Chisago County Press

Former sheriff pleads guilty, to be sentenced in February

Former Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan entered a guilty plea November 7 to one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct and a total of three other counts of third and fourth degree offenses will be dismissed. District Court Judge Jesse Seabrooks accepted the plea and set sentencing for February 16, 2024.

CL Schools referendums fail, Aadland elected to the school board

In North Branch, Water & Light to be abolished

In the Chisago Lakes School District a special vote was held to fill an open seat on the school board from Cory Spencer's resignation in March.

Code of Conduct complaint dismissed

The majority of North Branch City Council found no basis for a complaint filed against the mayor, by fellow council member Kelly Neider, and voted 3-0 to not take any action last week. The North Branch Council members agreed the complaint was insufficiently substantiated, and there was nothing to penalize as far as alleged Code of Conduct violations. Council also directed staff in its motion to schedule a facilitator for a work session on relationships and conflict resolution in the near future.

Paranormal adventures, midwest style

In the course of a lifetime many people put in the work personally in search of their spirituality, understanding the importance of being an enlightened human being and a repository of positive energy in the physical universe.

Chisago County braces for impact from delinquent property tax court ruling

Every decision the Supreme Court hands down affects somebody or something— and officials working within the county property tax system are anticipating an impact to their workload due to a portion of the tax delinquent response process recently being ruled unconstitutional.

Utility referendum info campaign declarations are scrutinized by council

With just days remaining before the utility commission’s future physical existence goes to voters in North Branch— city officials last week were still getting a handle on the facts behind the plan.

Lindstrom cannabis business permits on-hold

Lindstrom has joined the list of cities banning any processing, or submittal, of applications for cannabis related businesses. Council voted 5-0 October 19 for a temporary moratorium. The halt gives the city time to review business regulations and develop operations standards for retail sales, manufacture and even for profit cultivation, of cannabis.

Levies shaping up

During this month and next local governing entities are discussing amounts they have adopted for preliminary maximum 2024 levy. They will need to once they have held the Taxation public hearings, and have to adopt a final budget and levy impacting next year’s property taxes.

County Board OK’s rural business permits

The Chisago County Board last week authorized two home businesses in the countryside. One is a motorsports outlet, applying for an after-the-fact Conditional Use Permit for a parcel in Nessel Township on Rush Lake Road, and the other is described as a landscaping services/contractor on Kost Trail, in Sunrise Township, on a parcel owned by William and Beverly Payne.

Hearing date set for complaint in regards to councilmember complain against mayor

The North Branch City Council met early last week to first deal with a complaint filed by Kelly Neider against the mayor, as the sole topic for a special meeting just prior to the regular session.

Taylors Falls city hall has unbudgeted HVAC cost

The Taylors Falls city council, minus Mayor Brandon Weiberg and Council member Troy Aanonsen, acted on an emergency HVAC unit replacement Monday night this week. There were three quotes for the work and the vote was unanimous for Aerotek.

Wyoming sets road assessment hearing

The assessment roll for the East Viking and other 2023 street improvements is prepared and Wyoming City Council set the hearing for November 7, acting during the regular city council session. Notices to affected property owners will be sent.

Center City to present trailhead details Oct. 14

Center City Mayor Jill Behnke at last week’s council meeting, announced an upcoming opportunity for residents to learn more about a proposed trailhead for the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail corridor, near the highway in downtown Center City. There will be details shared Saturday, October 14 on the site of the trailhead, next to Marine Dock and Lift. The event is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and business owners in town are invited to share their specific concerns/suggestions starting at 9:30 a.m.

County Board considers date, day or time change

The Chisago County Board is the only group of county commissioners that meets in the evenings, throughout the state, and the Board is going to take a look at changing that in an upcoming discussion.

NB Council acts on approximately nine percent hike

Attention property tax payers: when you attend the North Branch city taxation hearing later in November be advised that council members understand residents are dealing with inflated costs for everyday items, but so too is the city. Plus, North Branch has in the past either been “kicking the can down the road” or has been “conservative” in its budgeting making and 2024 is being eyed as the year for financial catch-up.

Arrowhead Transit goes to D.C. over driver pay issue

Transportation officials across the State of Minnesota are hoping attention given to transportation needs, as part of the Transportation Alliance’s annual D.C. Fly-In, will help cultivate friends on multiple transportation related needs.

