What is a WONK, is a Wonk, is a Wonk?

What is a WONK, is a Wonk, is a Wonk?

and what does it have to do with Home Ownership?

policy wonk ‎(plural policy wonks)

1. (politics, government) A person who studies or develops strategies and policies, especially one who has a keeninterest in and aptitude for technical details.

You don't have to be a home owner to have first hand knowledge of what a policy wonk is, just visit your local post office or any level of tax agency.

However being a home owner can expose you to a whole new level of policy wonks. Take my day today with wonk Sybil Tetteh, Minot ND Assistant City Planner, dealing with a zoning issue.

I'm not going to go into all the details here because I don't want to ruin a good news story soon to be released but what I will tell you this: I have been dealing with a zoning issue on a property I own and am trying to sell. When I ask civil servant Tetteh for information I am stalled and stonewalled and get nothing but excuses. I not only have been refused public records by Sybil Tetteh but I've been told that I can not step up to the microphone at the public Planning Commission meeting with out filling out a form and coughing up $225.00 to be heard.

That's right, a public meeting of the Minot ND Planning Commission. Assistant City Planner Sybil Tetteh says I can not step up and be heard with out being on the agenda and I can not be on the agenda unless I fill out a zoning change form (I'm not there to ask for a zoning change) and pay a fee of $225.00. Assistant City Planner Sybil Tetteh is a WONK!

Next I have to ask: What kind of public meeting is a meeting where you can not speak unless you have to fill out a request form you do not want and pay $225.000 just to step up to the microphone?

You may want to ask Minot ND's 13 member Planning Commission (that's correct, 13 member) plus the other 19 City Staff and Alderman who were at the last meeting, why it's so hard for the public to be heard at these meetings. As if 32 City related personnel looking down their noses at you isn't intimidating enough!