December 26, 2025 at 11:32 a.m.
County board to get 3% pay hike
The Chisago County Board agreed to set their 2026 salaries at the same level of increase as what they adopted for non-union staff, three percent. The county commissioners will be paid $35,786 in 2026, plus mileage and any per diem claims they are allowed to submit.
The citizen committee and board volunteers who are appointed to serve will see their per diem payments raised to $75.
Committees and County Board assignments will be part of action January 6, when the Board meets for the annual organizational meeting. This session is at 8 a.m.
In other business last week the County Board accepted the “regional park” designation application and master plan for Fish Lake Park, outside of Harris.
The regional label will set up the county to apply for outside funding that is not generally available to lesser status public spaces. Environmental Services Director Kurt Schneider explained the master plan was critiqued in 2023 and the expert advice was to refine the plan and make a few revisions and it would fare better competing for the special designation. The park board oversaw this phase and the new master plan was sent to the County Board which won approval.
There was also a follow-up provided on an earlier request the Board tabled, related to nuclear power.
About 18 counties have aligned in support of repealing Minnesota’s nuclear power new construction moratorium and Chisago was invited to add its name to the advocacy.
In discussion the Chisago County commissioners wanted more information before taking action, stating the odds of nuclear being located anywhere in this county are slim. The commissioners also wanted to wait for the Association of Minnesota Counties to formulate a policy paper on the issue.
The Minnesota Rural Electric Association and Nuclear Energy Alliance are a couple organizations working towards the legislative repeal of the moratorium.
The state has a carbon-free energy production goal set for 2040. Numerous nuclear advocates promote this form of energy as a way to achieve this goal.
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