Lindstrom green-lights fire hall occupancy

Lindstrom City Council September 21 handled imposing a fine for a liquor sales violation, passed a 2024 preliminary levy and heard a presentation from Superintendent Brian Dietz on the upcoming schools referendum. But these all took a backseat to the long anticipated announcement that firefighters can finally move into the new fire station.

Closed Wyoming landfill to become pollinator habitat

Minnesota is embarking on a program to transform empty spaces atop five unused landfills into pollinator habitat. The closed landfills are in Pipestone, Mower, Stearns, Hennepin counties and Chisago County, at the Wyoming Pine Lane site.

Wyoming has nine percent hike in mind for next year

Wyoming city council members voted 3-1 with member Ohnstad absent, September 5 to adopt a maximum preliminary levy for next year projected to reflect a little over a nine percent hike compared to what’s being collected this year.

North Branch School Board hears supt. is Fulbright Fellow

At the first school board meeting since the start of the 2023-2024 year, North Branch School Superintendent Sara Paul had a couple of newsworthy announcements for the School Board.

LAPD facility to get ‘study’

The Lakes Area Police Commission members crafted a compromise last week to address at least one of the many hurdles impeding unanimous support behind a future new, expanded department facility.

North Branch Council agrees Neider violated code of conduct

Approximately half of a two hour North Branch city council meeting was devoted to considering a complaint alleging council member Kelly Neider has violated the council code of conduct.

County dive team is a cooperative gem

In Chisago County an underwater emergency will trigger the call-out of a hybrid group. They hail from a number of area fire departments and are all first responders, who have seen a need for their skills. With the support of their departments, they’ve built their own Unit. The Dive Team goes out on frozen waters, in fast-moving rivers and even water filled ditches. When an underwater submersible vessel failure that proved fatal, shook the world recently; you can bet there local dive team members had more than a passing interest in that turn of events. Chisago County Dive Team members agonized with what searchers were going through responding to that ill fated, heart-stopping excursion to view the Titanic

Franconia internet system enhanced funding is approved

Another chunk of broadband enhancement financial aid was approved by the County Board last week. The commissioners have divided up the millions of dollars in economic recovery funds the county received, for certain uses and a pot of about $2 million was established for helping to install costly equipment in “under served” internet areas. The plan was that local governing units would work with broadband providers for local projects.

Taylors Falls Council OK’s cabinet shop; 6 p.m. start

The former industrial use building, in Taylors Falls on Chisago Street, just a block or so out of downtown, heading north on #16 along the river, has found a new life. The Taylors Falls City Council approved a Conditional Use Permit for Lakes Area Cabinets to set up shop. Owners MaryAnn and Shawn Morley say the business has outgrown a pole building they’ve been using for over a dozen years in Chisago City, and this structure fits their needs ideally.

Stacy store changes hands after 52 years

Anyone with an imagination would be forgiven for describing the interior of Stacy Do It Best Hardware Store as giving off a church vibe; with its hypnotically long center aisle leading past a symmetrical, but mind-boggling, display of merchandize. A small office space, off to your left, is where timecards were tabulated, orders finalized and the day’s deposits created. So efficiently-sized it requires a visitor to turn sideways to seat themself at the one desk. Dark plywood-covered walls are the backdrop for multiple plaques recognizing the store’s sales records for Stihl, Snapper, Polaris, Husqvarna and other brands. And the obligatory trophy walleye mount guards the door.

North Branch Police searching for vandal in disturbing graffiti case

A disturbing message appeared spray painted on a residential garage door early this week, and North Branch authorities are looking for leads.

Wyoming P.D. to get car cams

The City of Wyoming is quickly finding ways to utilize the legislative aid going out to cities and counties for public safety expenses. (See listing below.) The council agreed unanimously to direct staff to develop a contract activating a Reserve Cadet Officer program.

Lindstrom bans public cannabis use, Akerson project gets green light

The use of cannabis products in public spaces in Lindstrom was banned last week, by a unanimous vote of the city council (Council member Krueger attending via Internet.) The parks ordinance Chapter 130 is now amended to include cannabis of all shapes and forms. Signage will be posted in obvious locations. The violation is a petty misdemeanor and subject to a fine but does not carry jail time.

Water & Light considers hiring chairman for ballot marketing campaign

The chair of the North Branch Water & Light utility commission last week was awarded the job of developing a visual theme and messaging package for the upcoming municipal utility referendum. The proposal was the only professional services offer sought or received by the utility commission.

