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Brainerd council approves orderly annexation area after debate over taxes and utility ties
Summary
After a lengthy staff presentation and debate over tax impacts and sewer connections, the Brainerd City Council on March 2 approved a joint resolution establishing an orderly annexation area near Riverside Drive; the 4–3 roll call advances planning but does not annex properties immediately.
The Brainerd City Council voted 4–3 on March 2 to adopt a joint resolution that designates an area near Riverside Drive as eligible for orderly annexation, a procedural step staff says will allow the city to plan for future utility extensions and land-use changes.
James Grama, community development staff, told the council the resolution ‘‘establishes an orderly annexation area; it does not annex properties into the city of Brainerd’’ and that zoning would be set only upon future annexation. Finance staff used 2026 tax rates to illustrate likely short-term impacts, showing an example where a $440,000 residential homestead’s total local taxes could rise from about $2,192 to $4,293 if annexed — an estimate Grama described as illustrative rather than a guarantee.
Council debate focused on representation, environmental obligations and the timing of utility connections. Councilmember Gabe Johnson, arguing for planning, said the city must prepare: "We have to plan for the future." Councilmember Bevins said he would vote against the resolution, citing promises made during earlier negotiations and arguing the county should hold more responsibility for encouraging hookups: "I'm gonna vote against the ordinance...the onus falls on the county to encourage that."
Supporters, including Tad Erickson and Chesak, praised staff work and emphasized that the resolution is step one in a slow process involving the county and, if necessary, judicial review. Erickson noted the area is among the most heavily developed unincorporated places nearby and said planning now would help future infrastructure decisions.
The motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilmember Gabe Johnson and seconded by Councilmember Erickson. A roll-call vote recorded votes as: Bevins (No), Chesak (Yes), Johnson (Yes), Stunich (No), Jaeger (No), Erickson (Yes), O'Day (Yes); outcome: approved 4–3. Staff noted annexation by resolution would be parcel-by-parcel at council direction and that a moratorium on building permits could apply until updates to overlay districts and shoreland regulations are completed.
Next steps: the resolution advances to Crow Wing County for its consideration; if approved there, the matter could move to further review as provided under the annexation process.
