Big Lake’s rising property valuation for tax purposes is serving the community well.

   But it is a drawback for Big Lake Schools, which is seeing shrinking state aids due to the rising valuations.

   That was the focus as Finance Director Angie Manuel walked the Big Lake Board of Education through their preliminary tax levy for 2020 Thursday evening.

   “Overall, in 2019 we lost equalization aids from the state,” she said. 

   This year will be the same as the district’s tax base - based on new construction and increased valuations to properties amounting to at least 10% - will result in decreased aids.

   Their proposed tax levy of $10,506,471 will show a hike of $161,864 due to need for additional revenue; the remaining $571,183 increase will be due to offsetting decreased state aids.

   Their proposed tax hike for 2020 will be 7.5%, compared to a hike of 8.7% last year.

   “It’s a little better than last year,” said Supt. Steve Westerberg.

   The general fund levy will be $4.866,733, up from $4,227,699 last year.

   The community services fund will be $391,500, up from $377,713 last year.

   And their debt service levy will be $5,248,238, up from $4,781,246 in 2019.

   Of the district’s approximate $44 million budget, about $34 million (77%) goes to the general fund.

   The local property tax levy comprises about 12% of that fund, while state aids comprise 84%, federal and local inputs average about two percent each.

   She noted the school’s debt service equalization aid from the state is gone.“We’re doing well from a tax standpoint,” remarked Board Chair Dan Nygaard.

   But there are drawbacks to that, too, he noted.

   The board will study the proposed preliminary tax levy over the next months before finalizing it to the county in December.

   There is reason for optimism with the district’s budget for this year. The district reported last week it had gained 84 new students, and with each student comes an approximate $8,000 state aids increase.

   That has resulted in the hiring of new elementary teachers and special education staffers.

   BLMS Principal Mark Ernst reported his school has been enrolling new students, he reported 26 or 27 new students this fall.

   Quizzed by the board as to where they are coming from, he noted, “some from the Metro and some (at BLHS) from out-of-state.

   Manuel said this year’s budget is in good shape. “We budgeted for a decrease (in students) and we are well over budget.”

   The board heard a presentation from high school officials on the vaping situation and programs set in place to counteract student use. See story in next week’s Tribune.

“We’ve got a great opportunity to fill this place up with jobs and economic development,” said State Sen. Andrew Mathews.

A Google data center coming to the area is still a work in progress and last week, Becker city leaders — as well as the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee — met at the site in the IP and at city hall  to discuss and plan for development.

Becker city has worked tirelessly over the last year or so to lure the $600 million project to Central Minnesota. However, the fulfillment of the venture may lay in the hands of lawmakers to make it a reality.

Becker is seeking nearly $25 million from the state in next year’s bonding bill to help make sewer and water upgrades to the IP to reel in Google.

Community Development Director Marie Pflipsen says it will take approximately 2,300 construction jobs just to construct the facility, making the project not only a great thing for Becker but for the entire state.

“Once  (the data center) is up and running, those 50 jobs actually means 110 jobs locally when you start looking at the restaurants and housing and attracting people.”

While the city works with the state for funding, Becker continues to work on completing the Environmental Review Process and zoning rules associated with the property identified for the data center.

“We’ve got a great opportunity to fill this place up with jobs and economic development,” said State Sen. Andrew Mathews.

Pflipsen says though the process to bring Google to Becker is still looking optimistic, the city most likely won’t know if a deal gets done until after the next year’s legislative process.

There is a sense of urgency because part of the Sherco coal fired power plant will being shutting down soon. It’s happening in phases, with the first part in 2023 and the second part in 2026.

Google would not be the only business in the industrial park that would benefit from new water and wastewater lines. Northern Metal Recycling — who is getting close to completing their new facility — has been working with the city to install sewer and water lines and improving roads in the business park.

The proposed infrastructure project would also help attract new businesses to the park.

“You have not only the high tech side of it, you have the blue collar, hardworking trade jobs that are there for a very long time,” said Rep. Shane Mekeland, who represents Becker. “It would be significant in any community, I mean this is a really, really big thing.”

The tour had a good impression on  Rep. Mary Murphy, who chairs the committee. She said she would support the infrastructure investment. 

