Joe Drennan,
Staff Writer

Unhappy with the way the Columbus Township is being run, Glen Miles decided to run against incumbent Renae Fry for a seat on the town board.

ìI was not happy with the situation of the town board not listening to the community of Columbus,î Miles said. ìI feel that it is time for changes to be made so that we better listen to the values of the community of Columbus.î

Miles, a co-founder of the Columbus Concerned Citizens group says the key issue for Columbus Township is to secure its borders.

ìOne of the ways to protect our borders is to incorporate into a city,î Miles said. ìI am very much for proceeding forward and obtaining the information and facts about incorporation.î

Miles believes that once all the facts and figures for incorporating are compiled, the citizens need to be involved in the decision making process.

ìWith Forest Lake, Lino Lakes, East Bethel and Wyoming with high density homes all around us, theyíll be knocking on our door trying to annex us,î Miles said. ìItís the simple fact that a city can annex a township and itís being backed up in the courts. The only way to protect our borders is to become a city.î

Another thing Miles wants to accomplish is improving the lines of communication between the town board and the citizens.

ìWeíve already started with the state of the township letter, but we need to do more things like that,î Miles said.

ìWe need to keep citizens informed and if that means getting fliers out, then thatís what we have to do.î

Miles says the official township website, www.townofcolumbus.ws, is a step in the right direction.

Development of the freeway commercial district is an issue Miles feels needs to be looked at.

ìIím definitely for the development of the freeway district, but we need to bring in good commercial development of a mix that would give us some higher paying jobs with full benefits,î Miles said.

ìThe other factor in developing that area is the infrastructure. We need to work with the different government agencies to develop ways of getting that intersection (CR23 and I-35) done ahead of schedule.î

Miles says that the township should consider asking some of the developers to help fund a new overpass and intersection.

ìIn the past that hasnít been done,î Miles said. ìThis is one way of getting money to help pull this together.

ìThe town board hasnít asked any of the businesses to do that. If they get that intersection developed itís only going to bring more business to their stores and because of that I think they would be willing to help.î

Part of developing the freeway district includes the installation of sewer and water. Miles feels the board has come up with a very good plan for the sewer and water, but doesnít want it to get ahead of itself in the implementation of it.

ìWe need to have sewer and water, but the pace at which that district develops should be the pace at which the sewer and water goes in.î

There is a lot going on in Columbus as the freeway district starts to develop and there is no telling what business is next to approach the township with an application to develop.

ìWeíre going to be seeing different things from time to time coming up and weíre going to have to take them as we see them and handle them,î Miles said. ìI think my leadership abilities and fresh outlook on the board will help.î

Glen Miles is a lifelong resident of Columbus Township and is a member of St. Peterís Catholic Church. He has been a Boy Scout leader for 25 years and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Miles is married and has three children.

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