In Sunday's column, I wrote about a Burnsville couple who received a startling letter from the state Department of Revenue this summer. Jerry Blaschko was personally assessed for a tax debt owed by a golf course where he had served as a volunteer board member 20 years ago. It was up to him to prove that he didn't have anything to do with the golf course and wasn't responsible for unpaid 2009 withholding taxes.

The Blaschkos contacted Whistleblower and state Senator Chris Gerlach to complain that the revenue department should have done some research before sending out the letter assessing personal liability. Their efforts paid off. Last Friday, they received a letter from the revenue department notifying them that Jerry Blaschko was no longer being personally assessed for the $8,574 debt.

To read the state law that allows the revenue department to go after individuals for an unpaid business debt, click here.