Residents Offer Differing Views on Baxter Assessments – Brainerd Dispatch

BAXTER — The assessments were on the minds of a few residents who voiced their concerns at Baxter City Hall, and the speaker said council members were either dictators or doing what they could to help the community.

On Tuesday, July 2, two residents brought more than complaints. They proposed solutions to the problem of funding street improvements and utility expansions, while one resident shouted gender-related accusations.

Gary Morgenroth of Baxter criticized city council members individually and in general on a range of issues, including the recent Interstate 77 utility project and assessments. Morgenroth said the League of Minnesota Cities was an armed wing of United Nations programs and a communist organization.

The League of Minnesota Cities held its recent annual conference with educational sessions — legislative updates, a conference on artificial intelligence and its risks and best practices, cannabis regulation, a healthier workforce and employees, housing, lead exposure, the environment, alternative funding sources, opioid funds, a session designed for new council members, energy, policing, emergency medical services, demographics and aging, engineering and more — in late June in Rochester. Some council members attended, as did 550 municipal officials from across the state.

“You go to these meetings and you get all your direction from these idiots who tell us to take our money,” Morgenroth said, telling the council in a loud voice that they had turned into dictators and that he had experienced the same problem with St. Paul, Waite Park and Sartell and others as city councils mistreated residents.

Morgenroth then counted the men on the council one by one, wondering if they had the right body parts to do the right thing when instead they put a woman in the foreground of a dog park.

When Mayor Darrel Olson asked Morgenroth to calm down, he said he wouldn’t. Morgenroth said other people are afraid to speak to council because they’re threatened with fines, fees and assessments.

Police Chief Jim Exsted got up from the staff table and stood next to Morgenroth and asked if he was finished, suggesting they go out into the hallway to talk, which they did and eventually did so calmly, with Morgenroth thanking Exsted.

Howie Bahn, Baxter, then spoke at the open forum.

“First of all, I want to thank you for all the work that you do,” Bahn said. “I truly believe that you care about the community and you do what you feel you need to do to help this community. It’s a great community. … I know that everything you’re trying to do is for the good of the community.”

Bahn said the last time he appeared before the council was when there was a discussion about resurfacing the road he lives on and he follows the council’s work.

“And pretty much every time there’s a big group, it’s about the road evaluations,” Bahn said.

He proposed something that he said would benefit the community and improve jobs for the council and the city. He added that it could also have the effect of making the city more accountable in terms of deciding what projects to pursue.

To determine a fair assessment amount, Mr. Bahn proposed a maximum assessment of $10,000. Anything above that would be divided among other members of the community to share the costs. He acknowledged that would mean an increase in taxes, but it would also give people an accurate number for financial planning.

Bahn said that in his case, he would have had to pay a fee of about $37,000, money he did not have in his savings. That project has been postponed.

“But ever since then, I’ve been losing sleep thinking about how hard it is to find another place to live,” Bahn said. “I love my place. I love it.”

Now, Bahn is wondering if he should sell and find something else, even though his current home is perfect for them. That’s what prompted him to come to the council to suggest the $10,000 option.

Another resident, Robert Bleimeyer, said it was his first visit to the council. Bleimeyer lives on one of the roads that is expected to be part of a planned 2026 project to expand water and sewer systems.

Bleimeyer said he could understand why the city wanted to do this, but he was looking at $20,000 for the assessment and another $10,000 to $15,000 for utility connection fees.

Bleimeyer said he could understand why the city wanted to do this, but he was looking at $20,000 for the assessment and another $10,000 to $15,000 for utility connection fees.

Bleimeyer asked if the council would consider being more flexible than the five-year period to connect to municipal services for people with functioning wells and septic systems. The systems could be tested and documented to ensure they do not pose a threat to the environment.

“I would ask you to seriously consider this because we are able to fund this, but many of our neighbors, like us, are retired and cannot afford to quickly come up with the kind of money that you are talking about here,” Bleimeyer said.

He added that it would be good for the community to be aware of infrastructure projects for the next five, six, eight years so they can plan. Looking two years out, to 2026, it’s difficult to reorganize an investment portfolio or borrow money, or anything else, during that period.

Olson told those in attendance he appreciated their feedback.

City Administrator Brad Chapulis said discussions about potential projects and the city’s roadway management program are ongoing, as is providing service to areas of the city still served by septic systems and wells.

The economic feasibility of all of these things will be examined at future work sessions where council can discuss the issues in greater depth and detail. Chapulis noted Bahn’s earlier comments and said that is exactly what the city is facing as staff and council when it comes to assessments.

The project Bleimeyer mentioned, utility and road improvements to the Clearwater Road and North Lynndale area in 2026, was on the council’s agenda for acceptance as a feasibility report.

Chapulis said the council did not make a decision on whether to move forward with the project at the meeting and that it would now be a public process. Chapulis offered to make sure Bleimeyer is notified when that happens, which the resident said he appreciated.

Bleimeyer said they came from Rochester, which also received a lot of feedback on curb, gutter and sidewalk assessments. Bleimeyer said they ultimately decided to raise taxes slightly and put that money into a fund for infrastructure improvements and maintenance for curbs, gutters and sidewalks, which ended the controversy.

“I think it’s an idea that’s worth considering by all of you,” Bleimeyer said. “It’s more complicated. And it gives you a reputation for being taxed more than you already are. But again, I think it would be fairer to the residents of the city — it’s just something to consider.”

Olson said they are trying to figure out how to be fair and equitable in this process and appreciated the people who came forward with their feedback.

“I just hope people realize that we’re not insensitive to this. We have two people sitting here who are in the middle of a project right now,” Olson said of the council members, noting that he and another council member will likely be next in line to address road improvement projects.

Regina Bleimeyer said she sees young families who she knows won’t be able to pay the assessment and wonders if the city council is doing this deliberately to encourage them to move or become homeless. She added she’s also worried about the next-door neighbor, a retiree.

“Thanks again for your comments, for sharing and taking the time to be here,” Olson said.

The council voted to accept the feasibility report for Clearwater and North Lynndale and to update the capital improvement plan.

In his comments to council at the end of the meeting, council member Jeff Phillips thanked residents for coming and said they addressed topics the council has talked about and will continue to talk about.

Councilmember Mark Cross noted that some council members went to the League of Minnesota Cities meeting last week and didn’t see anything communist there, but it was interesting because of the informational seminars and updates on what the legislature is and hasn’t done, such as a bond bill.

Cross said the sessions also give them a chance to talk to other councils and mayors and see how they solve problems. Cross said one city installed its entire water and sewer system at one time.

“We should have done it,” Cross said. “We should have done it 35 years ago, unfortunately. It was a good opportunity for us to get some additional information. It gives us something to think about.”

Olson agreed it was a great session.

In closing, Olson said people have the right to their own opinion, but not necessarily the right to know their own facts. He said he has been yelled at and criticized for all sorts of things over the years and he can accept that. “All I ask is that you be reasonable and factual and you’ll be fine.”

You can reach Editor Renee Richardson at 218-855-5852 or [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter at @DispatchBizBuzz.