by Dennis Dalman
On Tuesday, Feb. 8, Sartell residents will have a chance to vote for or against a proposed 1.5-percent food-and-beverage tax within the city limits.
On election day, polling places will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are also being accepted almost daily right up until election day. If you are already registered to vote, just head over to Sartell City Hall. If you are not registered to vote, bring a current utility bill or other kind of bill showing your present address. Absentee voting began on Dec. 27.
The city-hall dates and times for absentee voting are the following: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5; and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7.
On Oct. 25 of last year, the city council unanimously approved the Feb. 8 special election. If approved by voters, the tax is estimated to bring in about $315,000 per year for the city to use only for recreational programs, including upkeep, expansion, improvements and new amenities.
The tax request came from “Everything Sartell,” an organization that represents the city’s convention bureau and economic-development commission, comprised of many business members, including bars and restaurants.
The food-and-beverage tax will be imposed only on the purchasers (not the businesses) of ready-to-consume food and alcoholic beverages at bars, restaurants, fast-food places, delivery restaurants and on-sale liquor stores. The tax will not be collected at drug stores, gas stations, general-merchandise stores, grocery stores or off-sale liquor stores.
St. Cloud has had a 1 percent food-beverage tax since 1987.
People who want to learn more about voting, qualifications, proof of identity, absentee ballots and more should go to sartellmn.com/government/voter information. Or call either 1-877-600-8683 or one’s county election office.
The following are the precinct’s polling places:
Precinct 1: Residents who live east of Pinecone Road S. and south of Second Street S. can vote at the Sartell Community Center, 850 19th St. S. (Liberty 2 meeting room).
Precinct 2: All who live on the east side of the Mississippi River (Benton County side) can vote in the Sartell Public Works Building, 230 Fourth Ave. S. (Please note that is a change from where Precinct 2 voters voted previously, at Solid Rock Family Church.)
Precinct 3: Those who live east of Pinecone Road N., north of Second Street S. and south of Fifth Street N. should vote at the Sartell Community Center, 850 19th St. S. (Liberty 1 meeting room).
Precinct 4: Those who live west of Pinecone Road, south of 2-1/2 Street N. and the portion south of Third Street N. that is west of 19th Avenue N. should vote at First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S.
Precinct 5: Residents who live east of Pinecone Road N., north of Fifth Street N. and south of 12th Street N. can vote at Messiah Lutheran Church, 320 Fourth Ave. N.
Precinct 6: People who live east of Pinecone Road N., north of 12th Street N. and in the portion west of Pinecone N. that is north of 27th Street N. should vote at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N.
Precinct 7: All who live west of Pinecone Road N, north of 2-1/2 Street N. and the portion north of Third Street N. that lies west of 19th Avenue N. should vote at Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N.
The results should be in either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