“Absolutely,” she said. “We’re doing our hardest to get it passed.”

   Sherburne County 4-H Member Kayli Hulbert of Big Lake won second place for western horsemanship, third place for western pleasure and 10th place for trail with her horse in her age group at the Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show two weeks ago. 

Over 630 youth across the state participated at this annual event held at the Minnesota State Fair. 

   Ethan Fagen of Big Lake won fifth place in his age group in key race, seventh in Jumping Figure 8 and eighth in barrels.  Kami Janssen of Becker won 10th place in Jumping Figure 8.

   Kaitlyn Smith of Big Lake gave a speech and demonstration.  Sherburne County had three teams competing in hippology, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of equine science and husbandry.

   Other local participants in the annual horse show include:

•Chloe Fager - Becker

•Ashlyn Feit - Big Lake

•Katie and Ruth Krisko - Becker

•Marissa Mox - Becker

•Eve Otteson - Becker

“Through the Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show, youth build communications skills, gain deeper learning and interest in horses, and build relationships with caring adults,” said Renee Kostick, extension educator who manages the 4-H horse project in Minnesota. “These experiences contribute to their success in school, community, and futures.” 

    At the 4-H State Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational in Alexandria  earlier this month, Emma Jopp of Clear Lake ranked second in archery intermediate class D. Abigail Schaufel of Big Lake ranked fourth in air pistol junior 2 hands.  Over 700 youth participate in the event from 53 counties.

   Two Sherburne County teams including local 4-H youth ranked in the top four places.  Owen Babler of Becker and Aaron Jopp of Clear Lake  along with team members Justus and Pierce Anderson of Oak Grove ranked third in standard air rifle intermediate with a score of 604. 

   Babler, Jopp, Bailey Muehlbauer of Becker,  who attends school in Big Lake and Kyle Haugen of Elk River won fourth in archery senior class C with a score of 970.  Ava Babler of Becker and Jonathan McCormack of Big Lake also attended the shoot. 

   Youth had the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the past year, having spent a minimum of 15 hours working with a trained instructor in their discipline of interest. The Minnesota 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife Program began in the 1980’s.

    Wednesday morning, an event took place that most likely will never be seen in these parts by those living today.

Jean Johnson arranged  through numerous entities to move an abandoned barn from the Northern Metals Recycling lot (Xcel Energy) across the highway to a plot of donated land just west of the Sherburne History Center. It all commenced around 10 a.m. and the barn was on the intended property in less than an hour.

Fanfare surrounded the move as media members (including KARE 11) and spectators were on hand to witness the 32x24 foot white barn slowly transported by flatbed truck nearly two miles along the shoulder of Hwy. 10, then along Hwy. 10 until crossing to Edgewood Ave., then veering left across a soybean field before settling down at the Cox family lot along 27th Ave. SE.

Johnson plans to use the barn as an agricultural education exhibit for kids. Children will become farm hands at this hands-on exhibit as they experience the agricultural process beginning at the farm and ending at the market. 

Children will learn to help with the farm chores, collect goods to sell at the farmer’s market, and then spend their “earnings” at the grocery store.

This mock agricultural adventure will consist of a series of livestock barns, a grain bin, a tractor dealer, garden plots, an apple orchard, and a farmers market.  The experienced staff  will direct and explain what happens to food from a starting point to the step in the process at the grocery store.

Each station provides hands-on tasks related to planting crops and the tending of animals.  

For example, at the chicken coop, the Farm Friends will feed the chicken grain they “harvested” and then collect the eggs.  At the dairy barn children will milk a cow and at the tractor shed they will drive peddle tractors with wagons to haul the hay for the animals.  

After the children have gone through each of the miniature barns and collected their products they “sell” them at the farmer’s market for “cash” to be used at the retail grocery store where they have the opportunity to “buy” a finished product.

Additional stations will address agricultural related concerns; such as ground water quality and quantity, soil erosion, etc. 

Wednesday’s barn move was conducted by Marcus Building Movers under supervision from Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Connexus, the City of Becker and Craig Wensmann of Bogart-Pederson. Scott Helberg of NMR was also on-hand to witness the  relocation and the traffic control and escorting was provided by Sherburne County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Becker Police Dept.

