By Patrick Tepoorten

The capacity of a planned Health and Human Services (HHS) building to be constructed in North Branch was discussed last Wednesday morning.

The county board heard from HHS director Mary Sheehan that the structure would hold fewer employees than previously thought.

Sheehan informed the board that only 50 employees would be moving into the building, a number significantly less than previously discussed.

Commissioner Rick Olseen asked what prompted the change.

Sheehan said the North Branch location would be a ìsardine canî with 80 employees. ìWe have to give employees a reasonable amount of space,î she continued, and added that housing programs like WIC would take more room than planned.

ìWe canít have a building that is so packed there is no room for expansion and change,î she concluded.

Commissioner Ben Montzka noted that the planned use of the building appeared to change significantly and requested that the board be more involved in the planning.

In other county board news:

ï It was announced by HHS that citizens will soon be able to apply for MNCare at the county instead of having to go directly to the state. The state will reimburse the county $30 per application filed.

ï A provision in day care licensing that gave providers a discount on the $250 re-licensing fee for CPR certifications was eliminated.

ï The Chisago County Local Water Management Plan, 2006-2011, has been sent to the state for a one-month review.

Comment from Peter J Schaps, 7/10/06

It would seem from the comments of Ms Sheehan the newly hired Director of Chisago County HHS, that more study and long term planning is in order for our NB City and Chisago County officials who seem to be more than anxious to close this transaction at the NB ESSBY location. As a taxpayer of the county and living in the City of North Branch, and being fully made aware of the HHS space problem for several years, I am very disappointed with the decision these current government officials have made in selecting ESSBY as a new home for HHS.
The taxpayers living in the City of North Branch are being led down the political primrose path with this proposed transaction between the city and the county. The high valued lands being developed at ESSBY
will need to be paid for by future owners of this property or current taxpayers. As most folks are aware, land that government owns and occupies is tax neutral. Governments do not pay real estate taxes, they only consume real estate taxes, and as such the county should be taking a more serious approach to putting taxpayers of North Branch and the county first. Over a year ago the county was interested and shown a 20 acre parcel located in North Branch, at 38180 Hemingway Avenue for a potential future home of its HHS department . The property is owned by LCEF, currently a tax-exempt Lutheran Church organization. The building located at this proposed site is 11,400 sq. ft in size, and was designed and built for multi purpose commercial use. The extensive land surrounding this building is approximately 15 acres open for a future owner to decide its use.
The benefits for HHS and taxpayers with the county selecting this location for HHS, is the property is already property tax exempt. This site would allow HHS the building space to grow for many years to come, as well as providing space for other county services which could be located at the same site. Currently, the 38180 property is for sale and the owners would be open to any reasonable offer the county would care to make. The county is planning on spending at least 2 million to build the "Sardine Can" at ESSBY, where HHS will be space limited the day after they take occupancy. On the other hand the 38180 Hemingway property may be purchased for less cost, and is a larger building than what is being proposed at ESSBY. If HHS sees a need to expand in the future, the county will not have to purchase additional land they already have long term planned well enough to expand most anyway they decide. My thoughts of benefit also include the families and children of Chisago County, many of whom attend schools next door at North Branch Schools. What a perfect location for the county's Health and Human Services departments, whose employees work very hard, day in and day out fulfilling the many needs of our families with children. Tax paying citizens of North Branch and Chisago County be advised you need to pay close attention to what is currently being proposed by our elected and non elected, government officials, and make your voice heard loud and clear. Your future hard earned income depends on it for years to come.

Peter J Schaps
North Branch, MN
Minnesota Legal Process, LLC
Bowers Real Estate MN

