D.J. Dondelinger, owner at Dondelinger Automotive in Baxter, started getting phones calls at 6 a.m. Thursday asking if he’d read about the recent Baxter City Council meeting.
He hadn’t. But in short order he discovered the city council voted to start annexation proceedings on land where Dondelinger Automotive is planning to build its auto dealership.
Wednesday night, the city council voted to file a petition for annexation of Dondelinger property along Highway 371 and County Highway 77. Development plans for the site call for construction of the Chevrolet Cadillac and Hyundai dealerships along with a body shop at the site. The proposed development is on 11.86 acres in Unorganized Territory, which is governed by Crow Wing County. Earlier this week, the county approved a plan to fill 47,545 square feet, or more than an acre, of wetlands.
Dondelinger said he was shocked at the city of Baxter’s assertion this project was on a fast track. Baxter staff participated in numerous meetings, Dondelinger said, adding he’s been working on the project since August.
“This isn’t like this is a new deal, that’s why I’m shocked,” Dondelinger said. “It’s not like this has been a sneaky deal. Why didn’t they annex that land before. It’s not like they didn’t know this was coming.”
He said the project met Crow Wing County’s requirements. The wetland plan was approved, Dondelinger said, and architectural designs are moving forward. Plans are to begin cutting trees on Tuesday at the site. Dondelinger’s time line is to be in the new building in October. He said he has a March 31 deadline with Chevrolet to have things in motion. Dondelinger said he hopes the annexation hearing is before an administrative judge so he’ll have the opportunity to argue his side.
For the city of Baxter, a concern was putting the commercial development on septic mound systems when city sewer and water is just feet away. Dondelinger said the comments from the city that the use of septic systems for a commercial development would foul nearby lakes and residential wells is a fear tactic.
“We’re not doing anything bad,” Dondelinger said. “We are meeting the codes. I have done everything the county has asked me to do.”
Dondelinger said it is not like they are just putting a pipe in the ground and dumping waste on the ground. He said in today’s world every chemical used is hauled away, including leftover paint from the body shop. He said the dealership no longer uses solvents because of the cost of disposal.
Dondelinger said his dealership by Isanti, which went up in 2008, uses a septic system and is also across the highway from city sewer and there is no problem. The response by the city makes it sound as though the county can’t handle the development, Dondelinger said. Baxter city officials said Wednesday the county is used to handling more rural development than urban commercial settings. Regulations differ between the county and city, including building design requirements. Dondelinger said he’d need a variance to construct the building Chevrolet wants if it were in the city limits.
Wednesday the city council voted to petition the state for a public hearing on the question of annexation. In a second motion, the city voted to seek a joint resolution for annexation with the cooperation of Crow Wing County.
Dondelinger said if the city wanted to annex that property they could have done so earlier. He questioned why annexation procedures weren’t extended to other nearby businesses such as Lake Region Storage with its impervious surface coverage. And he said other development to the north makes the idea of saving space for a potential frontage road a concern that has not kept pace with updated transportation plans.
Dondelinger said he would have preferred to stay where he is on Highway 210 in Baxter, but the Cypress Drive extension and the automotive dealership’s growth meant a move was needed.
“It just seems like foolishness to me,” Dondelinger said of the annexation. “It’s just a big waste of time and money. What if I was another half mile up? Would the city want to come after me, too? How far north would I have to go?”
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com.
Comments (8)
Add commentForced annexation
Can the City of Baxter or any city force annexation ?
If the City of Baxter or any city can force annexation, how will that effect future development that border city lines?
How will this action taken by the City of Baxter effect the future of Unorganized Territory and residences with the threat of being annexed due to the type and location of a purposed development ?
Yup they can !!!
From what I have heard, yes, a city can decide to annex land and there is little anyone who gets annexed can do about it. Truth is it is about the revenue that the city can collect for themselves. I laugh when I hear all about a city doing an annexation for the "good of the people". [filtered word], it is about the money the city can profit by installing streets, sewers, water, property taxes every year. Then gouging making the landowners pay for the city installed streets and utilities even though the land owner never wanted or needed any of it. Plus think, all the newly annexed land is now taxed by the city. Can you imagine what it would cost Dondelinger if the city of Baxter annexs where they want to build? Think about just the property tax bill every year, the assessment for all the utilities, street, etc. Makes the project a lot lot more expensive. We desperately need construction jobs, we need jobs period, yet we have some people threatening to kill a project that really is good for the community.
Merlyn tells it right - good post.
All about more revenues for Baxter at the expense of a job creator; can't wait for the chance to vote out the circus led by chief clown Olson.
Baxter taxpayers should be infuriated!
As a property owner and resident in the City of Baxter, I am infuriated that this is how they choose to use my tax dollars. I recall not so long ago that Baxter was fighting with this same company in order to protect a corridor for the Cypress Drive project (another "road to nowhere"), ultimately forcing them to find a new place to operate their business. So, the Dondelinger's apparently did what they were forced to do, by finding a new place to locate their business, and now the City of Baxter isn't happy with that, either (presumably because they found a place that isn't within the Baxter city limits and they'll lose the revenue). Does anyone else think this situation stinks of harrassment and an elitist government agency thinking they can do whatever they want and get away with it?
Baxter taxpayers, it is time to get this monster under control, and stop allowing this madness to continue. When we risk losing local businesses that have been in our community for 40 plus years because of this kind of nonsense, it's time to stand up and take action. The Baxter ring leaders will tell you they don't need our local businesses - all they care about are the big box companies that will come in and pay any price they're asking, because they can. With the highest unemployment numbers in the state, can we really afford to lose companies that actually pay good wages to their employees in favor of the big boxes?
Baxter leaders (and I use that term very loosely), get your heads out of your behinds and get out of the way! Stop putting your nose into things that aren't your business.
Annexation
Baxter is getting a bad name for this crap! This corporation pays enough in taxes already. Just because Baxter made a few mistakes, there is no need to punish others. I am at a point to ask, who has a personal grudge against the Dondelinger family? Any more of this garbage and I think ALL the rest of Baxter businesses should be forgotten until Baxter starts acting like they should. Don't buy in Baxter!
Baxter City Leaders=Fail
Baxter City Leaders=Fail
It's about the Money
Money, money, money. Annex them into the city, and then blood let them out of existence with astronomical fee's, permits, taxes and assessments. Great plan Baxter! This is not the cities and it's time to stop acting like it. Of course the way everything looks these days, it really is the cities. Our northerly rural country setting has gone the way of the do-do. No thanks.
If I were
If I were Mr. Dondelinger, I would move to Barrows and thumb my nose at Baxter and 352!