After the barn made it to its final destination, it was parked near its foundation and was firmly planted on the footings the following day. Wednesday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Johnson and her Farm Friend colleagues held a family celebration at the site that featured games and activities for kids, raffles, door prizes, a food truck (Gess What’s Cooking?) and beverages supplied by Lupulin Brewing of Big Lake.

More information on the Farm Friends Barn can be found at www.farmfriendsbarn.org.

The Big Lake boys varsity cross country team placed fifth and the girls were sixth at the Falcon Invitational in Foley Thursday.

Eighth-grader Owen Layton had his fastest time this season and finished fifth in 17:38.5. 

Austin Barzee was 21st in 18:42.7. Zachary Carlson took 36th in 19:22.7. Tre Gordy was a step behind in 37th in 19:23.5, with Spencer Vold not far behind in 39th in 19:25.8.

Jayden McLearen (46th, 19:37.9) and Jonah Overby (66th, 20:43.8) were Big Lake’s sixth and seventh finishers.

Kade Layton, the Hornets top runner so far this season, did not run.

Josephine Lentz led the varsity girls, finishing 19th in 21:49.8.

Amelia Degen placed 28th in 22:13.8. Josie Parks was 37th in 22.42.6. Hannah Robertson took 39th in 22:56.8. Grace Heider finished 56th in 23:58.7 and Vanessa Waldorf was 58th in 24:07.3.

The Hornet boys junior high team took the title, edging Mora by eight points in the 3200 meter race. The team was led bu Jack Leuer, who placed second in 11:15.2. David Guyse also finished in the Top 10, taking seventh in 11:40.4.

Emilee Doperalski took second in the girls junior high 3200 in 12:57.1.

Sophia Tienter finished fifth in the girls JV 5000 meters in 24:27.7

“Perfect weather for a CC meet,” said Coach John Bruns. “Many personal bests.  Most everyone went home with a smile.”

Last Saturday at the Milaca Mega Meet,  biggest meet in the Midwest, the Hornets had a good showing against dozens of schools.

This year, each runner competed against athletes in their own class, but everyone had to run 5000 meters, which was a challenge for those younger runners who hadn’t done it before. The young Hornets were up for the challenge.

Kade Layton finished second overall among 430 ninth-graders in 17:50.20. He led the Hornet freshman team to a seventh-place finish out of 36 teams.

Eighth-grader Owen Layton took second in 18:10.10 competing against 305 runners in his class.

Seventh-grader Jack Leuer ran an outstanding race. He finished 16th out of 297 runners in 21:37.90.

Eleventh-grader Austin Barzee was Big Lake’s top finisher (105th, 20:15.16) in the varsity race.

For the girls, 11th-grader Josephine Lentz had the top finish for the Hornets, placing 51st in 22:49.20 in the varsity race.

Hannah Robertson led the Big Lake ninth-graders and finished 25th in 23:54.20 with teammate Josie Parks a few strides behind in 26th in 23:58.30 in a field of 205 runners.

Eighth-grader Emilee Doperalski placed 29th in 23:59.60 against 202 other girls..

Grace Heider was 40th in her race in 24:12.30 against 246 other sophomores.

Seventh-grader Campbell Slattery took 91st in 27:18.30 against 221 other runners.

“Stormy weather, 6500 runners and many of our runners stretching their limits as far as distance and results,” said Coach Bruns.

The Hornets compete in the Becker Invitational 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The Big Lake Swim and Dive team lost a close meet to Chisago Lakes, 89-97 Thursday on the road.

  “It was a great meet with the score going back and forth and coming down to the last relays,” said Coach DaNae Mitchell. “Being so early in the season, still everyone is swimming and diving early. We have a lot to look forward for the rest of the season.”

Hornets who finished in the top three spots in their events:

200 Medley

1st Place Peterson, Stromberg, Kirchoff and Heltemes.

 200 Freestyle

2nd Place Emilie Vega was out-touched by .29 seconds but it came with a best time.

200 IM

2nd Place Jaden Anderson finished just before Chisago Lakes by a little over half a second for 2nd place.

50 Freestyle

All top four finishes being within one second.

