Saying we must stop discharging so much salt into our lakes, Douglas County commissioners, at their April 1 meeting, approved the addition of a new requirement for a proposed housing development just off Lake Carlos. The proposal is to build 51 homes on 90 acres in a development called Chainview Estates. The lots will be connected to ALASD sewer. Board Chair Jerry Rapp said he could not support the development unless the permit included a requirement that all homeowners in the development either use a high efficiency model or install a drain field thereby eliminating the salt from going into the central sewer and ultimately the chain of lakes. The board had made a similar requirement on a different development in 2022 but then rescinded it. Rapp said, “continuing to discharge salt from softeners is knowingly causing problems on our chain of lakes and it needs to be fixed”. Following Rapp’s statement, Land and Resource Management Director Dave Rush agreed to add the following requirement to the development proposal: All properties that construct a building that generates point-of-entry water softener backwash water (except high efficiency demand softeners meeting NSF/ANSI standard 44 or salt-less conditioners) must design and install an on-site brine disposal system. The developer must also do a study on whether the groundwater supply is adequate for individual wells or if a communal drinking water system will be necessary. That study will be reviewed by Rush.
The board approved a large RV park on Lake Oscar which will be called Spruce Bluff RV Park. Neighbors had expressed noise and traffic concerns about this 43-unit development when it was first heard by the Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) March 25. The PAC did reduce the watercraft moorings from 25 to 15 at their meeting. Commissioner Shane Schmidt also asked about a second exit. The plan calls for a second exit that is gated and only for emergency vehicles. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is requiring a right hand turn lane for the primary entrance/exit. The conditional use permit reflects a plan to use a proposed manager’s house as a storm shelter and there is a requirement that a severe weather safety plan be submitted to the emergency manager.
Central Marine & Sports in Carlos will now allow for test firing of small arms as it expands into a business that also sells firearms, ammunition, and hunting and shooting-related gear. The permit provides for test firing from noon to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday only.
The board meeting began with the issue of cannabis. Rush reviewed the proposed Retail Sales, Event and Public Use Ordinance for Douglas County. Rush said the cannabis ordinance is to protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents in and visitors to the county. The ordinance prohibits any cannabis business from operating within 1000 feet of an educational institution, and 500 feet of a licensed childcare, residential treatment facility, public park, another cannabis retail business, or a place of religious worship.
Commissioner Jeff Way questioned why the setbacks were stricter for schools than other locations. Rush explained the ordinance included the maximum distance allowed by law. However, state statute does not include regulations for religious locations.
Way voted no on the ordinance as did board chair Jerry Rapp who wanted to include language on county liability.
The ordinance, as passed, also spells out details on public use of cannabis and restrictions on cannabis events. The board also approved a cannabis zoning ordinance which clearly defines where cannabis can be grown in Douglas County. Both ordinances will be posted on the Douglas County website.
The Land and Resource Management Office also houses the county’s feedlot officer. Mark Koep provided commissioners with his 2024 annual report. According to the report, Douglas County has 254 feedlots requiring registration. Koep outlined how many he had inspected for compliance, trainings he attended and other work he did with feedlots. His boss, Dave Rush, said, “Mark does a fabulous job helping our operators through rule changes and other issues.”
Nick Larson is the new Douglas Area Trails Association (DATA) administrator. He asked the board to approve a resolution sponsoring DATA Trails under the DNR Grant in Aid Program. Commissioners approved this request which is made annually and Commissioner Schmidt welcomed Larson aboard.
Willie Swanson, the head of the Probation Department operating in Douglas County, provided an overview for commissioners. Seven probation agents are housed in the county along with three support staff. He told the board his department provides one-on-one cognitive interventions designed to replace negative thoughts with more realistic and positive beliefs, group programs, and condition compliance. His goal, he said, is to promote public safety, improve long term recidivism numbers, increase the rate of so-called clean urine analysis (UA) and decrease the failure to appear. He also updated commissioners on the work of a new staff position for pre-trial supervision and he said the staff is involved in a variety of community programs and he’s very proud of that.