Crawford Lake petition meets threshold; Wright County schedules Oct. 7 public hearing

County staff told the Wright County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9 that a petition to create the Crawford Lake Improvement District has met the statutory petition threshold and that the county will schedule a public hearing on the proposal.

Lindsay, a county staff member, said the petition submitted “a little over a week ago” appears complete; staff recorded about 71% of property owners within the proposed district boundaries as signatories, above the 50% threshold required under the governing statute for initiating a lake improvement district process. Lindsay said the county has begun communication with the township and the Department of Natural Resources and recommended scheduling a public hearing; the board set the hearing for Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Board members asked procedural questions. The chair confirmed that after the public hearing the board “make the decision whether we create or do not create” the improvement district. Commissioner Moyna moved to schedule the Oct. 7 hearing and Commissioner Holland seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

This is the third time Crawford Lake has pursued formation of a lake improvement district, and county staff characterized the current petition as complete. The hearing will be the formal opportunity for property owners and other residents to speak for or against creating the district; county staff will follow the notice and hearing requirements set by state statute before the board takes a formal decision.