1st Place Levi Heltemes

3rd Emilie Kirchoff

Diving

1st Britney Krumrei

2nd Vanessa Dalmeida

3rd Madison Svien

100 Fly

2nd Place Jaden Anderson had a close race finishing 2nd behind only .02 seconds

100 Free

2nd Place Levi Heltemes

500 Free

2nd Place Emilie Vega

200 Free Relay

2nd place Vega, Kluk, Thompson and Erickson

100 Backstroke

1st Place McKenna 3rd Katlyn Emerson

100 Breaststroke

1st Place Sierra Stromberg for the win!

400 Freestyle Relay

1st place Vega, Kirchoff, Anderson, Heltemes

The Hornets did well at the Duluth Invitational last Friday.

Diving took Top 16 which is great for still being early in the season:

Britney Krumrei 2nd;

Maddie Svien 5th;

Hannah Strom 8th;

Jazmin Acuna 12th.

“Swimming had great races with a few top eight finishes,” said Coach Mitchell. “We switch up some events to see where they are in the season and swam against teams that aren’t in our usual schedule.”

200 Medley Relay

8th McKenna Peterson, Sierra Stromberg, Emilie Vega and Levi Heltemes

50 Freestyle

7th Levi Heltemes

100 Backstroke

6th McKenna Peterson

100 Backstroke

8th Katlyn Emerson

The Hornets compete at Princeton Thursday.

Home is supposed to be a safe place.  For someone experiencing domestic violence, home is often the opposite.  

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, reports 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by a partner.  In 2013, at least 39 people in Minnesota were murdered due to domestic violence.  These victims include women, men, and family members affected by the abuse.    

Youth are also affected by domestic violence and intimate partner violence.  It is estimated that nearly 1.5 million high school students in the United States are abused by dating partners every year.  These statistics are staggering and continue to alarm communities around the country, including those in Sherburne and Wright Counties.

In Sherburne and Wright Counties, the data related to domestic assault is limited.  Nearly 80% of domestic assaults go unreported (both nationally and locally).  There are many reasons why people experiencing violence do not report.  Raising awareness around the issue can help to increase confidence in reporting.  

That’s how Rivers of Hope can help.

The biggest way to intervene in the cycle of violence is to start talking about it early.  In 1989, Dawn Moyer, retired Elk River school teacher and administrator, helped found Rivers of Hope (ROH) to do just that.  She saw a need to get the issue of domestic violence “out in the open” because “people weren’t talking about it then”. She started Rivers of Hope to reach out to students and, in turn, provide support to their families as a whole. .  In collaboration with law enforcement, county attorneys, and other concerned community members, Dawn coordinated services to meet the needs of many youth in the area.  

Dawn Moyer saw the value of a community response to domestic and family violence 30 years ago.  Her vision still lives today in the services and programs of Rivers of Hope.  The mission aims to end family and teen dating violence through ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, and COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT.

When it comes to taking care of the community, Cargill of Monticello has really stepped up to provide support in a variety of ways. They adhere closely to their guiding principles which calls out being good stewards to the communities in which they live.  This has always been really important for them and they take a lot of pride in supporting local organizations to grow and continue to serve the communities in which they reside.

Cargill continues to be a strong supporter of Rivers of Hope.  On October 12th, for the second year in a row, they are a Platinum ($5,000) sponsor of the Rivers of Hope annual gala.  Their commitment to the community through addressing the need to end relationship abuse continues to demonstrate their guiding principles.  Their efforts demonstrate their stewardship in the Monticello community and throughout Sherburne and Wright Counties.

Rivers of Hope is lucky to have support from Cargill as a Platinum sponsor again this year.  The organization is also thankful to the additional Gala donors, including Gold sponsorship from First National Bank of Elk River, West Sherburne Tribune, and Elk River Lions Club, along with several businesses, service organizations, and community members who have contributed.  For a full list of sponsorships, please visit the Rivers of Hope Facebook page and website.  Rivers of Hope cannot do this work without the generosity of our communities.

Please join Cargill along with all of our sponsors in supporting and celebrating 30 years with Rivers of Hope at the 2019 ROCKSTAR Gala on October 12th at the Monticello Community Center.  Doors open and silent auction begins at 5pm with dinner and other activities starting at 6pm.   For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.riversofhope.org.

