County looks back, forward with excitement

LITTLE FALLS - Morrison County had a strong year in 2006, it made investments for its future and it will continue to deal with its challenges this year, Morrison County Administrator Tim Houle said Tuesday.

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Houle gave his annual 2007 State of the County Address in the county board room at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls in front off a handful of people.

Houle said the county has made several advancements in technology this past year, including redesigning its Web site to be more accommodating to citizens. The first thing people will see when they go to www.co.morrison.mn.us is a simple question, "How can we help you?"

"Many of your questions can be answered online," said Houle. "This means that we're available for the services we can provide in an online fashion 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Tim Houle

Houle said the county will add several taped programs to the Web site on various topics, such as methamphetamines and Internet safety. Houle said this will allow citizens who don't have access to the local cable channels the opportunity to view the programs on the county's Web site.

The county also is building an electronic plat book so every parcel in the county is electronically filed, which will be helpful when citizens need information about tax records, property transfers and land use permits.

Houle said this past year the county built a public works facility on the existing Larson Boats property, upgraded the county's solid waste facility, added more space to the government center and expanded its county jail.

"By expanding our jail we generate revenue to help offset the capital cost of the jail space by renting out jail beds to other jurisdictions," Houle said. "Last year, Sheriff Michel Wetzel and his talented staff generated almost $700,000 in jail rent from renting out our beds."

Houle said that this summer, county residents will see the first section of a paved recreation trail in the county on the old Soo Line Trail. It will be a regional trail and will link up to the Lake Wobegon Trail in Stearns County.

Houle said the county's biggest accomplishment this year was entering into an agreement with South Country Health Alliance for county-based purchasing. County-based purchasing provides cheaper health coverage for county residents on public assistance for medical care.

Successes this past year, Houle said, included reducing meth use for the second year in a row and making progress controlling adult pornography, including closing down the Camp Bar, where arrests were made for prostitution. The county also was supported in controlling adult porn use when the Minnesota Supreme Court denied a petition in December to review an appeal from Gordon Wheeler to operate an adult-use business at a site in Culdrum Township, about 12 miles west of Little Falls.

A challenge the county continues to face this year involves a commercial dog breeding kennel in Belle Prairie Township. The Minnesota Court of Appeals earlier this month ruled that the county board didn't follow correct procedure when it issued an amended conditional use permit to Gary McDuffee to operate a 600-dog breeding operation.

The court reversed the county board's earlier decision and sent the issue back to the county board for reconsideration of McDuffee's conditional use permit.

Houle said the county will hold a public hearing on the dog kennel issue so that residents will be able to speak on whether a conditional use permit should be approved. However, he said officials are waiting for a court judgment on whether an environmental assessment worksheet would be needed.

"It could take months before the public hearing would be held," Houle said. "It will be publicized."

County residents who want to hear Houle's speech can view it on the local cable access channels through the month of March. The speech will be aired on Channel 6 in Little Falls and on Channel 10 in Pierz at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursdays and at 7 p.m. Saturdays.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.