"FOLLOW THE MONEY" is a phrase suggesting that financial transactions
reveal the truth behind a situation, especially in cases of corruption
or crime. By tracing the flow of money, investigators can uncover
hidden relationships, motives, and illicit activities.
"FOLLOW THE MONEY" involves identifying the origin of funds and where they ultimately end up, revealing the key players and their involvement. The
phrase implies that those engaging in corrupt or illegal activities often
leave a financial trail that can be followed to expose their actions.
"FOLLOW THE MONEY" suggests looking beyond the surface level of a situation and delving into the financial motivations and mechanisms that drive events.
COPYRIGHT 2025 RICHARD ODOMS
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HOW MANY OF THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES AND DEFINITIONS
OF CORRUPTION, HAVE YOU READ ON MY WEBSITE
ABOUT THE CITY OF HAMBURG TAKING PLACE
THAT INVOLVES PUBLIC OFFICIALS ??
CORRUPTION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS generally involves the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain, often involving a breach of public trust or misuse of official authority. Key elements such as the misuse of information, abuse of authority, bribery, extortion, and embezzlement; are all elements of CORRUPTION.
PUBLIC CORRUPTION can also encompass nepotism, favoritism, and fraud.
ABUSE OF AUTHORITY:
PUBLIC OFFICIALS may misuse their position or power for personal benefit, going beyond their legitimate duties; thereby creating CORRUPTION.
BRIBERY:
Offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving anything of value to influence a public official's actions or decisions is CORRUPTION.
EXTORTION:
CORRUPTION can include PUBLIC OFFICIALS who may use their position to demand or extract something of value from individuals or organizations.
EMBEZZLEMENT:
This refers to the MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS or assets for personal use is CORRUPTION.
BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST:
PUBLIC OFFICIALS are expected to act with honesty, integrity, and impartiality. A breach of this trust is a central element of CORRUPTION.
MISUSE OF INFORMATION:
Accessing or disclosing confidential information for personal gain or to benefit others can be a form of CORRUPTION.
WITHHOLDING OF PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Failing to provide, or delaying the providing of, PUBLIC INFORMATION involving the political subdivision and
PUBLIC OFFICIALS thereof, is CORRUPTION.
NEPOTISM & FAVORITISM:
Granting preferential treatment to relatives or friends in official actions, such as hiring or contracts, is another form of
CORRUPTION.
FRAUD:
Deception or misrepresentation in official actions can also be considered CORRUPTION. Additionally, the 'COVERING UP' of 'material facts' and relevant information, is CORRUPTION.
OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT:
Actions taken by a PUBLIC OFFICIAL that are unauthorized, or failure to perform a mandated duty, with the intent to obtain a benefit or injure another, are further examples of CORRUPTION.
You can LEARN EVEN MORE DETAILS about HOW EVERYTHING that you been reading about ALL
available at www.THEDELTASHOW.com/HAMBURGSURVEY.html
Comments may be sent to [email protected]
A CITY, AND ITS PUBLIC OFFICIALS; WHO HAVE STOOPED SO LOW & EMPLOYED
SUCH DISHONEST, UNETHICAL, REPREHENSIBLE, EXTREME TACTICS AND THE LENGTHS TO WHICH THEY HAVE GONE TO PREVENT INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY OF HAMBURG FROM BECOMING
PUBLICLY KNOWN, AS THE CITY OF HAMBURG HAS DONE; CLEARLY
INDICATES THAT THERE ARE, IN FACT; NEFERIOUS & SINISTER
ACTS AND MISDEEDS TAKING PLACE INVOLVING
ALL HAMBURG CITY OFFICIALS !!
"THE MORE THAT A BROKEN SYSTEM TELLS YOU THAT
YOU'RE WRONG, THE MORE CERTAIN YOU SHOULD
BE THAT YOU MUST KEEP PUSHING AHEAD."
DONALD J. TRUMP; President Of The United States
Excerpt Of My Book
"PUBLIC OFFICIALS BEHAVING BADLY"
Beginning On Page 51
WHERE'S THE HONESTY & INTEGRITY ??