   (EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story has been compiled by Editor Gary W. Meyer with cooperation of Hanna Klimmek, city development director. The focus below is on four firms who are opening their doors to tours in celebration of Minnesota Manufactuers Week.)

LISI Medical-Remmele, Oct. 3.

   Nate Gamache, 11-year staffer at LISI, serves as their production manager. He led a 40-minute tour of their expanded plant, showing the working relationships between their two-legged employees and their mechanical people - the robots.

   Their 50,000-square foot addition in 2017 has provided space to expand their work areas which Gamache said were cramped prior.

   LISI Medical Remmele is in the business of casting many small medical devices, the smallest of which is a unit that goes into  a patient’s arteries. They are made to order.

   The Big Lake medical facilitiy manufactures medical components and assemblies for minimally-invasive surgeries, surgical robotics, dental surgeries and implants, and bone and skeletal repair.

The company now employs 203 persons, working 24-7. And that includes fulltime on weekends.

   Gamache reported about 75% of their employees on the floor are in manufacturing.

Their manufacturing employees will have a two-year machine tech degree. In fact, three recent BLHS seniors have accepted internships with LISI and are completing their technical training to come on board in production. LISI paid for their education.

LISI is owned by a French company, with 11,000 people in 14 countries employed. Their annual sales were more than $1.9 billion in 2017.

   They have five facilities globally with three in the US - Big Lake, Coon Rapids and Escondido, CA. Two are in France, near Lyon and one just minutes from Normandy.

Lupulin Brewing Co., Oct. 1. Lupulin Brewing Co. just celebrated their fourth year in business. They have expanded in one way or another every six months since opening their doors, going from 1 to nearly 60 employees in Big Lake and Sioux Falls. A reported 30 BHS students toured the venue Tuesday.

   Lupulin is family-owned and family-run, a craft brewery that embraces what it means to be part of a community. Lupulin is truly an amenity of the Big Lake community in the sense they not only provide phenomenal beer but visitors can enjoy live music, plan to have lunch or dinner from the food truck pulled up to the patio every weekend. Persons can join the run club or participate in the many 5K fundraisers, take part in yoga classes, enjoy paint and have a pint events, participate in open ic events, and the list goes on.

 Industrial Molded Rubber, Oct. 2.

   IMR held a private tour for city and legislative officials Wednesday. They moved to Big Lake from Plymouth in 2006. They are certified as an International Standards Operation and stand behind their quality. 

   IMR is capable of many services including prototyping, compounding, tooling, production runs, rubber to metal bonding and rubber to plastic bonding.

IMR manufacturers all types and sizes of rollers. Capabilities in precision roller grinding include tapered, recover, grooved, serrated and croned surfaces.

    Arconic, Oct. 22.

Arconic, the former Remmele Plant 40, will hold their open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 22.

They decided to open their facility later in the month just like they did last year. The Big Lake plant, one of three in Minnesota, employs 150 from managers to machinists, deburrers and assemblers who manufacture mid-to-large-size parts, most of aluminum, for military and aerospace OEM customers.

   Arconic partners with the area’s tech schools and BLHS on programs to encourage careers in STEM and manufacturing. It is a $13B global company that was a spinoff from ALCOA in 2016.

Dozens of people gathered at the lobby of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office Monday to pay tribute to former Deputy Sheriff Edward Foley.

Foley is the only Sherburne County deputy ever killed in the line of duty. Sept. 27 marked the 100th Anniversary of his death.

With the office and lobby packed with law enforcement personnel, county officials and even some of Foley’s descendants, Sheriff Joel Brott spoke about Foley’s life and his impact on residents of the county. 

“Ed Foley was a successful businessman, popular and well-liked by his many friends. Press accounts at the time of his death referred to him as “one of the best known men in the eastern part of Sherburne County whose friends were legion wherever he was known.”

Foley was an enterprising businessman, “a live wire, ever ready to help his friends and was a booster for his home community,” one newspaper article read.

“He sounds to me like a person we would like to have as a part of our community today,” said Brott.

Brott recounted a story from December, 1918 about Foley capturing a thief who had walked away from his job with a 30-30 rifle, gun case and other stolen items.

