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Lent seeks fee abatementBy MaryHelen Swanson Monica Abress and Charles Peterson, representing Lent Township, were on hand for the May 1 county board meeting to open the discussion on an abatement for part of the building permit for construction of a new fire hall. The Township will build it within Stacy city limits and would like to start construction this summer. While thankful for the quick response to their application, so Lent Township can move ahead, the Lent folks are asking for help in reducing the building permit fee which has been set at $7,828.34. A partial abatement was discussed. Abating a building fee for a small government entity has not been considered or done before. Commissioner Tom Delaney suggested a scenario where the fee could be cut in half while the city of Stacy would still get its 25 percent of the total fee. That would mean less money for the zoning department. Chisago County Environmental Services Director Marion Heemsbergen suggested that a ìgrantî might be given by the county rather than an abatement, noting that the zoning department cannot work for nothing. The permit is a fee for service, he reminded the board. Heemsbergen said if the commissioners give Lent a break on the fee, other entities will be at the boardís doorstep. As they were not prepared to make a decision that day, Commissioner Bob Vande Kamp recommended adding this discussion to the May 15 agenda. Abress said they werenít expecting an answer that evening, ìWe came to open the discussion.î Peterson posed an interesting question to the commissioners as the discussion ended. Wondering if the fee issue is a two-way street, he asked if, when the county (Sheriffís Department) calls the Stacy-Lent Fire Department out to handle a situation, the fire department charge a fee. Whatís up, up north They were not asking for money. They reviewed the history of the society and went over the many projects that have been keeping members busy. Among the many services this society has performed are 20 years of managing the historical society building at the county fairgrounds in Rush City. They have collected artifacts and information for displays, hosted tours to school groups and individuals, installed a pressed tin ceiling and lanterns in the store area of the building, designed and made a lighted map of historical Chisago County, and prepared large showcases for displays. The north society also acquired the army tank for a display and placed a flag pole at the site at the fairgrounds. They have marked the Government Road, found and marked eight rural school sites, and placed a microfilm reader in the Rush City library. In addition, they help many people with genealogy research and prepare printed materials including a reprinted series of 1903 Rush City Post articles into a ìHistory of Rush City.î More recently, they started publishing their own quarterly newsletter. Future projects include placement of a memorial plaque by the army tank as well as flower beds, preservation of over 500 Effie Bornhoft pictures and sketches and compilation of books of early photos of the Rush City area. It was noted that all the work was done by volunteers with monetary donations and memberships dues: $12 per person, $17 a couple. Emergency spending Everyone knows that by the time you purchase and set up a new computer, itís obsolete. Chisago County has dead and dying computers right now, according to MICS director Jon Eckels. Apparently, addressing these computer upgrade needs was missed during budget time last year. For this reason, the board decided to proceed on an emergency basis and secure a three-year bank loan in the amount of $267,000 to upgrade memory, purchase some new computers and operating systems, upgrade the network backbone, and acquire some new software. It also will cover training, printers and installation costs. This action was recommended by County Auditor Dennis Freed, County Treasurer Lee Olson and county financial consultants Ehlers and Associates. The county will start making a payment on the bank loan in 2003. Planning commission actions Itís back to the PC for Jerrold Carlson who is seeking approval of a preliminary plat of 14 lots in Fish Lake Township, on a portion of the former Orville Anderson property. His development has received approval from the Fish Lake Township Board. But zoning director Marion Heemsbergen has reservations about whether this plat conforms to the surrounding land use, which is farmland. Heemsbergen thinks this plat could conflict with the goals and policies of the countyís comprehensive plan. At the April 25 planning commission meeting, neighbors of this property had expressed similar concerns that it was an incompatible use and that it could start a ìdomino effectî with neighboring farms being sold as well. Carlson had produced data showing that similar plat designs in the past couple of years have been approved. It was noted that, when Carlson was not interested in reconfiguring his plat, the planning commission voted to deny the plat as proposed. That was their recommendation to the county board last week. But a motion to deny the plat failed on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Bob Vande Kamp, Tom Delaney and Bob Gustafson opposed. Once again Carlson was asked if he would consider going back to the planning commission for a redesign of his plat. Carlson was not sure what the commissioners wanted in a redesign. With the 60-day rule in action, (county must take action on a request in 60 days or it automatically is approved) the commissioners moved to send Carlsonís plat back to the planning commission for another review. Carlson agreed to waive the 60-day rule. ©ECM Post Review |