Comment from Peter J Schaps, 7/10/06

It would seem from the comments of Ms Sheehan the newly hired Director of Chisago County HHS, that more study and long term planning is in order for our NB City and Chisago County officials who seem to be more than anxious to close this transaction at the NB ESSBY location. As a taxpayer of the county and living in the City of North Branch, and being fully made aware of the HHS space problem for several years, I am very disappointed with the decision these current government officials have made in selecting ESSBY as a new home for HHS.
The taxpayers living in the City of North Branch are being led down the political primrose path with this proposed transaction between the city and the county. The high valued lands being developed at ESSBY
will need to be paid for by future owners of this property or current taxpayers. As most folks are aware, land that government owns and occupies is tax neutral. Governments do not pay real estate taxes, they only consume real estate taxes, and as such the county should be taking a more serious approach to putting taxpayers of North Branch and the county first. Over a year ago the county was interested and shown a 20 acre parcel located in North Branch, at 38180 Hemingway Avenue for a potential future home of its HHS department . The property is owned by LCEF, currently a tax-exempt Lutheran Church organization. The building located at this proposed site is 11,400 sq. ft in size, and was designed and built for multi purpose commercial use. The extensive land surrounding this building is approximately 15 acres open for a future owner to decide its use.
The benefits for HHS and taxpayers with the county selecting this location for HHS, is the property is already property tax exempt. This site would allow HHS the building space to grow for many years to come, as well as providing space for other county services which could be located at the same site. Currently, the 38180 property is for sale and the owners would be open to any reasonable offer the county would care to make. The county is planning on spending at least 2 million to build the "Sardine Can" at ESSBY, where HHS will be space limited the day after they take occupancy. On the other hand the 38180 Hemingway property may be purchased for less cost, and is a larger building than what is being proposed at ESSBY. If HHS sees a need to expand in the future, the county will not have to purchase additional land they already have long term planned well enough to expand most anyway they decide. My thoughts of benefit also include the families and children of Chisago County, many of whom attend schools next door at North Branch Schools. What a perfect location for the county's Health and Human Services departments, whose employees work very hard, day in and day out fulfilling the many needs of our families with children. Tax paying citizens of North Branch and Chisago County be advised you need to pay close attention to what is currently being proposed by our elected and non elected, government officials, and make your voice heard loud and clear. Your future hard earned income depends on it for years to come.

Peter J Schaps
North Branch, MN
Minnesota Legal Process, LLC
Bowers Real Estate MN

Comment from Peter J Schaps, 7/10/06

It would seem from the comments of Ms Sheehan the newly hired Director of Chisago County HHS, that more study and long term planning is in order for our NB City and Chisago County officials who seem to be more than anxious to close this transaction at the NB ESSBY location. As a taxpayer of the county and living in the City of North Branch, and being fully made aware of the HHS space problem for several years, I am very disappointed with the decision these current government officials have made in selecting ESSBY as a new home for HHS.
The taxpayers living in the City of North Branch are being led down the political primrose path with this proposed transaction between the city and the county. The high valued lands being developed at ESSBY
will need to be paid for by future owners of this property or current taxpayers. As most folks are aware, land that government owns and occupies is tax neutral. Governments do not pay real estate taxes, they only consume real estate taxes, and as such the county should be taking a more serious approach to putting taxpayers of North Branch and the county first. Over a year ago the county was interested and shown a 20 acre parcel located in North Branch, at 38180 Hemingway Avenue for a potential future home of its HHS department . The property is owned by LCEF, currently a tax-exempt Lutheran Church organization. The building located at this proposed site is 11,400 sq. ft in size, and was designed and built for multi purpose commercial use. The extensive land surrounding this building is approximately 15 acres open for a future owner to decide its use.
The benefits for HHS and taxpayers with the county selecting this location for HHS, is the property is already property tax exempt. This site would allow HHS the building space to grow for many years to come, as well as providing space for other county services which could be located at the same site. Currently, the 38180 property is for sale and the owners would be open to any reasonable offer the county would care to make. The county is planning on spending at least 2 million to build the "Sardine Can" at ESSBY, where HHS will be space limited the day after they take occupancy. On the other hand the 38180 Hemingway property may be purchased for less cost, and is a larger building than what is being proposed at ESSBY. If HHS sees a need to expand in the future, the county will not have to purchase additional land they already have long term planned well enough to expand most anyway they decide. My thoughts of benefit also include the families and children of Chisago County, many of whom attend schools next door at North Branch Schools. What a perfect location for the county's Health and Human Services departments, whose employees work very hard, day in and day out fulfilling the many needs of our families with children. Tax paying citizens of North Branch and Chisago County be advised you need to pay close attention to what is currently being proposed by our elected and non elected, government officials, and make your voice heard loud and clear. Your future hard earned income depends on it for years to come.

Peter J Schaps
North Branch, MN
Minnesota Legal Process, LLC
Bowers Real Estate MN