Another SERIOUS ISSUE that I have with HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUEMHAGEN, that only a few people know about but have managed to 'keep quiet' all of these years, is that in addition to his being prone to being 'UNTRUTHFUL' (I've PERSONALLY WITNESSED HIM LYING) and, rather than 'take a stand' and 'stick' with his decision, he, instead; has a tendency to vacillate 'back and forth' and 'side' with the 'team in power' or the 'side that is winning or popular'.
I'll be UP FRONT and BRUTALLY DIRECT & HONEST: Based on the knowledge and information that I have heard, and read; it is my belief HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN has RECEIVED TAXPAYER DOLLARS from the CITY OF HAMBURG to which he was NOT ENTITED !!
Further, the PUBLIC OFFICIALS of the CITY OF HAMBURG who I served with while I was a Hamburg City Councilmember,
INCLUDING 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN, were FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE !!
Let me repeat what I just stated so there is NO QUESTION as to what I am stating:
I'll be UP FRONT and BRUTALLY DIRECT & HONEST: Based on the knowledge and information that I have heard, and read; it is my belief HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN has RECEIVED TAXPAYER DOLLARS from the CITY OF HAMBURG to which he was NOT ENTITED !!
Further, the PUBLIC OFFICIALS of the CITY OF HAMBURG who I served with while I was a HAMBURG CITY COUNCILMEMBER,
INCLUDING 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN, were FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE !!
Am I alleging that he outright 'STOLE' City 'funds' that belong to HAMBURG TAXPAYERS ?
'NO'; I have NO DIRECT KNOWLEDGE of that taking place. I'm NOT calling, or accusing Gruenhagen, of being a 'thief' !!
'EMBEZZELMENT' is a pretty 'strong' word, too; (and allegation) so I'm not making that accusation, either.
I'll 'give you the facts'; YOU can make up your own mind. Here ARE the facts, in detail:
The CITY OF HAMBURG held one (of many) of its infamous 'CLOSED' CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS in, I believe, August or September of 2015 after Gruenhagen had returned to work from an extended absence. In attendance at this 'CLOSED' CITY COUNCIL MEETING were then Hamburg Mayor Richard Malz, Councilmembers Chris Lund, Steve Trebesch, Bob Gregonis, myself, 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN and, of course, HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN.
In addition to the OTHER many 'salient' points that were discussed during this 'CLOSED' CITY COUNCIL MEETING, the topic of 'rounds' was brought up and discussed. ('Rounds' refer to a City employee or Official going to each facility mentioned below and taking REQUIRED DAILY readings of meters located at the Water Treatment Plant, the main sewage lift station at Bi-Centennial Park and the Jacob Street 'Grinder Station', to measure the amount of well water being pumped out of the City's wells, and how much waste water, sewage, etc. (they call that 'effluent'), is being pumped to the 'sewage holding ponds' on Vera Avenue.)
Normally, this task is part of the daily routine, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, of the PUBLIC WORKS employee. In his absence or if the public works employee is unable to accomplish a daily 'round' for any reason', then USUALLY it is HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN that accomplishes this duty when the PUBLIC WORKS employee isn't available.
While a member of the HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL, I was appointed to be the 'Ed Norton' (from the 1955-56 TV comedy 'THE HONEYMOONERS') of the Hamburg Water & Sewer Department and facilities before I was 'ostracized'.
I, too, on occasional weekends and holidays, did 'rounds' when no one else was available. It probably took me all of 15 or twenty minutes and I don't recall ever 'putting in to get paid for doing it. But I DID think; WOW !! FIFTY BUCKS for 15 or 20 MINUTES OF MY TIME; that comes out to somewhere $45-60 DOLLARS AN HOUR !!
Can you say, "GET RICH QUICK SCHEME" ?? (I KNEW you could!) I could hear Drew Carey saying, "CITY OF HAMBURG; C'MON DOWN" !!
Doing 'rounds' had, and still HAS, the potential of being is a 'real money maker' !! And NOBODY would probably ever know because the City Council usually DOESN'T LOOK AT THE MONTHLY 'CLAIMS LISTS'; THEY JUST 'MOVE TO APPROVE' TO PAY EVERY THING THAT'S LISTED !! By Gruenhagen. (Note the number of times that 'Rounds' appears in the monthly 'CLAMS LISTS' adjacent to Gruenhagen's name documenting TAXPAYER DOLLARS that he's received !) EVERY MONTH !!