“Foley chased the thief all night and eventually located the man in Milaca. The scofflaw raised the rifle and threatened to shoot,” said Brott. “Foley pulled his revolver and fired a shot into the ground near the thief’s feet. The wanted man dropped the rifle and surrendered.”

An article published the year he died described Foley’s penchant for joking around, he apparently was quite the character and jokester.

Ed Foley was also a  dedicated family man, husband to Eva, and father to Lucille and Merton. He started in the creamery business before purchasing a livery business in Zimmerman. He managed a hotel and garage in Zimmerman before moving to Elk River in 1918. He bought and ran an auto repair business and had been a sheriff’s deputy for 10 years when he was called to what would be his last duty as a deputy.

A Studebaker stolen in St. Cloud was headed toward Elk River, with suspects inside wanted for a bank robbery. Late Sept. 27, 1919, Foley, Marshal Iliff and Sheriff Mert Iliff went to the Elk River Bridge to set up a roadblock.

They checked a few cars and let them pass when a Buick approached the roadblock. It was different than the Studebaker they were looking for, but Foley wanted to question the people inside before letting them pass. Foley asked the driver to wait a moment.

A news report at the time said a shot, believed to have been fired by the man beside the driver, hit Foley in the chest. He died instantly. 

News reports, court records and arrest reports don’t show any evidence that Foley’s killers were ever charged for the murder.

In the 100 years since Ed Foley was murdered, there have been occasional stories about him in the local press. There is a plaque on the Elk River Bridge marking what happened there 100 years ago.

“Today, we as a sheriff’s office want to add to our new lobby a permanent reminder of Ed Foley’s service,” said Brott, “service that ended with him making the ultimate sacrifice for the residents of Sherburne County.”

When Brott concluded, two county deputies unveiled the Foley memorial. It shows a photo of Foley, a folded Americal Flag and a copy of the original newspaper article about the account of his death.

It is now displayed on the wall outside the sheriff’s office.

Cutline 1: Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott addresses the crowd during the Ed Foley Memorial ceremony Tuesday.

Cutline 2: The memorial dedicated to Deputy Sheriff Ed Foley, the only Sherborne County deputy ever killed in the line of duty. (Photos by Ken Francis)

Solar farms continue to dot the Sherburne County landscape, but not without controversy.

Tuesday, the county board approved four new one-megawatt solar farms during the planning and zoning agenda of the meeting.

But earlier, during the public comment period, Mary Weber of Clear Lake and her brother, Big Lake City Councilman Paul Knier asked the commissioners to consider the long term-implications of solar farms before making their decision.

Weber said there are already too many solar farms in her area at 92nd Street and 58th Ave.

“There are so may solar panels that as you drive down Co. Rd 57 you see solar panels on both sides of the road, and as you turn onto our street there are solar panels on the right,” she said. “The Gohman (solar farm) is proposed to be on the left.”

 “We are asking that you vote no on that because of the saturation level.”

She also had concerns about electromagnetic radiation and the potential for cadmium and lead from damaged solar panels leaching into the ground.

Knier reiterated those concerns and said the board should do some research, “take a step back,” and create a long-range plan before making its decision.

But later, the board gave its a approval for interim use permits for all four solar farm requests.

They are:

* The E. Goenner Community Solar Farm, a one MW system on 17.85 acres on Co. Rd. 8 near 74th Street SE in Clear Lake Twp.;

* The Hartmann one MW Community Solar Farm on 27.52 acres on Co. Rd. 16  just west of Co. Rd. 8 in Haven Twp.;

* The Gohman one MW Community Solar farm on 30.35 acres on 92nd Street SE and 58th Ave. SE in Clear Lake Twp.

* The Hammer on MW Community Solar Farm on 80 acres on Co. Rd. 8 east of 70th Ave. SE in Clear Lake Twp.

After the votes, Commissioner Felix Schmiesing spoke about their decision.

“These are tough decisions for the board,” he said. “I hope everyone realizes we don’t take them lightly.”

He said the power plants in the county use coal, a cheaper form of electricity that has helped development. 

“But at the end we have a huge coal ash pile we’re going to have forever,” he said.

When the Sherco plants switch over to gas, he said, the county is going to have to deal with siting a gas pipeline to serve the new facility.

