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By MaryHelen Swanson
 The Chisago County Board of Commissioners agreed with the county’s planning commissioners last week on the need for a license to hold a special event.
This is a sampling of the dumped appliances in a ravine at Interstate Park. The DNR and city of Taylors Falls will be cleaning up the site in a few days. The county will pay recycling subsidies when the appliance are taken away. Photo supplied.
There is none, they decided, need, that is, and discussion of the issue, which was significant at the June 4 planning commission meeting, should cease.
The issue had been given to the planning commission to study by the county board with no specific direction.
The planning commission discussed it at length, with several asking about the purpose such a license would serve.
During that discussion, June 4, it was mentioned that theoretically, such a license could have been required for individuals to hold large-group activities such as family reunions or graduation parties.
After reviewing the planning commission’s report of their discussion, the commissioners voted 4-1 to cease discussion of such a licence at this time. Commissioner Lora Walker was opposed.
In other zoning department issues, the commissioners approved solid waste licenses for two haulers, Veit out of Rogers, Minn., and LePage and Sons, out of Blaine. Both are roll-off companies and are probably hauling to facilities in the Twin Cities, according to Solid Waste Administrator Lisa Thibodeau.
Chisago County does not have a designation ordinance that directs where haulers must take their load.
A third license was approved for All Safe, a recycling facility in Wyoming.
Environmental Services Director Mary Schmitz, also brought a contract for approval for the CLIMB Theatre group to perform at the 2009 Chisago County Children’s Water Festival. the cost of $1,425 will come out of the Waste Management Fund and SCORE grant and not levy dollars.
Finally, a major clean-up project will be underway at Interstate Park at Taylors Falls.
The clean-up will be a cooperative effort between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and city of Taylors Falls.
Chisago County will participate by paying a recycling subsidy of $9 per unit up to $5,000 out of the Waste Management fund.
The dump (see photo) is located in steep ravine in the park. It was in operation from 1950-1970 (when it wasn’t a park) and contains mostly old appliances.
The dump happens to be along the main route proposed for the Swedish Immigrant Trail into Taylors Falls.
The DNR will be removing the appliance but will have difficulty getting them out of the ravine.
Commissioner Walker wanted to allow anyone who would like to remove the appliance to have a chance to do so. The county subsidy will be paid directly to the recycler and not to the DNR.
The DNR estimates the clean-up, including restoration of the ravine, to cost $11,500. Two Minnesota Conservation Corps crews are lined up to start the clean-up at the end of June.
The Waste Management fund is funded by the $10 fee on the county property taxes which is authorized by state statute and county ordinance.
In other department business, the commissioners:
• Approved the check pre-approval for the Septic Pilot Program invoices until June 30.
• Set a public hearing for July 15, at 6:30 p.m. on the amendment of the Comprehensive Park Plan at Ki-Chi-Saga Park (one additional ball field) and at Dennis Frandsen Park (a disc/frisbee golf course will be added).
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