The Sherburne County Board established the first lake improvement district (LID) in the county with a unanimous 5-0 vote Tuesday.
The LID covers three lakes - Julia, Briggs and Rush Lakes in Palmer Twp., all part of the Briggs Lake chain.
Members of the Briggs Lake Chain Association (BLCA) had been working over the years to maintain lake water quality and prevent shoreline destruction on the lake chain. But lack of funds was making it difficult to keep up with the necessary work.
At a county board workshop in January, 2014, the BLCA first proposed forming the LID to help fund projects to stabilize the shoreline and improve water quality. A LID has the authority to raise funds, and can ask the county to assess properties for additional funds for specific improvements.
At the time the BLCA wanted the LID to cover all four lakes in the chain - Julia, Briggs, Rush and Big Elk Lake and a total of 639 properties.
But a petition of residents in the chain fell short of the required number of votes for Big Elk Lake.
At a meeting in March 2015, Dan Merchant, Kenzie Phelps and Scott Ruiter of the BLCA proposed forming the LID for three lakes. But the county board directed them to get a new petition for a three-lake LID.
Last month (May 16), a public hearing was held at the Sherburne History Center to consider the LID. Under state statute, the board had 30 days to either approve or deny the request. Tuesday, 29 days after the hearing, a petition to form the three-lake LID was presented to the board.
Without any debate, the board voted to approve the LID.
Assistant County Attorney Tim Sime said under the LID, specific projects can be funded, including but not limited to, developing a comprehensive plan to monitor and improve water quality, applying for federal and state funding to study and treat issues related to pollution, water levels and aquatic invasive species, and any other programs, plans or activities approved by the county board.
Sime also said funding for projects must first come from public donations or private grants. After seeking public and private donations, the LID can make a request to the county board for funding. The board can impose an assessment on the benefitting properties within the LID or impose service charges on the users in the LID.
The county board must also appoint a seven-member board of directors.
“You will appoint the initial board of directors,” said Sime. “After that, the board of directors will be elected at an annual meeting.”
The commissioners directed the members of the BLCA who were present at the meeting to create a list of recommendations for the board of directors. That list is expected to be available at Tuesday’s meeting.
Parking Restriction
The board passed a resolution prohibiting parking on Co. Rd. 5 in the City of Big Lake between Hwy. 10 and Park Ave.
Assistant Highway Engineer Dan Knapek said the county will be reconditioning that section with two through lanes and continuous left turn lanes this fall.
“We’ve never had parking restrictions on that road, but a requirement to receive state aid is a parking restriction on that segment,” he said.
The parking restriction will be enforced one the “No Parking” signs are up.
Co. Rd. 4 Bid
The board awarded the contract to reclaim and overlay Co. Rd. 4, road alignment and signal improvement from Hwy. 169 to the east county line in Zimmerman to Knife River Corp. at $3,542,070.64.
Other bidders included Hardrives ($3,544,725.38), Valley Paving Inc. ($3,824,923.28), Park Construction Company ($3,857,887.77) and Shafter Contracting Co. Inc. ($4,195,232.00).
The engineer’s estimate was $3.726 million.
Solar Farm
The board approved a request by SEV MN 1 LLC for a solar farm development on 50 acres near 92nd Street and Co. Rd. 8 in Clear Lake Twp. The land is owned by Barton Sand & Gravel Co./Tiller Corp.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Approved the purchase of three commercial grade air conditioning units for three 800MHZ sub-sites at a cost of $66,000 plus a 5% contingency;
• Approved selling a county-owned parcel near Co. Rd. 45 and Fifth Street NW near the public safety building in Zimmerman to the highest bidder, proposals to be submitted by Aug. 2;
• Approved a gambling application for Duelm Area Lions at Kinitski’s Grill & Bar in Clear Lake for a Sept. 17 raffle;
• Approved a collective bargaining agreement with Law Enforcement Labor Services Dispatcher Unit;
• Approved the transfer of $500 from the Sherburne County Attorney’s Office to the sheriff’s office to be used for the Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) program;
• Approved a joint powers agreement with MN Dept. of Corrections for prosecution services at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility.
