By Anne Thom

A special public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 31 at the Lent Town Hall. Approximately 75 Lent Township residents joined township supervisors Monica Dwyer Abress, Gene Olson, Lyle Johnson and clerk Betsy Randt and officials from Stacy including Mayor Michael Carlson, clerk Sharon MT Payne and Council members Mel Aslakson, John Daher, Barbara Otterson and John Walz for a working discussion.

There was one agenda item: the future of the Township and the city of Stacy.
Lent Townshipís Web site at www.lenttownship.net had posted the event as an annexation discussion and a discussion of the townshipís and cityís future. Councilman Walz did not shy away from using the word ìannexationî as he explained that the city and the township need to protect themselves. ìIf everyone annexes up to our borders, weíre stuck.î He pointed out that other cities around Lent could also pursue annexation bringing up recent examples of Chisago City pursuing Wyoming Township and North Branch pursuing Branch Township. The Stacy city council widely believes annexation in Lent Township is inevitable whether by Stacy or some other city. Township supervisor Olson asked when the idea of annexation began. Mayor Carlson said the idea has been around at least three or four years and before he was elected mayor. Councilwoman Otterson said ìWe have to work together to make sure both entities survive well.î She further advised the crowd the city does not have a secret plan. Councilman Daher made it clear that he does not agree with hostile annexation and followed Otterson in saying nothing secret is being carried out.

The Mayor's letter
Mayor Carlson started the discussion by referring to a letter Stacy had sent to Lent Township. He said his motivation in sending the letter was ìto make sure Stacy and Lent continue to exist productively.î

Carlson cited his three top issues in his introductory remarks; land, jobs and the expansion of city services. He told the public that if a city is going to annex, the city has to have a plan, that plan has to be in place and that the city would have to be able to offer something such as city services. Annexation cannot simply be a ìland grab,î he said.

Daher then said there were several southwest sections of the township the city had been interested in. Abress confirmed this and said that has now been taken off the table. Carlson, referring to what Walz had brought up about other local annexation events, said the quality of the process was important as well as considering what the impact of pursuing annexation would be. Walz had also said ìWe could start a petition tomorrow to annex but that isnít what we want to do.î

As the floor was also open to residents and their questions, Lent Township resident Shannon Archer asked, ìWhat is the benefit to a township resident if the township is annexed?î Daher responded that there had been a rumor that property taxes in the township would double. Township supervisors made a comparison to the township levy vs. the city levy on its residents. But Daher maintained the residents wouldnít experience any impact.

Archer then more specifically asked, ìWhat about the rumor we will be forced to go on city sewer and water?î

Daher repeated Carlsonís statement that the city would have to be able to show how the annexed property would benefit in terms of services. Supervisor Lyle Johnson said the test is whether the city can provide services. And in his opinion, due to the fact that most of the surrounding townships consist of five-acre parcels of housing, the city would be unable to provide services that were a benefit or superior to what the residentís now have which is well and septic.

Housing and commercial of interest to both
Both entities have a vested interest in housing and commercial and industrial growth and both the town board and the council spoke of issues, concerns and plans in those areas. The issue of comprehensive planning has been discussed at many Stacy City Council meetings going several months back. Lent Township resident Al Schultz took the floor. He said he has heard annexation both is and isnít going to happen and asked, ìIs there a plan or not?î

Carlson said the city is working on rewriting a comprehensive plan. Lent Township resident Dave Milles said that Lent Township is in the process of finalizing its own comprehensive plan and asked, ìWould the city of Stacy be willing to incorporate our plan into the cityís plan?î Both the town board and the council agreed it was a good idea.

There was further discussion on the use of the land by the city and the township. Lent Township resident Tom Cardinal wanted to know if the land north of Falcon Avenue at County Road 17 has been sold. The township has been looking at that area to develop light commercial in anticipation of money that would come from the Rush Line corridor project. Chisago County in conjunction with Isanti County is looking at rebuilding CR17 from Hwy. 65 to I-35.

Abress said the township envisions small, rural village businesses along this stretch of road. Cardinal said he had heard rumors of a Fleet Farm going in there which could not be confirmed by anyone. Stacy is also looking to expand its light commercial base. Daher said ìThe present council is actively trying to bring in businesses by selling the community.î

Township not 'keen' on the plan
Supervisor Gene Olson said he isnít going along with the city needing to expand in order to accomplish its business objectives. ìYou have vacant land in the city. Why are you coming to the country to get commercial/industrial?î He asked about allowing the development of 66 acres for housing near the site of the business park. Daher explained that it allowed the city to expand sewer and water to the outer edge of the city and to the business park. This in turn would lower a commercial developer's cost of running sewer and water in and make the business park more attractive to potential businesses.

The entire table of officials cited concerns about the mobile home park in Stacy and the farm land across from the Sunrise Market on Stacy Trail. It was noted that there have been rumors of the closure of or sale of the mobile home park. A few township residents brought up the condition of some of the homes in the park and the code and law enforcement problems that originate there. Carlson explained that the mobile home park is private property and that the city has tried several avenues to gain some kind of regulation of it. Admittedly, and since it is private property, there were no answers regarding its future or enforcement efforts. Carlson did also say that Stacy is committed to maintaining a variety of viable housing resources.

Joint planning suggested
Supervisor Abress also echoed Olson in saying she had heard what the city was saying but she believed the city still has vacant land and they did not need to come and take the land in Lent Township. Abress maintained that some kind of joint planning is a good idea as Milles had suggested. She is interested in protecting the townshipís land and resources and in insuring that the residents of the township maintain their voice. ìA city can grow without adding land,î Abress said. She brought up the example of the relationship between the city of White Bear Lake and White Bear Township. The city and the township had entered into a shared service agreement. This allowed the city to capitalize on some extra revenue that the township agreed it needed and it pays for with no exchange of land. This idea was well received in the room.

Before the close of the meeting Supervisor Johnson chided the council saying ìwe have a trust issue.î He brought up the April 25 meeting at Stacy City Hall where extending the cityís agricultural zone was on the agenda and expansion of the city zoning authority. He wondered why no one at city hall had called Lent Township.

Abress said the offer of discussion had been there but the Township board does not do business individually. The final question was, ìWhat can we do to work together?" It was tentatively decided to hold a joint work session between Stacy and Lent at 7 p.m. Monday, July 25 at the Lent Town Hall.

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