by Dennis Dalman
The City of Sartell approved several provisions to ease the transition of annexed township properties into the city, including a gradual phase-in of city taxes and discounts on hook-up charges for city water/sewer.
As reported in the Aug. 16 Newsleaders, on Aug. 12 the Sartell City Council gave the OK for an Orderly Annexation Agreement between the city and LeSauk Township – an agreement that must be also approved by the state.
The annexation involves 22 parcels of land of LeSauk Township in the heart of Sartell to be annexed to Sartell city jurisdiction. Those parcels of township land are “islands” within the Sartell, bordered or surrounded by city land. Such “islands” can cause jurisdictional confusions when it comes to city/township services and even safety concerns.
At the lengthy Aug. 12 public hearing on the issue, nine people spoke up, all of them opposing the annexation or urging the council to delay it until later. One of the speakers characterized the annexation as a “hostile takeover” by the city.
The annexation proposal was presented to the council and the audience by Kari Haakonson, Sartell’s development-project supervisor.
The OAA agreement between Sartell and LeSauk Township occurred in 2021 and at that time it was agreed the annexation would be done after a three-year period of adjustment. The 22 parcels are located near the Pinecone Road corridor in central Sartell, between Sixth Street S. and 15th Street. N.
The major impact of the annexation is those “island” parcels of land, starting in 2025, will be taxed by the City of Sartell rather than LeSauk Township.
One rationale for annexation is those township “island” properties in the cities have been benefitting for years from their proximity to city services (police, fire, snow removal and more) but not paying taxes that support those services.
The city has agreed to phase in city taxes on those properties gradually during a five-year period. In addition, LeSauk Township will receive a portion of those city tax revenues during five years so as to lessen the abrupt loss of tax revenues by the township from those annexed properties.
Other ways to ease the transition for the annexed properties/residents is they will be able to hook up to water/sewer services for a lowered fee of $3,000 rather than the customary rate of nearly $7,000. Residents will also have up to five years before having to hook up to city services.
The parcels to be annexed are defined as the following in city documents: G & M Dehler Trust (two parcels), Ferche Family Partnership (two parcels), Donald and Agnes Then, Robert Koenig Trust, David and Soledad Petron, Peter Koenig, Taggart and Tommie Downare, Waters Church, Victory Baptist (church), Timothy Ehle, Ben Johnson, Doug and Donna Novak, Lyle Traut, Kevin and Margaret Starry, Kraig Smoley, Bryan Bidinger, Robert Bidinger, Jeffrey and Janette Ditlefsen, MN Construction Specialists and KB Sartell Holdings.