As the "WATER & SEWER COMMISIONER" for the CITY OF HAMBURG (before I was 'ostracized'), I thought that it would be a 'good idea' for all of the other 'City Officials' to know how to do 'rounds' in the event that was necessary. On a Saturday morning, everybody showed up at the Water Treatment Plant and I explained how to perform this 'menial' (but high paying) 'required task'. I must admit that there wasn't much 'enthusiasm' shown by those in attendance; the 'highlight' (or 'lowlight') of the 'event was when Mayor Malz told me, "You're beginning to get under my skin."
The PUBLIC WORKS employee and HAMBURG CITY CLERK TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN are paid (the last I heard a 'set amount' for EACH Saturday, EACH Sunday and EACH holiday, for visiting the three locations mentioned, and simply writing down the meter readings on a particular form. THAT'S IT !! At one point, PUBLIC WORKS employee Dennis was NOT paid for doing 'rounds' (the City didn't want to pay him 'overtime' for 'doing rounds'); instead he was allotted two hours per EACH Saturday, EACH Sunday or EACH holiday for 'rounds and his 'work week' was reduced to 36 hours each week.
While I don't know (but suspect) whose 'idea' it was, that procedure changed when 'somebody' realized "Hey; there's a chance, here; to make some 'good' additional money for very little time and effort and very few people, if any, will know what's taking place"!! (As I stated above, nobody really reads the monthly "CLAIMS LIST" closely and wouldn't notice. (But I caught that 'right away' while I was on the City Council. But, because it had been taking place for so long, I guessed that it was 'fitting and proper'.) I was WRONG !!
Hence, the paying of a 'set' hourly amount to whoever was taking them, for weekends and holiday 'rounds', was born.
Reflecting from memory, I recall that the 'daily rate for' weekend and holiday 'rounds' was about $25.00 EACH DAY !! Not bad for about thirty minutes work; the two (previous) PUBLIC WORKS employees lived in the City.
Relying on my memory, I also recall some discussion shortly after I took Office, brought up by HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN, (words to the effect) "....we really can't expect an employee (implying the PUBLIC WORKS employee) to do 'rounds' for such a small amount. Council should increase the amount paid." (I heard that MORE than once !!)
The City Council agreed to the increase EACH TIME; and GUESS WHO BENEFITTED THE MOST ??!! GRUENHAGEN !!
What the hell; it was ONLY TAXPAYER MONEY !!
When I left the City Council, it seems to me that the amount had been raised to $50.00/'round'. God only knows what it's at today !!
BUT WAIT A MINUTE; LET'S 'BACK UP' to the infamous 'CLOSED' HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL MEETING back in August or September 2015 attended by Hamburg Mayor Richard Malz, Councilmembers Chris Lund, Steve Trebesch, Bob Gregonis, myself and, of course, 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN. Because the meeting was about him, HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN was also in attendance.
Let's NOT lightly 'skim over' the topic that I was just telling you about, like those in attendance listed above; did at the meeting. Because I REALLY CARED about how my TAXPAYER DOLLARS we being spent and BECAUSE of what I had observed in the relatively short time that I had been a HAMBURG CITY COUNCILMEMBER and BECAUSE I was aware of the 'covert' manner in which the City sometimes 'operated', my ears 'perked up' when the topic of 'rounds' was brought up.
During the discussion when it was brought out that HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN was being paid, OVER AND ABOVE HIS MONTHLY SALARY, for 'doing rounds' on weekends and holidays. 'Contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law form of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN CLEARLY STATED, FOR ALL TO HEAR; that the HAMBURG CITY/CLERK/TREASURER should NOT BE GETTING PAID 'extra' for making 'rounds' because, as the CITY CLERK/TREASURER, he is an 'EXEMPT' EMPLOYEE !! That was DEFINATELY an
'AH-HAAA MOMENT' !!
For MONTHS (actually years) I always thought that a 'salaried' employee for the City, is an 'EXEMPT' EMPLOYEE for the City and as such, should NOT be receiving 'additional pay' for 'duties and responsibilities' that CLEARLY can be construed as 'being part of the job' of the (salaried) HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER !!
