Benning Printing & Publishing

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12. Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Planning and Zoning Administrator Deana Malone updated the commissioners on the progress of the county’s Comprehensive Plan and changes to zoning and subdivision rules. She mentioned that work with the consultant Hometown Planning started later than planned, kicking off in February instead of December, but is still generally o

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5. 4-H Building Update County Engineer Anthony Maule reported on the work of the committee previously appointed by the board (Maule, Commissioners Stearns and Winkels, and representatives of Friends of Wadena County Youth). The group met three times earlier in the year to clarify the scope of the 4-H building project and review costs. The committee recommende

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 21. Human Services Annual Report Wadena County Human Services presented its annual report, detailing key statistics and trends. Fiscal Supervisor Amy Gendron highlighted that total human services expenditures statewide reached approximately $21.46 billion, with Wadena County accounting for about $78.9 million. Key expenditures included: Support programs (ch

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 7. Zoom was shut down approximately 30 minutes into the meeting due to another hack of a pornographic nature. Jailer/Dispatchers Needed The Wadena County Commissioners decided to hire two more full-time jailer/dispatchers after a long discussion about problems with staffing, overtime costs, and safety at the county jail and dispatch center. Jail Administra

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on March 17 at the Menahga Senior Center. The commissioners gave the go-ahead for Friendly Rider to start looking for bids on a new transit building. This is a big step in a project that has been talked about for a long time. Transit Director Randy Jahnke updated the commissioners on the project’s progress. The planning and designing stage is almost done, and a detailed plan

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on March 10. Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau attended via Zoom. Right-To-Farm Declaration Farm Bureau Representative Brian Roth told the board that commercial deer farms in Minnesota have sharply declined over the past decade, in part due to stricter rules tied to chronic wasting disease (CWD), including requirements for double fencing and limits on who farms can sell to. He argu

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on March 3. Opioid Settlement Dollars to Fund Public Safety Cabinet at City Park A new public access safety cabinet will house an automated external defibrillator (AED) and naloxone (Narcan) at the city’s main park by the Depot. The $10,700 request came from the county’s Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee on behalf of Advocates for Health, a Sartell‑based nonprofit that ins

To the Editor: The longer I have been on the county board, the more I believe there is, at the very least, a need to update our 1970 zoning laws, which have changed very little since then. It’s about a lot more than just increasing our tax capacity. Here are some other reasons why this is important: 1. Increased tax capacity increases our ability to keep our tax rates down, to deal with ever increasing mandates coming out of St. Paul. We currently have the eighth highest ta

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on February 24. New Administrator Hired A small group consisting of Chair Ron Noon, Vice Chair Brian Winkels, and HR Director Jennifer Westrum worked together to find and negotiate with candidates for the county administrator position. After interviews and discussions, they agreed to hire Colleen Winter, with a tentative start date set for Monday, April 6. Winter has some p

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on February 10. Future of the Hope Center Human Services Director Jennifer Westrum reported that Oak Ridge and Westview would end their contract to operate the Hope Center. She, along with colleagues Amy Gendron and Amelia Hutson, discussed four options, including potentially closing the Hope Center. Westrum highlighted that this would leave Wadena County without a drop-off