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The Chisago County Board on a 4-0 vote supported a request from Chisago City,  and the county and city’s Economic Development Authorities, to facilitate a 20 acre land purchase in Chisago City to expand its industrial/business district.

The property is on the east side of Karmel Avenue, opposite the new Lakeside Elementary School.

The plan is to reimburse the city and county loans of $662,000,  with land sales/development proceeds.  Debt retirement has an end date of 2043.

The county HRA/EDA will provide $462,000,  which was approved as a loan to it from the County Board.  The commissioners agreed the money will come from reserves (fund balance).  

Chisago City Economic Development Authority chips in $200,000.

The proposal is subject to the county attorney’s review,  but the County Board was told the action is in general conformity with applicable statutes and county authority and policies.

Chisago City Administrator John Pechman tells the Press the city has an agreement in principle with the landowners Gerald Peterson, Gail Partlow, Paulette Nerheim and Pat Carlson.  Closing is anticipated sometime in early winter 2023.  There is no specific plan posing any deadline on the other end.

Pechman said the package is only being made possible because of the zero interest on the loan. The county agreeing to helping make this happen is greatly appreciated.  There are additional site improvements anticipated to get the site prepared for marketing and while the payoff will be greatly beneficial in terms of jobs and revenue, up front costs can be considerable.

Chisago City is also in the process of establishing a separate property along the south end of this property, containing a barn and dwelling, and 10 acres, to be zoned residential.

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