Isanti County board approves plats, contracts, personnel items and moves to closed session

Isanti County Board of Commissioners met April 1, 2025, and approved a slate of routine and substantive items including final plats, vendor contracts for park construction, a 2025 aquatic invasive species plan and personnel and benefits actions. The board then moved into a closed session to discuss the purchase of real property under Minnesota law.

The board unanimously approved the payment and placement of six memorial plaques for former officers and staff, a 2025 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) plan and a three-year DNR delegation agreement, and a watercraft-inspection services contract with WaterGuard LLC. Several final plats were approved: Netastat Estates in North Branch Township (three lots), Vassar Addition Rearrangement in North Branch Township (two lots; total acreage 20 acres with Lot 1 at 9.47 acres and Lot 2 at 9.51 acres), Roxbury Landing in Wyandotte Township (two lots; Lot 1 4.51 acres, Lot 2 10.26 acres), and Street Family Addition in Isanti Township (three lots; Lot 1 25.4 acres, Lot 2 9.9 acres, Lot 3 19.8 acres). The Street Family Addition approval included a condition that Lot 2 be buildable only in the area zoned within the Rum River scenic/bluff district where development rights apply.

The board awarded the low bid for construction of a picnic shelter at Irving and John Anderson County Park to Northland Recreation for $9,250 and awarded the concrete work for shelter footings and a restroom apron to Mid State Masonry for $9,054; both projects are part of a park legacy grant with local matching funds. The board approved the Community Health Board action items, routine personnel actions, and an MOU with Teamsters Local (fitness-purchase option using accrued sick time) as a pilot through the current contract.

Two related resolutions to change health-care-savings-plan conversion rules were approved: the board authorized a change for the non‑elected department head group to allow conversion of up to 20% of accrued sick leave (capped at 800 hours) into their health care savings accounts upon eligible retirement; and for the broader noncontract group the board approved conversion of up to 30% of accrued sick leave (capped at 800 hours) upon eligible retirement. The board also passed resolutions supporting retention of local zoning authority and supporting the “One County, One Senator” concept. Utility permits, claims and warrants were approved. The meeting then recessed into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subd. 3(c), to discuss purchase of real property.

Votes at a glance (items recorded during the meeting): all listed motions carried unanimously unless noted. - Approve agenda and 03/18/2025 minutes: approved. - Payment and placement of six memorial plaques (total reported $5,370): approved. - 2025 AIS plan and three‑year DNR delegation agreement: approved. - Watercraft inspection services contract with WaterGuard LLC: approved. - Final plat: Netastat Estates (3 lots): approved. - Final plat: Vassar Addition Rearrangement (2 lots; total 20 acres; Lot 1 9.47 ac, Lot 2 9.51 ac): approved. - Final plat: Roxbury Landing (2 lots; Lot 1 4.51 ac, Lot 2 10.26 ac): approved. - Final plat: Street Family Addition (3 lots; Lot 1 25.4 ac, Lot 2 9.9 ac, Lot 3 19.8 ac) with condition that Lot 2 build within the scenic/bluff district: approved with condition. - Award park shelter construction to Northland Recreation ($9,250) and concrete to Mid State Masonry ($9,054): approved. - Community Health Board actions: approved. - Personnel action items: approved. - MOU with Teamsters (pilot program allowing employees meeting minimum sick‑time thresholds to trade hours for fitness items/memberships through the contract term): approved. - Resolutions: non‑elected department head health care savings conversion (20% cap/800 hours) and noncontract group conversion (30% cap/800 hours): approved. - Resolution supporting retention of local zoning authority: approved. - Resolution supporting One County, One Senator: approved. - Utility permits; claims and warrants: approved. - Move into closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subd. 3(c) to discuss purchase of real property: motion carried.

The board did not receive public comment at the start of the meeting. Following the closed session motion the board cleared the room and began the closed session at about 10:15 p.m.