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Isanti County selects official newspaper for 2026, approves permits, plats and sheriff’s equipment purchases
Summary
After debate over circulation and contract length, the board picked the County News Review for a one-year official newspaper contract, approved several gambling permits and final plats, and authorized sheriff’s office purchases of squad cameras and a dispatch server using public safety and grant funds.
The Isanti County Board of Commissioners designated the County News Review as the county’s official newspaper for 2026 after weighing one-year flexibility against a lower three‑year rate offered by another bidder.
Staff summarized both bids and provided distribution figures; commissioners discussed statutory criteria including circulation thresholds and distribution to households. Several commissioners favored flexibility and the ability to revisit the contract annually; others flagged lower three‑year pricing as attractive. The board approved the lowest responsible one‑year bid by recorded vote (motion carried 3–1 with one abstention).
In land-use and permitting business, the board approved gambling permits for the Long Lake Improvement Association, the Princeton Lion Club and the County Sportsman’s Club. The board also approved several final plats (JMP Acres, Westside Woodlands with conditions, and Dougville with one condition) after staff confirmed prior preliminary approvals and that conditions would be satisfied before recording.
Public safety purchases were presented by Captain Chad Meyer. Using state public safety aid funds, the sheriff’s office purchased replacement and upgraded in-car camera equipment (Motorola invoices totaling about $17,092 for cameras, $4,860 for extended warranty and a $6,503 replacement camera). The board approved the camera purchases. Separately, a dispatch server purchase funded by grant money was approved to host a quality-assurance program to support dispatch supervision and NENA standards; staff confirmed no levy funds were used for that purchase.
Why it matters: The newspaper designation determines where official notices must be published; distribution and statutory compliance were central to the discussion. Final plat approvals advance permitted development projects; equipment purchases impact public-safety operations and are supported by non-levy funds.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the newspaper contract for the year, process the approved plats and ensure the sheriff’s office completes installation and warranty registration for the new camera systems.
