Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Channel study up next
The goal to improve the navigability throughout the Chisago Chain of Lakes could see some progress over this upcoming winter. The engineering firm expected to draft project scenarios and estimate costs is slated for the Lake Improvement District agenda in December.
NEWS
North Branch schools hoping to renew 2017 10 year levy
Taxpayers in the North Branch Area Public Schools District will be seeing a ballot question come February 2026 to renew an existing technology levy. The voters approved a dedicated tax collection in 2017 for a 10 year term. North Branch School Board supports continuing this same rate of collection with the peoples’ blessing. The Board reviewed details of a vote scheduled for February 10. The payments would be seamless, as the 2017 authorization expires and the newly authorized levy would show up in pay-2028 property tax.
NEWS
County Board briefs...
The County Board last week rejected a bid for purchase of a 10 acre parcel in Rushseba Township that at one time was used for a gravel pit. County Administrator Chase Burnham explained that because this site is not being processed under tax forfeiture rules, they could put the property on the market again whenever they wish.
NEWS
Rarely used citizen-appeal Wyoming building permit issuance upheld
A rarely-utilized process where citizens can argue that a building permit has been issued in error, was put into action Monday night this week in a hearing format at Giese Memorial Wyoming Area Library. But, the citizens did not convince the five member volunteer “appeals board” that the permit for construction of a single family home on East Comfort Drive should be revoked. About 20 people contended this lot is “unbuildable” to which the Appeals Board disagreed. Their vote was 5-0 to uphold the city building official’s issuance of the permit, which remains in effect but on-hold pending a court case.
NEWS
Cannabis business gets North Branch council OK 4-1
The Wild River Cannabis LLC retail operation saw North Branch council approve its local registration, which then allows the business to go for state inspections and licensing Registration was approved last week 4-1.
NEWS
Food shelf programs doing what they do, as fed aid uncertainty lingers
As of print deadline November 4, the county Health & Human Services Director was waiting to get firm numbers on the Supplemental Nutrition Aid Program’s level of funding with the word of the week being, uncertainty.
NEWS
Battery storage project: Public hearing reviews EA
Attendance was sparse at last week’s administrative law hearing to review the environmental assessment as part of the permit sought for a cluster of batteries, proposed for the south edge of the city of North Branch, just east of County Road 14 and north of Jensen Road.
NEWS
Household Hazardous Waste facility ready for the next 20 years
A couple dozen people gathered on October 29 at the County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, in North Branch, to commemorate the completion of a total rehab of the building and its storage yard. The HHWF had become cramped and was not functioning as well as it could, so the state Pollution Control Agency, the county and city of North Branch cooperated on accomplishing a redesign of the building, which is at 39649 Grand Avenue, in the city industrial park. Funding for the projects adding cold storage, safety and first aid space, access and improving offices was split 50-50 through a grant the county shared with the PCA.
NEWS
Wyoming council adopts 2025 projects assessment roll
If you have property in the Hawk Meadows area of Wyoming city, watch your mail for the bill for those street projects done in 2025. The assessment roll was adopted by the city council last week, with just one citizen attending the public hearing. The only concern for this person was when the assessment could be paid off. He was advised ‘right away’ to avoid interest for over five years.
NEWS