Benning Printing & Publishing

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

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on February 3. Finalists Selected For County Administrator The search for a county administrator is being led by Strategic Government Resources (SGR), a national recruitment firm. Michael Czymbor, Executive Vice President for Recruiting and a former city manager with 39 years of experience, is serving as the county’s consultant. The administrator position was posted December

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, January 20. Event Center Project On January 14, a meeting was held to discuss the 4-H Building/Event Center remodel project with Commissioner Brian Winkels, County Engineer Anthony Maule, Widseth Architectural Designer Trevor Guck, and six representatives from the Friends of Wadena County Youth (FOWCY). Dan Sartell of the FOWCY shared that he worked with CoBuilt C

The building rendering for the 4-H/Event Center renovation project at the Wadena County Fairgrounds was created with help from Widseth architects and engineers. Commissioners said the project needs to be scaled back to lower costs. by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, January 13. Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau was absent. Event Center Tony Hansen, serving as Regional Director of Minnesota Extension, sha

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, January 6. Commissioner Ron Noon was elected board chair and Brian Winkles as vice chair. Still No Water At Event Center Dan Sartell from the Friends of Wadena County Youth explained that a contractor had pulled a permit to extend the water main into the building but failed to complete the work, leaving the facility without water and stalling further renovations,