Just minutes ago...DEDA approved paying up to $3,000 to send up to two people to Vaxjo, Sweden to study green building. Two commissioners are notably frustrated because DEDA is running a $108,000 deficit. "$3,000 is a lot of money and we have a deficit," said Fedora. 

Fosle renewed his effort to get the information from the internet instead. "We are low on cash," he said. "We need to take care of ourselves first before we start sending people all over the world. There are even pictures on the internet that show you how it works."

Commissioner Sharla Gardner said going to Sweden would provide invaluable information for the city and DEDA on green intiatives. "You can’t substitute the internet for the interaction that you get from others," she said.

By the way, I'm blogging straight from the DEDA meeting at city hall, which is normally impossible because the city never had a wireless connection. But apparently that has changed, because I'm using a network called "The city of Duluth Public Wi-Fi." Not sure how far the signal goes but it sure is convenient. Expect more posts from DEDA and city council meetings.