By Melanie Stegner

news@pctribune.com

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attended this week’s county board meeting to request certification of a wetland easement for a parcel of land in Grove Lake Township. The land is owned by Jeffrey and Mary Henriksen of Brooten. The easement protects 8.7 acres in 14 wetland basins. The landowners will remain responsible for weed control, recreation vehicles and the condition of the land. 

The highway department has been hard at work as construction season is in full swing. “The list of maintenance work to finish over the summer grew significantly on May 12 with the substantial rain event followed by the wind storm. There are 22 locations on 13 routes where the road surfacing or shouldering was washed away and several other locations where trees fell on the road or right-of-way. Most damage was relatively minor and we were able to repair them sufficiently to open roads to traffic. There are some issues such as culvert repairs and debris removal that will be accomplished as we are able,” said Brian Giese, County Engineer.

Construction projects are continuing as scheduled on CSAH 1, 3 and 18. Culvert replacements were completed on CSAH 79 and 8. CSAH 8 repairs were done as an emergency repair and not part of a planned contract.

Special meeting set for Tuesday

This Tuesday, June 14, a special meeting will take place for a public hearing regarding the removal of certain trees to prepare for construction work on CSAH 17. The variance request to the State Aid Variance Committee is on June 23 for approval of the shortened shoulder widths and other requirements to complete the project to meet the state’s requirements and the residents’ requests.

Giese presented the variance request to the board for approval to bring to the state meeting. Several of the previously discussed issues will not require a variance. The 30 mile per hour design speed in suburban areas is one of those requests. The route however does not meet the criteria of a ‘popular bicycle route.’ This allows a three-foot shoulder in place of a six-foot-wide paved shoulder. 

A resolution approving the Sauk River Comprehensive Watershed management plan was approved for the year. Most of the work is being done in Todd, Douglas and Stearns County and will be using BWSR funds.

Several Conditional and Interim Use permits were approved. In Chippewa Falls township, Lynn and Lisa Peterson requested a CUP to operate a commercial storage business on their 10.5-acre parcel. Phillip and Linette Scharmer requested a CUP to locate and construct and 40 x 64 shed on their shoreland zoned lot in Camp Lake Estates in Glenwood Township. In Leven Township, David Wrolson requested a CUP to make 11.9 of his acres non-farm residence. It’s currently zoned Non-Intensive Agriculture. Chris Strom requested an IUP to continue to locate an RV on his Lake Leven property. He has had proper permitting since 2019 for this RV and has installed an onsite septic system and remained in conformance.

The board was presented with two applications for the ARPA funded childcare grant project. Glacial Hills Elementary of Starbuck applied for $74,971 for improvements to their building to add more space for childcare opportunities. The request was approved unanimously. 

Kingdom Kids of Glenwood requested a grant of $75,000 to aid in the construction of new facilities. Upon review of the application, Commissioner Haggerty expressed concern regarding the center’s past child safety concerns listed on their state licensure. The license is in good standing with the state, it was stated. “In regard to the violations, as a person who worked in child protection for years, there is maltreatment on their licensure, so I’m wondering what conversations were had and what changes were made to ensure that kids are safe there? I’m concerned there are no site plans or anything included for Kingdom Kids,” said Haggerty. The Kingdom Kids request was approved with Haggerty the sole no vote.

The primary canvassing board, consisting of the county auditor/treasurer, court administrator, Glenwood City Mayor and two commissioners appointed by the board who are not candidates, set the board for August 12 at 9 a.m. in the County Board Room. Commissioners Haggerty and Wagner were appointed to the board.

The next board meeting is scheduled for June 14 in the County Board meeting room.