“Whatever we do seems like it has tails. All of these things that we get involved in have something going on that make it difficult to make the decision,” he said. “We know we’re affecting the future of this county. We’re trying to do it positively.”

In other planning and zoning actions, the board:

* Approved a request by Mildred Teders to rezone 12.79 acres on Hwy. 10 near Co. Rd. 3 in Haven Twp. from agricultural to industrial;

* Voted to send a request by Riverside Development Corp. for preliminary plat approval for “Wheat Fields,” a residential development on 40 acres In Big Lake Twp., back to the planning commission for further review;

* Took no action to amend the zoning ordinance regarding vegetation standards on solar farms. The issue will be discussed at a future workshop.

* Appointed Lynda Ponting (Baldwin Twp.) and Lloyd Stimmler (Clear Lake Twp.) to the Sherburne County Board of Adjustment.

   A diversion program - designed to promote students’ understanding of the health impacts of vaping and tobacco use - was outlined to the Big Lake Board of Education last week.

    BLHS Asst. Principal Angie Folch and Megan Brown, high school social worker, spent 25 minutes describing their program, which is an interactive project with students.

   Parents are also asked to become involved in cases where students are found to be using.

“It is interactive with kids,” said Folch. “Designed by the Dept. of Health.”

   She noted there are nine units with information with a quiz. It takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

   There were no statistics released on Big Lake students’ use; however, she reported there have been additions among students aged 14 to 15.

   How do they get the stuff? Likely buying on line. “And some (drugs) are a felony offense for possession.”

   She explained the issue is most problematic for juveniles, whose brains are not yet developed and the negative impact on them is larger.

   National statistics indicate 1.7 million high schoolers have been in volved with vaping, while another 500,000 in middle schools have done it.

   “There has been a 900% increase in kids in the past five years,” she said. 

   A big part of the problem with vaping is the small size of the packets in which they are carried.

   “They are so small, so easy to hide. And they smell like Mt Dew (or other flavors). Not like tobacco.”

   Parents have been contacted, the staffers report. 

   And they are asked,

” What do you look for in your home?”

   They report kids from all backgrounds are using.

“Parents are shocked, some parents are not shocked. But it is very alarming for some of the parents to have to come in.”

   Students caught vaping three times are suspended from school. Folch said her office has not yet experienced a second offense from individual students.

   The Big Lake staffers visited Rogers Schools to learn of their vaping program, and they learned if students are caught early enough, they will go clean. Only one percent of their students caught vaping have become three-time offenders.

Big Lake Schools has organized a conference Oct. 24 on vaping, and parents are invited. They will also conference with the county Nov. 7.

   Brown and Jenelle Stach are the two high school social workers actively involved in the program.

   In other action, the board accepted:

 * From the Spud Fest, $1,250 to fund uniforms for the girls dance program; 

   * Coborns, Inc., $1,189 to the athletics department and Angel Fund;

   * Spud Run. $4.500 to the Angel Fund.

The West Sherburne Tribune is suspending publication, effective with this issue.

   The end for the newspaper comes after 40 years and four months of continuous publication, in most years, a Saturday newspaper.

   We’ve enjoyed a prosperous experience for most of our years in running the newspaper.

   But, things have changed in recent years. We will write briefly about them.

The Depression which ravaged our community from 2006 to 2015 was disasterous. People lost their jobs, then their homes through mortgage foreclosure. Good sign - most of the residents have been able to stabilize with new jobs and home ownership is growing.

   But during those years, something more  was happening. We suspect at least 25% of our main street businesses also ceased during those years.

Many have not come back. And they are sorely missed, because they have been the lifeblood of this publication, which has lived solely on advertising sales.

   Of more recent years has been the emergence of a more powerful counteractive force - the social media.

   We remember years ago publishing up to 35 advertisements from residents in our annual spring Big Lake Garage Sale week.

   This year, there were 10.

The story is much the same with merchants, especially the younger ones, who haven’t had the affinity for the newspaper.

   Our readership surveys indicate 80% of those receiving the paper read it. That’s good. But there appears to be a disconnect between readership and use of the paper.

   Fewer people and businesses are using the paper.

Frankly, our “business model” is broken. 

   If we were to “fix it,” we would need to start by downscaling our expenses - and that would include  firing the lifeblood of our operation - our staff writers.

