A Star Tribune article questions the value of a $30,000 training video featuring Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.
In the video Stanek recounts his role in responding to the 35W Bridge collapse, and in helping Minnesota get federal disaster funds.
It's billed as a way to show the department's response to emergencies so that other communities can learn from its experience.
But the Star Tribune story asks whether its real purpose is promoting Stanek.
The video was paid for with public money, a use commissioner Mike Opat told KARE 11 today he thinks is "questionable."
Fellow commissioner Penny Steele is also speaking out about the video, and is quoted in the article saying she can't find its purpose.
But commissioner Mark Stenglein says he sees the DVD's benefits, and that its cost is good use of public funding.
"We're really applauded in this metro area for coming together so well afterwards," Stenglein said. "And I guess the video does applaud that, but it certainly does that in a respectful way. And it does it in a way that other agencies can hopefully learn from it."
Stanek told KARE 11 today he hasn't read the Star Tribune story so he had no comment.
And his spokesperson defended the video, telling KARE 11 it is not a waste of taxpayer money.
The Star Tribune says the City of Minneapolis is producing a video of its own, but that its DVD will be much shorter and cost less than $10,000.
(Copyright 2007 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
