Letter to the Editor

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 tax rates in the state and have been as high as #3. And after 2026, we will again move up that ladder.

2. Our schools keep decreasing in numbers. Since they depend on the number of students, less students mean less money to meet the requirements. Schools will close if this trend continues. School taxes are also affected by a low tax capacity.

3. Our cities, for the most part, are declining, and their ability to keep up their roads and maintain infrastructure is obvious. Also the ability to deal with blight isn’t affordable.

4. Our churches and civic organizations are struggling with numbers and the ability to maintain and survive.

No one is asking to change or weaken zoning laws along our lakes or rivers.

Changing zoning laws does not mean we have to allow junk yards or other blight.

There are a lot of people that would like to live in Wadena County, but don’t necessarily want to move to one of our cities. They want what many of us want. A quiet rural life.

These people are probably educated and will figure out how to make a living or even work remotely from home, thanks to WCTA. Many have received a quality education in one of our four schools or home schools.

Maybe they are our children or grandchildren that want to return here or stay here after high school.

Retired people probably want to remain in their homes, as much as possible, but are not looking to move to the country. Changes in zoning are for YOUNGER PEOPLE, looking for a safe, rural lifestyle. These people will have kids and will be active in our communities.

There are no more people driving to or from work in Wadena County than any of the surrounding counties.

Housing is the key to all of the above issues. Wadena County has put in place Housing and Commercial Tax Abates to be competitive with surrounding counties. We probably have 50 plus new homes built in the county in the last two years. Before that, there was a fraction of that amount.

We have more and more gates on property with these folks living out of county. Probably because they have the means to do so, which is their right. But we need to level the playing field for younger people who want to live here and raise their families here.

The Comprehensive Plan related to this subject will meet on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at the Sebeka Senior Center.

Murlyn Kreklau

District 4 Commissioner