   That, I won’t do. I started this back on June 20, 1979 as a newspaper and I will conclude it as a newspaper.

It’s a sad time. But we remain confident we made a difference in Big Lake society for these years.

   (We’re appreciative for the advertising support in our largest-ever recent Big Lake Community Guide - and for our Fall Builders Guide, which is included in this issue.)

In a final effort at public service, we’ll pass along a message from the brethern at Svea Hill Church. Hope you’re getting your monopoly players.

The Tribune”s sister newspaper, the Citizen-Tribune, serving Becker, Clear Lake and Clearwater, will remain in operation.

   Regards,

   GARY W. MEYER

   Publisher

  Dave Dennis, city resident, has been knocking on doors for four months, attempting to secure signatures to a petition.

   The petition, which is to be presented to the Big Lake City Council at some time in the future, is intended to motivate them to ban parking fees for cars, boats and trailers at Lakeside Park.

   Dennis has secured 100 signators so far and is hoping with some publicity to get more. 

He contends parking should be free at the park.

   Dennis is bucking a longtime policy of fees at the park.  They were instituted many years ago, and the limit of 30 boats and trailers at a time was instituted to better control boat traffic on the lake.

At times during the 1980’s and 1990’s, when boating was at its zenith on the two lakes, as many as 100 vessels would be weaving through the waters.

   The policy now calls for a daily charge of $5 per car, $15 per boat and trailer May through October. Residents can secure season passes for discounts. Non-residents can also secure passes to save money.

   Mike Goebel, city public works director who is in charge of Lakeside Park, says there must be income generated to cover costs of maintenance to the park.

“There is a cost to do business,” he said. “This is a user fee, or should people be taxed for it?”

   He estimates the parking passes generate from $40,000 to $60,000 annually, dependant on usage.

   Residents who are interested in Dennis’ petition can contact him at 763-262-6310.

More than 50 community stakeholders gathered at the Monticello Community Center Wednesday morning to get an update about the future of energy from Xcel.

State legislators, county and city officials and members of law enforcement listened as representatives from Xcel Energy talked about their commitment to keep the area supplied with clean, reliable and affordable power.

Chris Clark, Xcel president of Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, spoke about how the power landscape is changing.  

“There’s a tremendous transformation happening in our industry. We are adapting a lot with wind,” he said. “We are the nation’s number one wind leader for many years.”

Clark said that is one part of Xcel’s plan towards major reductions in carbon-derived energy.

“Our nuclear plants, combined with the wind and solar, are really helping us become a nation leader in reducting carbon production. We’re on par to achieve 80% carbon reduction by 2030,” he said.

But that also means closing coal plants - all of their coal plants in the Midwest, and Sherburne County will feel the impact.

“We know that it’s not just close the plant and on we go,” he said. “We know it has a tremendous impact to the workforce and to the communities, so we’re working hard to make that transition the right way.”

He talked about Xcel’s commitment to help with economic development and their assistance with the relocation of Northern Metals to Becker and talks with Google.

Power Generation General Manager Randy Capra spoke about the eventual closing of Sherco and the transition to natural gas. The timeline remains 2023 for Unit 2, 2026 for Unit 1 and 2030 for Unit 3.

He showed examples of other coal plants that have already made the transition to gas and how they achieved it - Black Dog, Riverside High Bridge.

Black Dog built within its existing footprint. Riverside added a combined cycle building to the existing plant. High Bridge was leveled and a new plant was built.

Capra said it is likely Sherco will follow a path similar to Riverside, adding on to the existing plant.

“That’s what we’ll probably see at Sherco,” he said.

Those plans are in the preliminary stages, said Capra, but the transition for employees is already underway with training for new types of operations.

“We’re getting employees prepared for their step,” he said. 

Clark said Xcel’s aspirational goal is to be completely carbon free by 2050.

“We know how we’ll get to the 80% (by 2020), it’s that mix of closing coal, adding some gas for reliability, continuing to operate our nuclear units through their life and adding wind and solar,” he said. “It’s really about embracing innovations and technology.”

He said prices have continued to drop for solar and wind, and new technology in nuclear, plus the potential addition of battery storage are just parts of the formula. 

“We know we can achieve it if we put our minds to it,” he said.