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In their evening meeting after a three hour long budget workshop the commissioners attended last week, the County Board acted on the appraisal for widening the channel on the Chisago Chain (see other story) and multiple smaller concerns.  

The public comment portion of the meeting brought a complaint and petition forward, from Nessel Township looking for action on a party house that’s been a source of concern for Township Supervisors and surrounding neighbors.

Nessel Town Board Representative Doug Johnson said the property at Bayside Avenue and 505th “does not follow any rules” and wondered if it is even licensed as a short term rental or sanctioned to be used for an events venue.

Neighbor Ken Ryberg also spoke. He called the property “a nightmare” and said the county law enforcement in Nessel has been dispatched there but he is not aware of penalties and said there are “no repercussions.”

County Environmental  Services Director Kurt Schneider was not at the meeting during this item;  but told the Press later the property is known to authorities and is “amid licensing review” adding he has a meeting set up for sometime this week (end of August) with the parcel owner, code enforcement personnel, himself and sheriff’s officials.  He noted his impression that the owner has been cooperative thus far and has canceled future events the house was reserved for.  “An uncomfortable but necessary enforcement act,” is how the director described the county response.

The property is not licensed as Short Term Rental so the “loss of license” penalty the Nessel Township Board was advised is a possible outcome for violating code,  isn’t in play at this time.  The county and State Division of Lodging will work with the owner to try to settle issues and come up with a compliance plan for the proposed uses of the property, monitor this closely and report back to the County Board.

The property on Rush Lake,  (see photo) is listed on internet databases for vacation rental by owner uses, and is valued at a little over $1 million.  

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