Joe Drennan
Staff Writer

Last Wednesdayís Columbus Town Board meeting was sailing right along until town board Chairman Mel Mettler addressed a letter to the editor in the Dec. 9 issue of the Forest Lake Times regarding the North Metro Harness Initiativeís proposed harness racing track/card room.

Mettler said he was concerned over inaccuracies in the letter and wondered how misinformation gets out to the public and how the township can fix it.

The letter to the editor in question claimed the township didnít have sufficient funds to complete the sewer hook up to Gander Mountain so it was going to use an up front payment from NMHI as a ìband-aidî to cover those costs.

ìIt is true that we requested money up front,î Mettler said, ìbut we have for all the businesses that have approached us about that freeway district. To say the money is a band-aid shows a lack of understanding of how the sewer and water is being paid for.î

Town Engineer Larry Bohrer refreshed the board that sewer and water would be assessed to the different property owners based upon the amount of high ground acreage they own. This assessment will be the same for Gander Mountain, NMHI and any other resident who benefits from the sewer and water.

Upkeep cost will be paid by regular utility charges once the sewer and water project is completed.

ìThe idea is out there and it bothers me that there is such misinformation,î Mettler said.

Supervisor Tom Hefty said the information is not getting to the people because the town board is failing to communicate with the people of the township.

Hefty brought up a letter Mettler forwarded to the planning commission from town assessor Ken Tolzmann.

Mettler had asked Tolzmann if he could provide facts on how much money township residents would save on their taxes if the harness track/card room was built.

Without having this yearís assessments available yet, Tolzmann went off last yearís numbers and estimated that with a guaranteed minimum payment of $227,000 from NMHI to the township each year in taxes, a $300,000 homestead could save around 15 percent in taxes.

Tolzmann said in the letter the information was simply for informational purposes and not to be viewed as fact. Tolzmann said there are some fiscal disparities that could affect other commercial property taxes that could affect township taxes.

Hefty didnít take much stock in Tolzmannís letter saying there were inaccuracies there because the townshipís levy has consistently increased every year and as the levy increases so does the market value for property.

ìIf that happens what happens to our tax capacity?î Hefty asked.

Mettler said he had a question so he went to the assessor to get information that could help him better understand the issue.

ìI donít want this to turn into a letter writing campaign,î Mettler said.

Hefty agrees a letter writing campaign where both sides attack each other is not the best way to get information out to the public but questioned how to get the right information out.

ìWeíre not going to agree on everything, but if we canít have a discussion, how will we come to an understanding,î Hefty asked.

Town lawyer Bill Griffith also reminded the board that all members of the public are welcome to stop by the township offices at 16319 Kettle River Blvd. to review any and all of the information on file.

In other news Bohrer informed the town board that the Hornsby Street improvements came in $4259 less than expected.

In the public open forum there was a question as to why the township didnít blacktop the entire stretch of Hornsby Street south to TH-97. Bohrer explained that future county plans has Hornsby street realigned to connect with TH-97 further east and it wouldnít make much sense to put the money into blacktopping it now only to tear it up later.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605