MY THOUGHTS AND SUSPICIONS WERE JUST CONFIRMED by 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law form of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN !! (No, I had NO DESIRE to kiss her !!)
Because HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN is classified as an 'EXEMPT' EMPLOYEE', he is NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE 'EXTRA PAYMENT' of TAXPAYER DOLLARS for doing 'rounds' or any other City-related 'tasks' performed 'outside' of 'normal business hours' !!
Reading the City's water and effluent meters ('rounds') ?? NOT INTITLED TO GET PAID !!
Changing the soft beverage canisters at the (once mold infested) HAMBURG COMMUNITY HALL in the (once mold filled) 'pop
room' ?? NOT ENTITLED TO GET PAID !!
'Unclogging' a clogged-up toilet at the (once mold infested) HAMBURG COMMUNITY HALL or the public toilets at Bi-Centennial Park or at the City Hall/Community Center ?? NOT ENTITLED TO GET PAID !!
While 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN isn't on my 'Christmas Card list', she obviously has enjoyed (and STILL ENJOYS) 'screwing me over' every chance she gets over the years the years, in any way possible and NUMEROUS TIMES !! (As evidenced by the existence of the transcript of my TWO HOUR INTERROGATION with a DETECTIVE from the McLEOD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE !!) That's 'got her name' all over it !!
The fact that she would make that statement ABOUT GRUENHAGEN so OBVIOUSLY and so BOLDLY in the PRESENCE OF ALL OF THE OTHER CITY OFFICIALS, well; it was 'refreshing' to hear her confirm the 'suspicions' that I had been carrying with me since being elected to the HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL.
Once Dohm made that statement, I reflected back to the 'early days of yesteryear' when Gruenhagen was 'giving me the tour' of the (once mold infested) Hamburg Community Hall. One of the things I SPECIFICALLY remember him pointing out to me was the
OBVIOUS MOLD in the room where the canisters for the 'soft beverages' were stored in the (once mold infested) basement of the (once mold infested) Hamburg Community Hall.
So now, we, the HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL, the 'governing body' of the CITY OF HAMBURG, have a VERY SERIOUS SITUATION that we MUST 'deal with' DIRECTLY; the IMPROPER PAYMENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS to the HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER, that MUST BE RETURNED TO THE TAXPAYERS !!
We're NOT talking a couple hundred, or even a couple of thousand TAXPAYER DOLLARS here; because this has (apparently) been taking place for (presumably) MORE THAN TWO DECADES, we're talking in terms of (potentially) TENS OF THOUSANDS of TAX PAYER DOLLARS; THE AMOUNT IS STAGGERING !!
Did the HAMBURG CITY CLERK TREASURER 'OFFER' or 'VOLUNTEER' to return the TAXPAYER DOLLARS that he
WAS NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE because he is classified as an 'EXEMPT' EMPLOYEE ??
You'll get a 'RESOUNDING 'NO' to that question !! But an HONEST and HONORABLE PERSON WOULD !!
Did the HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL initiate ANY action to recover the TAXPAYER DOLLARS that it WRONGLY APPROVED PAYMENT OF that were NOT ENTITLED TO BE PAID ??
Your THIRD 'RESOUNDING 'NO' to that question !! But any EFFECTIVE, ETHICAL 'governing body' of ANY 'political subdivision', WOULD HAVE !!
How about this: EVEN THOUGH the 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN, TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL that what was taking place was IMPROPER and
SHOULDN'T BE TAKING PLACE, WHY IS IT STILL CONTINUING TO HAPPEN ??
"C'MON DOWN !!"
The former HAMBURG MAYOR, DICK MALZ, as well as the CURRENT HAMBURG MAYOR, CHRIS LUND, and the 'contract'
HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN, ALL
KNEW THAT WHAT WAS INITALLY TAKING PLACE WAS IMPROPER, and AFTER BEING ADVISED THAT IT WAS IMPROPER, FAILED TO HALT the practice and, instead; ALLOWED IT TO CONTINUE TO THIS DAY !!
