Big Lake’s local government groups held their annual information meeting at Big Lake City Hall Thursday. Members of the Big Lake and Orrock township boards, Big Lake School District, Big Lake City and Sherburne County - about 20 of them - gathered around the big square table at Big Lake City Hall and talked about projects and issues.

 

They’ve been doing this for many years. I think it is a tremendous idea. I give local government folk credit for their individually reaching out to others to learn of issues and projects - but this comes across as a very welcome way to “share with all.”

 

And in the process, they learn most of their projects and issues affect each other.

 

It’s something I think our local government people should be doing in Becker, Clear Lake and Clearwater.

 

Yes, it’s another meeting.

 

But it could wind up being one of the most important meetings you hold each year.

 

At Big Lake, each of the governmental groups has time to focus on their particular issues. Questions get the conversation back and forth across the table.

 

And everybody comes out very-much-more understanding what their neighbors are going through.

 

Big Lake get-togethers have lasted hardly 90 minutes in past years. This week’s session went two hours.

 

And it wasn’t boring.

 

It was jam-packed with information and very fruitful.

 

So, talk about it, local government folk. And try it.

 

I remember the resentful atmosphere that pervaded Big Lake politics back in the mid-1980’s, when the city and township were at each others’ throats.

 

A self-important mayor challenged one night at a council meeting the city would annex all the way to the viaduct (two miles east of town). It wasn’t necessary. And it didn’t sit well with the township.

 

Until cooler heads prevailed. Remmele Corp., located just east of the city, was undergoing a major expansion and needed city utilities, so they petitioned for annexation.

 

With great thought, the city and township folk got together and approved the annexation, extension of utilities . . . 

 

And. . . shared tax receipts from the additional property valuation. That has been a policy for just about every annexation of township and into the city since.

 

It’s created a good living environment for both groups, as they very effectively work together on administration of the fire department and library, too.

 

It’s a spirit of sharing - a spirit of cooperation - and a spirit of growing together as a community.

 

Just as we read about annexation chatter at Clearwater this week.

 

Maybe the timing is perfect?