Posted 4/11/01
Orville Anderson honored by county and governor for 44 years service to Fish Lake Township
By MaryHelen Swanson
Who can remember what you have done for the past 44 years? Orville Anderson of Harris does, because much of his time during those years has been devoted to the service of Fish Lake Township.
This week, instead of at the board table, Anderson sat in the audience as the town meeting began, waiting for a special commemoration by some special people.
First, at the urging of Commissioner Mike Robinson, he received a framed commendation from Chisago County presented by Administrator Jim Thoreen for his many years of dedicated service.
Then, Representative Loren Jennings presented him with commendations from Jesse Ventura himself, also for his multiple years of dedication to the people of Fish Lake Township. And, later in the meeting, Sen. Twyla Ring appeared, having had to deal with an important issue at the Legislature, to offer her words of praise for a job well done.
Jennings noted that it was over two decades ago he first asked for advice from Anderson upon entering county government, and then again when he entered state government. They all got a chuckle out of that.
Andersonís work with the township goes back to 1956 when he first ran and subsequently was elected as supervisor. There was no town hall at the time, and the township didnít own any road equipment.
Later, the town board started meeting at an old garage in Stark, sitting around a wood stove. Anderson said it wasnít a safe place because the road grader had to back up onto the road in the middle of a hill.
The town board also met at the tiny Grange Hall in Stark.
It soon became a goal of Andersonís to push for a new town hall.
Push he did and the goal was realized. Anderson considers it one of his greatest accomplishments over the 44 years to get the new building done.
And to fill the garage, came nice new machinery, the best, he figures, in the area.
Anderson noted that the town board had a conservative approach to spending, watching carefully what they bought and how much they paid.
He also noted that while there was no lack of controversy, in the end, the boards he worked with over the years always ended up in agreement.
Anderson felt it was time to leave the township leadership up to others, noting that so many things are changing, from new kinds of problems to a lot of paperwork.
Anderson recently turned 78, he still farms 500 acres and shares his life with his wife, Lorraine, two daughters and four grandchildren.
And heíll probably still show up at town board meetings.