WAIT A MINUTE: This 'expensive issue' matter which is KNOWINGLY WASTING HAMBURG TAXPAYER DOLLARS
is NOT 'over' yet; I'm not hearing any excessively corpulent females 'belting out any melodies' !! Let's take a look at the
'COLLUSION' between the members of the HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL and the HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER .............
You'll recall (above) that 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM, of the Waconia based law firm of MELCHERT, HUBERT & SJODIN, SPECIFICALLY TOLD GRUENHAGEN, the ENTIRE HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL and HAMBURG MAYOR DICK MALZ that HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER JEREMY GRUENHAGEN is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PAID FOR DOING 'ROUNDS' and, by extension, he is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PAID FOR ANY OTHER CITY RELATED 'DUTIES' accomplished 'outside of normal business hours' !!
HOW CAN ANYBODY MISCONSTRUE DOHM'S STATEMENT ?
Yet, to demonstrate how ARROGANT, 'SHIFTY' and how 'CONNIVING' these people are, the PUBLIC OFFICIALS that HAMBURG RESIDENTS ELECTED TO OFFICE; about a MONTH LATER, after the 'controversy' over this issue had subsided, the 'smoke had cleared' and the 'dust had settled', HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS LUND INTRODUCED A MOTION TO PAY GRUENHAGE FOR 'ROUNDS', in TOTAL OPPOSITION OF WHAT THE CITY HAD BEEN ADVISED BY 'contract' HAMBURG CITY ATTORNEY KELLY C. DOHM !!
OF COURSE, the other members of the HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL UNAMIOUSLY APPROVED LUND'S MOTION; (LUND and GRUENHAGEN have been 'THICK AS THIEVES' EVER SINCE !!) I would have been 'outvoted' and only 'went along' with them because the TOXIC & HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT would have BECOME MUCH MORE WORSE for me than it ALREADY WAS !!
That action in particular, initiated by Lund; SPEAKS POORLY of ALL of the CITY OFFICIALS of the CITY OF HAMBURG, as do all of the other IMPROPER ACTIONS as DESCRIBED ABOVE and elsewhere in this book.
In addition to Gruenhagen getting 'hefty' salary increases every year (6% for 2025) and 'whining' about that he's STILL NOT BEING PAID ENOUGH for doing 'rounds' or getting 'called out' because of a 'City related' issue, task or duty that needs attention.
And, Here's The
'FROSTING ON THE CAKE':
WHERE'S THE 'DOCUMENTATION' THAT SHOWS THE
DATES THAT GRUENHAGEN WORKED THE 'EXTRA'
HOURS AND THE 'DOCUMENTATION' THAT
SHOWS WHAT HE DID DURING
THOSE 'EXTRA' HOURS ??
I took the picture shown below (and MORE), while I was inside of the STATE BANK OF HAMBURG.
The reason that I went to the bank
was because of the information that
HAMBURG CITY CLERK/TREASURER
JEREMY GRUENHAGEN
TOLD ME PERSONALLY, DIDN'T PASS MY 'SMELL TEST'
and also because of the
LACK OF HIS TRUTHFULNESS
that I had experienced
SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY.
When I arrived at the bank, I asked to speak with the HEAD BANK TELLER; I explained to her that I had a VERY UNUSUAL request;
I asked her to please show
me the bank's basement.
She looked at me with 'puzzled amazement'
and stated,
"THE BANK DOESN'T
HAVE A BASEMENT" !!
HAMBURG RESIDENTS: Do You REALLY WANT SOMEONE WHO OUTRIGHT LIES,
CONTROLLING HOW YOUR HARD-EARNED TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE SPENT ??
Also, COURTS, JUDGES & JURIES DO NOT LIKE DISHONEST PEOPLE !! GRUENHAGEN'S DOCUMENTED DISHONESTY, PAST INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT & BEHAVIOR as well
as his LACK OF INTEGRITY, CHARACTER & CREDIBILITY will SURELY BE BROUGHT
OUT during the upcoming JURY TRIAL scheduled to begin on November 11th !!
(To LEARN MORE About Gruenhagen, visit: www.THEDELTASHOW.com/HOW-IT-ALL-BEGAN.html
