I'm reaching out again this year to our local business professionals for some help. The robotics squad at Becker High School is once again submitting for the Chairman's Award this year (The most prestigious award!) Last year marked the third year in a row the students won this and they were awarded a trip to the World Championships. This award is a submission of work accompanied by a presentation. 

 

 We are looking for seven individuals to watch and critique our presentation. Getting them in front of people who they don't know and that can offer valid feedback would be VERY beneficial to their preparation. You DO NOT need any knowledge of the Becker robotics program to be of help. We have high expectations again this year, so any help we can get, we will take. Last years feedback was instrumental in their preparation!

 

We are looking at either Feb. 27 or 28 around the 3:15 p.m. time frame. The presentation itself is not long; the length of your stay would be determined by you and your availability.

 

 

 

People can sometimes can feel like it is a lost cause when they run into issues related to the state. I understand those concerns and it is a top focus of mine as a State Representative to help the people in District 15B resolve those issues as they arise. 

 

The twist is that I don’t consider myself to be “from government” at all. I’m a guy from Becker Township who is working to cut through the red tape to knock down headaches government may be causing people in our area.

 

One of the biggest downfalls of our government is when it loses track of itself or is inconsistent with other layers of the system. State laws sometimes were just bad ideas from the start. Others impact people in ways that were not anticipated, from permitting to licensing and beyond. Then there are the bureaucratic nightmares such as MNsure and MNLARS that have people asking government to stop “helping” so much by making things worse.

 

By contrast, my goal is to simplify things and make life easier for people in 15B by working alongside them to deliver positive results. Input from constituents on issues big and small is extremely important in this process. Please reach out to me if state laws, regulations or red tape have gone sideways on you, or if you simply have ideas for how we can make improvements (such as preferences for Highway 23 upgrades). 

 

I will do what I can to resolve any issues you may come up against and, in the process, we might find solutions that could benefit our friends and neighbors as well. That may mean introducing a bill, or it just might involve connecting a constituent with the right person in St. Paul.

 

You can reach me at the Capitol by emailing:  rep.shane.mekeland@house.mn or by calling 651-296-2451. District 15B residents also are welcome to schedule an in-person meeting at my legislative office, particularly while the Legislature is in session through late May. Again, I am here to help.