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The hot local government topic this spring is shaping up to be ‘to fly or not to fly’ the new state flag.  The issue consumed a good portion of the Taylors Falls City Council meeting Monday this week, despite members initially expressing that there are more important city concerns.  It also surfaced at Wyoming.

After over an hour it was agreed by the four attending, with Mayor Brandon Weiberg absent, to lay the matter aside until the full council could be in attendance.  According to the council, Weiberg put the flag issue on the agenda.  There were two proposed courses of action in the form of suggested resolutions, that were distributed, but it was explained these were not intended to be in the public council meeting packet, however. Staff who compile the meeting documents of record took responsibility.

A handful of citizens spoke during open mic in support of the new flag design and asked the council not to take action and collect citizen input.

The new flag design was adopted by the state legislature in 2024.  Taylors Falls has simply not displayed any state flag on city property over the past year. The old design is displayed on a flag pole inside council chambers along with the U.S. stars and stripes.  

This is perfectly proper, according to City Attorney Fritz Knaak who reminded council state law only mandates the state flag must fly at the capitol grounds.

“It’s entirely up to you,” he told the council.

Council member Robert Bayer is serving his first term and he bemoaned the fact this issue is so obviously “political” and it shouldn’t be. He stated he ran for council to lessen political divisiveness in Taylors Falls.  “Let’s concentrate on what we can agree on,” he added.

Council member Tim Grote agreed that taking a position on the new versus the old design has become  akin to “sending a message.” Cities should just fly the flag depicting the state where the city is, he said. State statutes do not empower cities to determine the official state flag nor is there accommodation for a “vote.”

Acting Mayor Lee Samuelson said he likes the vintage flag and if there was to be a vote Monday night he’d support the old design.

Council member Carol Schumann said she supports the “historical” nature of the old flag design.

It was noted there was no dissent about which flag the Chisago Lakes School District would embrace, with audience members pointing out the Taylors Falls Elementary School hoisted the new design immediately.  A past teacher at the school and city resident, Deb Julik Heine, explained the new flag graphics are bolder and simpler and can be drawn by children.  Youngsters are able to identify this flag versus the old flag design which among its shortcomings — it resembled several other states’ flags.

For the near future no state flag will be on the city properties and council left the issue open for further review.

In other matters, Sheriff Brandon Thyen spent a few minutes with council to bring the city up to speed on the animal control services the county provides as part of the patrol contract.  There are six cities in Chisago County  getting designated hours of in-city law enforcement annually and pay extra for this.  Thyen said the animal control contract is new and the county picked up this year’s tab — but in 2027 the expenses will either be attached to each city’s quarterly billing or divided into the overall hourly rate contracts.  It will depend on incidents and animal complaints experienced in each city.  

The Chisago County Board signed up with Companion Animal Services in Oakdale after a local organization did not work out and was not renewed.  The organization delivers a comprehensive program of response, transport and boarding of animals plus trained staff and has the ability to check vaccinations and read implanted I.D. chips.

~ The severe weather siren was in need of repairs and the council agreed to a maximum of $5,000 for the work order.

~ Taylors Falls will print its annual weed nuisance ordinance and enforcement rules, making the ordinance effective as of June 1.

~ Clean Up Day was agreed to be Saturday May 9.  The date previously distributed is incorrect.

~ Beginning in May the city has the authority to turn off seriously delinquent water services.  Staff said there’s 17 accounts currently that are impacted and these will be notified and monitored for efforts to make payments.

Calling peony lovers

Also in May the city will begin to celebrate 60 days of the peony bloom season with events at Cherry Hill Park.  Council supports designating micro-events revolving around the 115 varieties maintained at the city park,  as being sanctioned by the  city.  

The action was requested by the Parks & Recreation group, and spearheaded by Pastor Kevin Schumann. Ideas include having a picnic, a paint-off or a kids art contest, and suggestions are welcome.  The pastor said he is also working on having Cherry Hill accepted as a research location by a professional association which would also advertise the site on its web page. 

There was a little goodnatured debate over how to pronounce the flower, PEE on-ee or  pee OHN-ee, and Pastor Schumann said he uses the second pronunciation as favored by his grandmother.

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