Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Springs Inn clean up now city task
Taylors Falls will proceed on Springs Inn site cleanup at city expense and plans to assess the bill back to the landowner. The city council agreed Monday this week the private effort at abating the leftovers from the fire last February has been exhausted. Council member Tim Grote noted “the bulk of the work has been done” but there are tasks remaining for site restoration.
NEWS
Wyoming council shelves rezone effort; Pinehaven gets OK to try traffic plan
The Wyoming city council last week decided to lay aside a process leading to a rezoning of certain high potential parcels. City officials have digested the repeated concerns expressed by affected property owners, and the public hearing tentatively scheduled for later this month on the rezoning effort, has been called off.
NEWS
Walk With Animals relocates to Paradise Park
Northwoods Humane Society has switched location of the major fundraiser for the organization. The “Walk With the Animals” event relocates to Paradise Park this fall and is not at Lent Township Hall. It will be Saturday, September 13.
NEWS
North Branch council ok’s land use amended map for indoor cannabis
A request to amend the North Branch city comprehensive land use plan was approved last week 4-0 with Patrick Meacham absent, allowing for an indoor cannabis cultivation operation. The site on Evergreen Avenue is on the border with Stacy and involves 40 acres, currently supporting Greenworld Greenhouse. The action was defined as “reguiding” the land use, by city planner Nate Sondrol.
NEWS
Wyoming looking to put police, city hall in new site
Wyoming City has put down $38,000 in earnest money towards a purchase of a commercial building on Forest Boulevard. City Council members voted last week to also move ahead on a contract with Wold Architects, who will review costs to make the existing 16,000 square foot building usable for police and city hall functions. And, Wold is asked to look into the efficacy of the city hall space, attached to the fire station, to be remodeled for full fire department uses once city offices move out.
NEWS
Wyoming denies cannabis cultivator permit application
A legal, but non-conforming, farm in the City of Wyoming was denied permission to let a third party lease land to grow a cannabis crop. The Wyoming city council last week did not approve an interim use permit to a cannabis cultivation enterprise.
NEWS
Local couple to celebrate book release
There’s so much more to this story than just an announcement of a local book launch party; although props are due as it’s no simple feat to make a book.
NEWS
North Branch considers local option sales tax
North Branch City Council was unanimous in its support commissioning a study looking at implementing a Local Option Sales Tax. The cities in Minnesota can get permission for a half of one cent sales tax, that doesn’t go to the state, on items sold in the jurisdiction. Mayor Kevin Schieber remarked last week that “additional revenue is key” to meeting some of North Branch’s needs and a local option sales tax (LOST) “would be a nice bump.”
SCHOOLS
Substitute teacher pay for North Branch schools is up
The North Branch School Board boosted its substitute teacher daily pay for the next two years, in action last week and included a bonus above the casual contract, for any retired teacher who works as a sub.
NEWS