Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Highway 8 open house Dec. 2
The lengthy process of designing the reconstruction projects along Highway 8, from Forest Lake to Chisago City, is in the public comment final phase. Chisago County Engineer Joe Triplett announced a public meeting for information about the environmental assessment documents will be held December 2, at Lakeside School Media Center, on Karmel Avenue in Chisago City. This is an open house style meeting allowing for you to come and go and engineers will be there to talk with and answer questions.
NEWS
County Board discusses shipping container issues during 2026 fee reviews
The popularity of metal shipping containers for personal storage needs, has become yet another item on the list of stuff that people in the countryside complain about. As the unattractive, intrusive, but useful, hulking steel boxes proliferate- the Chisago County Board is attempting to draft fees and a fair process for regulating shipping containers. As disputes arise over numbers of containers, their permanency and placement—the best way to avoid conflict is to control things ahead of time with ground rules.
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