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From: Don Evanson
I filed Data Practices Act (Minnesota’s equivalent of the federal Freedom of Information Act) requests with the city of Winona about city of Winona housing inspector Greg Olson, who is also a Winona County Board candidate.
There have been two complaints against Olson that were investigated, but there was no resulting disciplinary action, so information is not available to the public.
There is currently an investigation of a complaint against Olson, but the City Manager advised me that if the documents were redacted as required by statute to protect the privacy of individuals involved there would be little remaining of informational value to me.
I found that there had been an investigation of Olson, due to his questionable activities with landlords of Winona, in conflict with his city position as a housing inspector. Since that investigation, stemming from 2007, resulted in disciplinary action in the form of restrictions of Olson’s off-duty activities, the case information is available to the public. Olson took the case to arbitration, concluded in 2009, but the city prevailed.
Due to complaints received, the city had hired an investigator to investigate five specific allegations of questionable activity by Olson with landlords, or allegations of items of value received by Olson from landlords.
Yes, we can do better in electing a County Commissioner on November 6. Let’s retire Olson from his County Board position and restore the public trust.
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