By Patrick Tepoorten

The consideration of an appointment to the Comfort Lake/Forest Lake Watershed District committee was put on hold by the Chisago County board last Wednesday after sharp words from possible appointee Debora Anderson.

Anderson characterized the watershed committee as a do-nothing committee. ìThe managers are incompetent in my opinionî she stated, and noted that she has experienced difficulty acquiring documents and records from the committee.

She also alleged that the clerk of the board, who receives $150 an hour for services, is able to write minutes for meetings that they ìdonít even attend,î according to Anderson.

Anderson encouraged the county board to look into the committee, which she characterized as a drain on county tax dollars with very little to show for it. In response, Commissioner Bob Gustafson asked to table the consideration of nominees until he had a chance to investigate the matter further. That motion was passed by the board.

Anderson, along with John Spence, are the only applicants for the appointment at this time.

In other county board news:

ï The commissioners reviewed the solid waste management plan put together through a cooperative effort of the five member counties of the East Central Solid Waste Commission.

Henry Fisher, a regional planner with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, congratulated the county on its participation and called the plan ìthe first joint plan of this nature.î

Before the plan is adopted by the county, it will be subject to a public comment period scheduled to begin on March 8 and end on April 6. Similar public comment periods will also be completed in the other affected counties.

Those interested in scrutinizing the plan can obtain a copy by calling Chisago County Solid Waste Coordinator Gary Noren at (651) 237-0836. Or, view the plan online at the East Central Solid Waste Commissionís Web site at www.ecswc.cog.mn.us.

Noren also indicated that an effort will be made to provide a link at the countyís Web site as well.

Adoption of the plan will not take place until the public comment period has expired.

ï The board approved a rezoning request from Peter and Pearl Aadlund and Dave and Nancy Whitney. The old designation of agricultural was changed to rural residential.

ï A liquor license request was approved for Flickabirds, located at 50155 Clover Trail in Rush City. The license applies to on- and off-sale, as well as Sunday sales.

ï County Administrator John Moosey asked for and received permission to waive the three month waiting period for hiring two positions, an office support specialist and a financial worker for HHS. The request was made due to both positions being filled through promotion.