By MaryHelen Swanson

Itís a rather old building, its exterior is a silvery tin and it sits on a small piece of land that abuts a swamp.

The Oak Leaf Grange hall located in Stark and the spot of land on which it sits saw a valuation increase from $3,500 to $27,900 by the county assessorís office this year.

Grange members Arlene Burda and Gwen Swenson were on hand for the Chisago County Board of Equalization last Wednesday to object vehimently to the significane valuation increase.

No one was even sure the lot would be considered buildable by the zoning office. Swenson said the office said theyíd have to file for a building permit before zoning would tell them if it was. She asked if it would suffice if the Grange got a perc test on the land to prove it was not buildable.

County assessor John Keefe said the Grange property was valued the same as the neighboring property, another small spot of land abuting the same wetland area. He also told the women that if the property was deemed buildable, the valuation would be about $20,000 more.

What other property in the county can you buy for $27,900, Keefe repeatedly asked.

A motion by Commissioner Ben Montzka to uphold the assessorís valuation died for lack of a second.

Commissioner Lora Walker wanted to know if the lot was buildable.

Commissioner Rick Olseen moved to reduce the valuation to $14,000 but the motion died in a 3-2 vote.

Chisago County Commissioner Mike Robinson spoke briefly to update the council on items pertaining to Harris.

Robinson urged the council to apply for a senior housing grant through the county HRA/EDA. ìI know we talked about it with the city one or two years ago,î Robinson said. ìThey got one for Rush City and now Lindstrom is already approved,î he said.

Robinson was also concerned that the city was no longer in talks with Sunrise Township over a proposed fire contract.

Shoeberg told him that the township has received notice that services from the Harris Fire Department will be terminated as of June 30 without a new contract.

Robinson said it would be a bad deal if Harris doesnít respond to a fire or mutual aid call and someone dies because of it.

ìWe offered them a contract but they want the formula the same as their contract with Amador, even though theyíre saving money using our formula,î Hanson said.

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