Bizz Buzz
Smoke-free meeting planned
Crow Wing County will host another smoke-free information meeting looking at the question of whether the county should pass an ordinance for smoke-free restaurants and bars.
The session is set from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Brainerd City Hall on Laurel Street.
The Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce suggested another session was needed that targeted the business community. The county hosted several information sessions this year.
Look for changes on the wooded corner by Woida Road and Edgewood Drive just south of Arby's restaurant as a bank is planning to move into the site.
Deerwood Bank is expanding. A merger between Northland Community Bank and the First National Bank of Deerwood was announced last week. Northland Community Bank has locations in Bemidji, Blackduck, Littlefork and Northome. Deerwood Bank is in Deerwood, Bemidji, Brainerd and Garrison. The companies announced the Northland Community Banks will change their names to Deerwood Bank.
In a news release, Northland Bank President Ben Miller said the merger will give their current customers added services previously not available. Services include access to accounts by phone 24 hours a day using Dial-A-Bank or by Internet using online banking. Miller, who will maintain a Bemidji office, will be the director for the merged banks.
Deerwood Bank Chairman Vern Smith said the merger and thus the extension of the bank's services was a natural progression.
Deerwood Bank, chartered in 1910, is a privately owned full service bank. The bank announced with the merger it will have more than $200 million in assets.
Name dropping of the next retail giants to join the lakes area business community can be a serious pastime. Developers recently confirmed they are still hearing talk of Lowe's and a Target Greatland addition in Baxter. A call to Target's corporate office garnered a denial of a new store in the lakes area or an expansion of its existing store.
There has been additional talk of an Olive Garden joining the dining options, but there has not been a permit for such construction in the city of Baxter -- where speculation has put the Italian restaurant.
On a related front, there has been no movement for a building permit for the China Garden restaurant although the sign for the proposed Chinese/Japanese eatery still stands on a plot of land in Baxter just off Highway 371 North.
Air Hobbies moved into the storefront on Washington Street next to Hardee's restaurant.
Blue Lakes Disposal, Brainerd, was assessed fines for violating motor carrier safety regulations. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the company was assessed a civil penalty of $3,190 for violating regulations, namely failing to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substances testing program. A safety investigation of Blue Lakes Disposal was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, in cooperation with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.