By MaryHelen Swanson

A public hearing was set for Sept. 22 in order for the Chisago County board to address a request for a tax abatement district in the City of Stacyís new industrial park.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

The city is asking to use property taxes generated on the new development of Stacy Ponds Business Park for payment of debt service on the cityís infrastructure bonds to be issued for the development of the 12-acre business park.

Hans Hagen Homes, which will be the first business to build in the park, will not receive abatement or any refund on taxes they would owe.
According to Chisago County Housing and Redevelopment/ Economic Development director Chris Eng, the money would only be used for infrastructure improvements in the park.

The land currently is the site of the cityís wastewater treatment ponds.

The ponds will not be needed soon since the city has signed an agreement to join the Chisago Lakes Regional Wastewater Treatment Center project. The ponds on site will be decommissioned when the city officially connects to the regional plant.

The county portion of the tax abatement is estimated to be about $29,000 a year for a period not to exceed 10 years.

The city of Stacyís portion is estimated to be about $11,000 a year for the same period.

At present, the site of the proposed business park in Stacy is tax exempt.

As proposed, the tax abatement assistance to Stacy can be reimbursed to the county as land is sold in the Stacy business park.

Hans Hagen Homes is planning to construct a 55,000 square foot building on 6 of the 12 acres. Approximately 30 new jobs will be created.

In other business, the county board:

ï Authorized Chisago County Administrator John Moosey to begin seeking a replacement for Environmental Services Director Marion Heemsbergen who has announced his pending resignation for some time this fall.

Moosey expects it will take several months to find the right candidate for the position. The position will be advertised throughout September.

ï Learned from Commissioner Lora Walker that St. Croix Stone in North Branch has offered rock for the fireplace in the new North Branch Area Library. What is needed now is someone who can build the fireplace.

The Friends of the Library are donating about $2,000 toward the fireplace.

ï Appointed commissioners Ben Montzka and Rick Olseen to canvass the results of the primary election Sept 14.

ï Held a brief discussion on the budget increase for 2005. Administrator Moosey indicated the county could be $4 million short going into the new year. Initial department head requests have come in at a 62 percent increase.

Commissioner Montzka indicated he would not support even a 30 percent increase.

The board met yesterday to discuss the levy and budget for next year.

ï Moved to send a resolution to to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency requesting that a public hearing be held on proposed new transfer station rules.

If the new rules are adopted without public input as is being suggested, according to Gene Kramer, executive director of the East Central Solid Waste Commission, the Hinckley transfer station owned by ECSWC may not be turned into a customer convenience center like the Cambridge transfer station center.

The Cambridge facility allows private individual waste haulers to safely drop off waste loads and to recycle such things as tires, electronics and home appliances.

ï Approved final plats for: Wild River Estates in Shafer Township, Basswood Estates in Nessel Township, Goose Lake Hills in Nessel Township, Lakeshore Place in Fish Lake Township and Amador Hills Estate in Amador Township.

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