By Anne Thom

For the second time in recent months, the Stacy City Council and the Lent Town Board held a joint meeting July 25. Approximately 30 township residents were on hand. There were four items on the agenda but the word ìannexationî was not. Still, later in the meeting, it appeared. Monica Abress, township supervisor, opened the meeting and invited the residents to participate with their questions and comments.

The perpetual topic of city water and sewer was first. Councilman John Walz, responding to Abressís question of expansion, said there is no master plan for water and sewer expansion to the township, but that residents of Lent are welcome to opt in. If Stacy were to try to expand Councilmember John Daher added, the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission would have to agree.

Lent Township resident Dave Milles asked if the city knows what their capacity is for growth? Daher said that Stacy bought capacity based on the city engineer's estimate of 30 years of growth. Lent Town Board Supervisor Gene Olson asked what boundaries were used to estimate the growth, and what properties were involved? Daher said the engineer had used the city and the perimeter which, when pressed by township resident Mike Hughes, was described as an area up to two miles beyond the present city boundaries. Walz added that the city is planning for the future, in part because there are grants and low interest loans available now that may not be available if the city had not gotten around to writing a comprehensive plan. Olson said there has to be an area of the township that the city is interested in. If Stacy is interested in a specific area he requested the council come forward and make that known. Daher responded that the main area Stacy is concerned with is the area around the freeway. Lent Township resident Tom Cardinal asked, ìIs there any other property?î Daher said there are two residential properties north of Doyle Field, but the majority of our discussion has centered around the freeway. The land that seems to be the focus of attention is across the road from the Sunrise Market.

The second item was the potential development of that parcel which lies within Lent Township. Abress said city could extend water/sewer service across the road and charge for the service, but that the land could still remain as part of the township. Lent Township Board Supervisor Lyle Johnson until the owner of that parcel wants to do something else with it, discussion is premature. The son of the owner of the parcel was in the audience. He asked if any council members had contacted the owner. Daher and Councilmember Barbara Otterson said no. Walz said he had spoken to a development company and Councilmember Mel Aslakson said a realtor had contacted him but he was not aware if the realtor had pursued anything. Daher said he was aware that Chisago County Economic Development Authority director Chris Eng had contacted the property owner some months ago on behalf of Stacy. There was no further discussion.

Lent Township resident Ray Lee brought comprehensive planning into the mix . He asked if the township's comprehensive plan was now available and if it contain plans for municipal sewer and water. Olson said, ìWe are predicting to keep the township the way it is.î The township plan is available for review. A meeting to review final comments will be held at the Town Hall on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.
Johnson asked the council members when Stacy last updated the city's comprehensive plan. Daher said it was 1985, although the plan has been reviewed every two years. Abress said Lent has been working on its comprehensive plan for 13 years and the township had been successful in involving a very diverse group of citizens in writing the comprehensive plan.

Lent Township residents Cardinal and Carol Schmidt wanted to know about the recent United States Supreme Court ruling on eminent domain laws and if that ruling might eventually have an impact on future plans for the city and the townshipís land. Both Daher and Abress are of the opinion the ruling would not impact any plans, existing or not for annexation. The city would have to compensate the property owner for fair market value of the land taking into consideration the value of the developed parcel. Daher said the city would be hard pressed to find the capital to cover that expense. Cardinal wanted to know if eminent domain would be a possibility for the mobile home park adjacent to the Sunrise Market. Daher said it was even less of a possibility there as in addition to compensation for the land, the city would also have to pay for the relocation of every family displaced by the action.

That having been said, the word ìannexationî came up. Olson brought up Lentís current negotiations with Chisago City. The township and the city have agreed to the orderly annexation of 533 acres. The orderly annexation agreement, a legally binding document, provides that Chisago City cannot then pursue any hostile annexation and is in effect for 15 years. Olson asked that Stacy come forward and make known its plans regarding annexation.

Daher said, ìWe do not have a grand plan to annex Lent to pay for our sewer system.î

Lent resident Phil Carlson challenged Daher and the council to ìjust pledge publicly youíre not going to pursue any hostile annexation for ten years.

ìHostile annexation has been completely taken off the table but I wonít pledge that it wonít come back,î Daher said. Township resident Ray Lee said he had heard there was no discussion, now he is hearing that annexation has been discussed. Abress said annexation had been discussed at some point. Daher and Walz mentioned that a few Lent residents had approached Stacy to request voluntary annexation of their properties.

Johnson said, ìWeíd be willing to explore, but Stacy would have to agree to no hostile annexation for a time period,î but that the residents of Lent donít want to be annexed and could comfortably state that on behalf of most residents. Olson said, ìI agree with you on voluntary, but land grabbing is something else.î

Lent Township resident Phil Carlson had a list of reasons why he was not in favor of annexation. He talked about the somewhat rundown appearance of the buildings on Stacy Trail leading to the Forest Blvd. Intersection. He said, ì It sounds like youíre not going to do any hostile annexation, just voluntary. Landowners who are near Stacy and want to be part of it, thatís a good deal for them. Clean up the yard before you get more property.î Carlson tried also to extract a no hostile annexation pledge. Walz and Daher took this opportunity to publicize the recent development and redevelopment projects the city is pursuing. Councilmember Mel Aslakson said Stacy wants to take care of Stacy before any talk of annexing Lent.

Abress recommended the city and the township try to put some history behind them. Her recommendation was to get the issue on an agenda to end speculation and rumor. ìI want to discuss Stacyís plan. What do you want to come after in Lent Township? This is all I want to know.î Abress said.

To accommodate that request, a meeting is being scheduled for Monday, Sept.12 at 7 p.m. The agenda will consist of one item: What area does the city of Stacy want to negotiate with Lent Township over its future growth.

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