Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
North Branch council initiating review of city comprehensive plan
North Branch is embarking on a process to review and update the city Comprehensive Plan. In his first few months at the helm at city hall North Branch, Administrator Matthew Hill advised council in their special meeting April 29, that the comp plan is approaching the usual point where plans benefit from being looked at, which is at least every 10 years. North Branch’s existing plan is from 2018.
NEWS
Taylors Falls audit gives detailed look at 2024
Taylors Falls is catching up on addressing simple accounting findings that audits have partially attributed to staffing turmoil in city hall a few years ago. The last two yearly audit reports, contrary to main street rumor, have not revealed any deep concerns about funds, their use or the city’s fiscal security. The city did overspend its budgeted $802,000 by about $60,000, however.
NEWS
Update from school board on North Branch high school replica firearm incident
It’s never good when the superintendent starts off her remarks to the School Board saying, “I wish we didn’t have to do this.” May 8 North Branch Supt. Sara Paul gave Board members a brief rundown and summary of what has come out of the debriefing on the active shooter threat at the high school May 6 that resulted in a lockdown.
NEWS
Court date is June 4 in connection with drug bust in early April
A 37-year-old Wyoming woman is due back in court June 4 on four felony charges of possessing two handguns that she is prohibited from having, and authorities allege 9.5 grams of fentanyl, 47 grams of cocaine and 25 grams of meth were found in her residence and vehicle, as the result of a traffic stop and search warrant executed April 8. She has been released on bail.
NEWS
Taylors Falls council deliberating number of cannabis licenses
Entrepreneurs interested in purchasing the “MINNDOT LOT” on main street in Taylors Falls have basically stayed on the sidelines for years – that is until recreational adult use cannabis became legal in Minnesota. The proximity of Taylors Falls to what developers look at as a clamoring Wisconsin market, now makes investment in Taylors Falls much more attractive. One buyer hoping to acquire the parcel, Aaron Boshart of Cannabis and Glass or “C&G” explained at this week’s city council meeting his experience has been that locating cannabis retail shops on border sites is very lucrative for this industry. C&G has outlets or “dispensaries” in Oregon and Iowa and is hoping for a projected five sites max in Minnesota.
SCHOOLS
Projects tour exposes cobbled nature of the high school
To the casual observer, Chisago Lakes High School doesn’t look like it needs about $29 million worth of TLC, but people taking a tour of the site last week were advised many issues to be addressed are hidden in building systems and structure. Pipes, air handlers, wiring, alarms, lighting, rooftops, are priorities for this upcoming May 13 ballot asking taxpayers to allow the district to borrow $63.7 million.
NEWS
Lindstrom tax credit apartments move forward on city owned lot
Lindstrom City Council met April 16 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
NEWS
Wyoming cannabis muni gets green light
The City of Wyoming is going into the retail adult use cannabis business.
NEWS
County aid and industrial arts make for productive partners
“What goes around comes around.” The Chisago Lakes High School industrial arts program gave back to the county recently, in a nice full circle moment. Chisago Lakes was one of several educational grant recipients, a couple years ago as Chisago County dispersed a portion of American Recovery Act/Covid 19 funding.
SCHOOLS