so evident. We are very lucky.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:50 pm
#50 - You came from a town of 4 million??
I have been very fortunate to do some reasonable traveling around the country. I LOVE the big city. The big city has all the bright lights , fascinating people, huge skyscrapers and countless things to do.
BUT, I love coming back HOME to SE South Dakota. This area will always be home to me.
Did I forget to mention that I met less than 20 cars on my way to work. I passed through 3 stop lights. I have a commute time of less than 10 minutes.
Gotta love the NOT big city life!!
November 21st, 2007 at 2:30 pm
About the only thing I liked about the big city life Todd was the fact (like you said)that there were more things to do.
However, there were many more dislikes for me.
-It would take me an hour of driving to get from here to Sioux Falls.(dodging maniac drivers). No such thing as a quick 5 minute grocery trip to Sunshine.
-Houses were crammed in like sardines. High cost of living.
-Poor school system.
-Convenience stores with bars covering their doors and windows. Also, no such thing as pump first, then pay.
-Not a good place to raise a family.
-Crime, Crime, and more Crime.
(almost 400 murders every year)
-It was such a rat race.
I will go visit now, but thats about it.