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The Chisago County Board gave T-Mobile another chance last week to fine tune its proposal to site a communications tower voting to send the issue back to the Planning Commission. The motion by Commissioner Lynn Schultz and supported 4-1 with Commissioner Bob Gustafson voting no, will start review all over again on a revised plan developed by T-Mobile.

The county planning commission had recommended denial of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to locate the 185-foot tower and accessory structure on Richard Thompson’s parcel in Chisago Lake Township South off 250th Street. (Section 33)

The County Board heard from county zoning administrator Mary Schmitz that after the planning commission decision, the company submitted a new tower location on the same parcel, back into the trees, and other changes in an effort to address concerns. She said T-Mobile requests an extension on CUP action and told commissioners she had concerns that if the CUP is denied by the County Board the applicant won’t be given opportunity to respond accordingly.

Commissioner Schultz said, “We need to be on firm ground” in taking action and said the planning commission should hear the applicant’s supplemental plan. “We need to be sure we are doing the right thing,” said Schultz.

The revised CUP for T-Mobile will be scheduled on the planning commission agenda June 1.

Six or seven of audience members asked the County Board if they’ll have a chance to speak and question this new request and County Board Chair Mike Robinson assured them there will be public input accepted.

In other planning matters; the Board okayed a 30-lot development in Fish Lake Township for the Heinke-O’Keefe 225 acres on North Pine Lake Road.

~ A ceramic artist was approved to locate a studio as a home occupation at 263rd St. in Franconia Township. Guillermo Cuellar will have a showroom, and pottery operation. He plans an addition to the existing house. He won’t have outside employees. No complaints were submitted during the planning commission public hearing and the planning commission had recommended approval.

~ Shafer Township’s “Dry Creek Gultch” plat was granted a one year extension on its approved plat, due to a delay in construction.

~ A 4-lot plat on 40 acres in Fish Lake Township, on Tucker St. was approved.

~ Due to the lengthy May planning commission agenda discussion on a proposed exotic animal ordinance has been extended by the planning commission. There was to be additional review at a special session May 31.

The exotic animal ordinance is in about four draft forms. The county is wrestling with whether there should be exotic animal “sanctuaries” allowed and who should own or operate a facility, or if they should be banned altogether, or any combination of approaches to permitting these sites. The County Board placed a moratorium on exotic animals ownership, facilities and transport while the ordinance is being developed.

~ Two Wyoming -based Eagle Scouts were given the go-ahead by the Board to do projects at the county library. Shawn Wright is installing a flag pole and landscaping at the new Wyoming Library. Jake Roshell is building a computer desk-divider for the juvenile section of the Wyoming Library. Both Scouts would gladly accept cash donations for their projects. Contact Friends of the Library chair Sheree Vincent or scout Roshell 651-462-2691.

The Chisago County Board voted to extend $600 to the Wright project for hardwiring electric service out to a flagpole light.

~ Commissioners watched a presentation of the new county website. Using new technology Chisago County is the first to offer content subscription where internet users can register to be automatically notified of certain department updates. Find the “customer portal” at www.co.chisago.mn.us. Web visitors will find county forms, such as job applications, on-line.

Also, Ben Swartzer of Zangco LLC explained, departments can enter information into the website directly and “manage” their page content at almost real time.

Sheriff Todd Rivard presented a list of donations for the K-9 squad, snowmobile patrol, and other sheriff’s dept. needs, and the County Board officially voted to accept the donations. (Rivard said he’s getting close to his goal of non-public funds for the K9 start-up costs. He’s gotten about $21,000 of the $35,000 or so he needed.)

Donors included: ReMAX, of North Branch; Brian and Vicky Rod; St. Croix Outdoors; Concrete Pump Repair and ECE towards the K9 program; Community National Bank in North Branch for SWAT Team development, Life Link’s donation of an AED and Polaris’ $2,000 grant toward snowmobile purchase.

Courts Services Director Steve Paquay gave the “annual report” for his department. All probation and supervision programs number 1,400 case files, Paquay said.

In a survey of judges, Chemical Dependency agencies, schools, etc., Paquay said responses were about 60 percent that his staff “always” addresses its tasks. (Had choices of always, sometimes, seldom, never.)

“We use this survey to assess our work and see if we meet needs, we read their comments, it’s a valuable tool,” Paquay added. About 100 surveys are distributed and half are filled out.

Paquay noted the hot topic now in justice debates is about sex offenders, but he feels there’s over-emphasis on this. These people don’t just turn 40 and become level three sex offenders, said Paquay. More resources need to go into “up front” program budgets to address young persons’ behaviors that develop into adult offenses.

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