Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Assistance with business development in Linwood Township, through participation with an economic development program in Anoka County, is a possibility. Karen Skepper, community development manager with the Anoka County HRA told the town board June 26.

Her report was the result of a county-wide survey about the need for economic development service in Anoka County. Linwood is one of the first communities to hear the results of a recently completed study.

The focus was to determine the need for an economic development service in Anoka County. The study committee had representation from every community in the county, including officials, business representatives, and residents.

Outcomes included identification of developmental patterns in the county, interest in growth of tax base. Technical assistant for writing grant applications seemed important. A second unanimous vote was for high speed internet access for every community. It is possible that funds could be available to assist with updating comprehensive plans.

Funding for some county programs is already collected as part of the county tax assessment. Cost to administer the county-wide program is estimated to be $50,000 to $75,000. County HRA will administer because the staffing is already in place.

Supervisor Phil Osterhus asked about the length of the enrollment in the program. Skepper said each community (city, township) has the option of applying for participation. The initial time period is five years. At the end of that time, communities can opt out. They may also re-enter the organization and take advantage of the programs provided. She will return to answer questions and provide more information in August.

More reports

Linwood Township is doing a good job maintaining the grounds of its cemetery and caring for it in all other important ways, according to Supervisor Howard Holm. He reported on visits to the cemetery from Paul Hutchison, Mattson Funeral Home, Forest Lake, and Paul Hogan, chair of the Minnesota Association of Cemeteries.

Their observations indicate that Linwood Cemetery is in “pretty good order,” Holm said.

In trying to keep procedures orderly, Holm said the state statutes regulate some very large cemeteries. Because of its smaller size, Linwood Township Cemetery need not adhere to all the regulations for large cemeteries. This also applies to what have been perpetual care funds. There is latitude in the regulations which allows for reasonable operation of the site.

Attorney Gerald Randall suggested closing the fund, turning the money into the general fund, and using it for the purpose intended. He suggested some changes in the language of the cemetery guidelines, to make provision for dedicated memorials which might be used for landscaping or to make other aesthetic improvements.

Holm told the board that the effort of the cemetery committee to develop a comprehensive record of the lots is using methods that are very similar to those that some much larger cemeteries use. A next step is to find or adapt some computer software that can help Cindy Gruett and Sandy Lathrop better organize their comprehensive records of the site.

The Senior Advisory Board is firm in its request to increase hours for the senior assistant, according to liaison Holm. However, the group could not provide a suggestion about where the township might find the additional dollars.

Howard Nessel has made the request to the board personally. Nessel is chairman of the advisory board. Senior coordinator Judy Hanna said she could not justify the additional hours.

Supervisors have asked for a written request from the advisory board, listing reasons for the additional hours or how these might be allocated. The advisory board has not done that yet.

Again, after discussion, the board voted 4-0 to deny additional hours for the senior center assistant.

Other business

In other items, the board:

•Approved payment of the bills in the amount of $98,405.57. This includes insurance premium of $22,096; Midwest Contracting payment 2 for Hornsby Street, $8982.13; and Jay Bros. payment 2 for reconstruction of 226th Ave., $52,509.54.

•Learned that the street work on 226th Ave. is nearly completed, according to Supervisor Phil Osterhus.

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