The recent Sherburne County Association of Townships (SCAT) meeting was held February 1, having been rescheduled after severe weather in January.
MAT Update
Tammy Carlson is the new District 7 representative on the Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) board. She took the position, representing Sherburne County townships and other surrounding areas, after the previous director passed away in late 2022.
Being so new on the job, Carlson didn’t have much to report for an update. She noted a successful MAT day at the capitol, where representatives of townships across the state travel to St. Paul to meet with legislators and discuss issues, including:
• Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), which allows some property owners to not pay taxes on their land, but making direct payments instead. Over time, the payments required diminish to zero, and no property taxes or payments go to the township after that point, which can be hard on townships that don’t necessarily have a large tax base in the first place.
• An orderly annexation bill, where MAT is trying to prevent cities from being able to seize township land without an agreement;
• Family care policies, as employers are now required by the state to give families 24 weeks of paid family care leave. This would be hard on townships who have very few staff members as it is;
• Allowing construction companies working for townships to not have to pay sales tax on materials used for township projects. Currently, the companies are reimbursed for what they pay in sales tax.
Carlson went on to note that MAT University trainings are available online now, and they are free to take. Next year, MAT will once again charge for the courses. These courses train new township supervisors in how to perform in their new role (and the old supervisors, too, should they desire a refresher.)
Sherburne County Update
Sherburne County Commissioners Lia Fobbe, Gary Gray, and Gregg Felber attended the SCAT meeting to give an update on the county board. Gray and Felber were new members on the board, having only been serving for a month at that point, and reported that they were still learning a lot, but they would make themselves available to the township supervisors when needed, and encouraged them to reach out with concerns. Both of these new commissioners had served on township boards prior to being elected to their current positions.
Bruce Messelt, County Administrator, took the floor to update SCAT about the road projects being done in Zimmerman. He also noted that the county will be working with MnDOT to change Co. Rd. 11 into a state highway. This will likely involve changing up the intersection to be an overpass and an exit (similar to the intersection of Hwy. 10 and Co, Rd. 15.) He also relayed the news about the new township park and historical site, Big Elk Lake Park. The area has great significance to local Native American Tribes, and so the county is working with the tribes to preserve the history of the area.
Messelt also discussed issues with inmates requiring medical care. The county is required to pay for those inmates until they can get a place at St. Peter, a facility run by the state. There is a long list for beds at the facility, though, and this can end up costing the county a lot of money.
In Other Business, SCAT members:
• Heard from Attorney Mike Brubaker about upcoming legal seminars open to township supervisors, clerks, and treasurers;
• Heard an update from County Attorney Kathleen Heaney;
• Noted the next meeting will be April 5.