Postcard survey; return and express your preference on County Fair site relocation

Postcards mailed to over 2,300 addresses in the immediate Rush City area, seeking feedback on redeveloping the county fairgrounds, are beginning to be returned with responses.

East Central Regional Library budgetary needs explained explained

The library system is seeking a four percent increase in its budget for 2024 mostly to accommodate usage growth. Data for the system show 32 percent of Chisago County residents are in possession of a library card. Other member counties are as low as seven percent. The number two county is Isanti with 22 percent of its residents attached to a library card.

Farm Family of the Year is two-generational

The May Family has side-by-side farmsteads south of Rush City; one that they settled in the mid-1980s and the smaller one was established by son Jason soon after he finished schooling.

North Branch joins other local cities in conserving water

The City of North Branch has adopted a drought response and is restricting outdoor water use and encourages residents to conserve indoor water consumption too.

Ki-Chi-Saga Days Grand Marshal is Donna Colberg

It’s been a while, but there was a time when the Chisago Lakes area enjoyed the benefits of a number of very civic-minded lady entrepreneurs. Shining examples of leadership emanated from the female head of the plastics manufacturing enterprise in Lindstrom, a female was calling the shots at Corey Oil Company, while down the highway the Rainbow Cafe, a community hub, had a woman at the lead. And in Chisago City Donna Colberg was behind the curtain of many town doings, alongside her husband, running Chisago Lakes Distributing and leaving her imprint on town history.

North Branch classifies cannabis in public places as on par with alcohol, tobacco

North Branch’s public spaces are not where you want to go to enjoy your recreational cannabis. The city council last week agreed to include all cannabis products, and this means edibles too, in city ordinance outlawing certain activities in parks, trails, public shelters. etc.

Taylors Falls wades into four hour meeting

The City of Taylors Falls one year ago placed a moratorium on low dose, hemp derived products being sold in town. With the moratorium scheduled to expire August 13 2023— the council Monday Aug. 14 was poised to take action adopting a new ordinance specific to low dose, hemp derived products.

North Branch School Board gets end-of-summer update

The work doesn’t stop over the summer months for many in school district administration positions, including the superintendent.

Budget discussions conclude Lindstrom fire hall not to completion point yet

The Lindstrom Council met last week for a special budgeting workshop session and the agenda included an agreement amending terms with the contractor on the fire hall project.

Wyoming City Council briefs...

As a city with a population in excess of 1,000 persons, the City of Wyoming has been included in a statewide drought response order. Council voted last week that citizens on city water must not use water on their lawns, etc. until further notice. People with private wells are not impacted.

Franconia request for internet tabled for fund use specifics

Due to what county commissioners felt was an incomplete application —Franconia Township will not receive the $200,000 sought from the county to provide enhanced Internet service in certain township areas. A cooperative broadband installation using wireless technology was proposed in partnership with Hometown Internet.

Taylors Falls hearing August 14 to clarify hemp businesses

Amidst the turmoil happening in Taylors Falls in the fall of 2022; with the clerk in the throes of a prolonged departure, a breach of data investigation underway, uncertainty of anyone seeking re-election, and unpredictable staff loss— Taylors Falls city council put a halt on hemp derived product sales, that was totally forgotten. The council adopted the moratorium for one year effective when it was published, as of August 2002. This moratorium expires in August 2023, but there’s a related problem the mostly new council is wrestling with. A business opened that appears to have happened in violation of the moratorium.

Jail demo soon, more docks for Center City

The planned demolition of the old county jail officially got off to a soft start as the monument on the jail site, that identified the private company formerly located there, was moved across the street. The marker was shifted to a private residential parcel and Center City council heard last week the property owners are happy to be part of the marker preservation.

North Branch Council starts 2024 budget-setting debate

They say the longest journey begins with the first steps, and North Branch Council met in a workshop session recently to start their budget journey for setting next year’s property taxes.

Lindstrom, Wyoming have active water use restrictions in place

The larger cities in the readership area are activating various water use restrictions, due to Chisago County being included in a drought response area alert from the Department of Natural Resources. The restrictions are basically applied to cities of 1,000 population and over.

No-go on referendum education, yet

The North Branch Water & Light Commission July 19 lightly grazed the topic of fashioning a campaign to educate the public on the November utility referendum. Members took no direct action to start any outreach. The City of North Branch is prohibited from being involved in a ballot promotion but the utility may pursue mailings, videos, digital propaganda etc. The consensus was to review the role of the utility more, in the commission’s August meeting.