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The scheduled public hearing on the Polaris abatement application was continued by the County Board last week to March 31. More information was coming on this topic. The hearing was opened and there being no public comment last week-- the hearing was continued.

All the County Board agenda business will take place March 31 and the March 24 regular meeting is cancelled.

The scheduled discussion with the Planning and Zoning Administrator did not happen, as Marion Heemsbergen was unable to make it to the meeting.

This was rescheduled to the March 3 meeting. The commissioners are investigating staff response to directives on land use planning and whether additional staff is needed. An update on the progress of a steering committee that’s been meeting for almost a year on the Comprehensive Plan, is also requested of planning.

In other matters:

~ The Board appointed a citizen to the newly-created Planning Commission seat. Lin Strong of the Almelund area was voted on (3-2) out of 13 applicants interested in the at-large term.

The dots on the map on this page illustrate where planning commission members reside.

Also, Colleen Kastanek was re-appointed to the expiring Extension Committee seat she filed to retain.

Commissioner Rick Olseen lauded her enthusiasm and participation on the committee and made the motion. Commissioner Bob Gustafson earlier motioned to appoint Lou Michaels, but the motion failed.

It was on the agenda for a resolution, but Commissioner Ben Montzka noted that when amending an ordinance a public hearing is required.

So-- the County Board directed the Planning Commission to hold a hearing for enacting the requirement that right turn lanes be incorporated into ordinances for subdivisions. The lane is in public works “policy” and is the “practice” now, County Administrator John Moosey said, but administration seeks to make the rule more enforceable.

The County Auditor brought a bill to the attention of the commissioners, from the Department of Revenue, that the county owes $17,000 in sales tax. Dennis Freed explained that vendors did not calculate sales tax for computer software, which in Minnesota IS taxable. The county paid tax on computer hardware. The shortages accumulated over a period of three years.

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