Big Lake discussed between band, county

Development on Big Lake, the future of the sanitary district, cooperative zoning and boat enforcement all entered the discussion at an Oct. 28 meeting between the Fond Du Lac Reservation Business Committee members and officials from Carlton County. The county was represented by Commissioners Dick Brenner and Tom Proulx, zoning and environmental services administrator Heather Cunningham, zoning inspector Dave Hurst, and county coordinator Dennis Genereau.

The agenda of the meeting and observations were presented at the Carlton County board meeting Nov. 12.

According to Brenner, members of the Fond Du Lac RBC were concerned that the zoning ordinances set by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa differed from the Carlton County zoning ordinances. A review conducted by the Fond Du Lac zoning staff and the Carlton County zoning staff found no significant differences in the two plans.

Brenner reported that a meeting is being scheduled to work out differences in a proposed footprint of service for the Big Lake Area Sanitary District. Monthly charges for service and the impact on lot sizes and setbacks are open for discussion. The committee to work on the sewer expansion will consist of two members from Carlton County, two from the sanitary district and two from the RBC.

“I am encouraged by the open dialogue between Fond du Lac and the county board,” Brenner said. “The Big Lake sanitary district infrastructure needs to be completed. It is important to ensure the quality of the water in Big Lake for future generations.”

The sanitary district board is still at odds with FDL over agreements that would move the proposed sewer line project forward. The two groups have been negotiating a joint powers agreement for months with the band saying the cost of the project and expected monthly bills per household is too high and its rights on the reservation land are being trampled.

At its regular September meeting, the board was preparing a letter on the status of the project to be sent to lake area residents.

If the project were to start from scratch because of the deadlock, the board wouldn’t expect a system to be in place until at least 2028. Work on the project has been going on for more than a decade and there were hopes to begin construction in the next year.

Other board news

• Three tax-forfeited parcels in Cromwell were approved as temporary work space for construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Minnesota highways 210 and 73.

• An Oct. 30 public land auction of tax-forfeited property grossed $128,000. Three of 61 parcels were sold. $115,000 was the successful bid for a non-lakeshore lot in the Bayview addition on the north side of Little Hanging Horn Lake.

• Administrator Dave Lee of Carlton County Health and Human Services was commended for 20 years of service.

• Carlton County accepted the funds for distribution of the snowmobile grant-in-aid program with Moose Lake Rod & Gun Club at $55,753, Cromwell Trails at $52,872, Kettle River Trails at $26,545, Cloquet Wood City Riders at $23,577 and Wrenshall Trails at $2,792.