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Kandiyohi County denies Lake Andrew improvement‑district petition after signature recount
Summary
The Kandiyohi County Board denied a petition to form the Lake Andrew Lake Improvement District after county staff, following county‑attorney review of an Attorney General opinion, found petition signatures did not meet Minnesota Statute 103B.521 requirements; petitioners can refile if they meet the statutory majority.
The Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners voted on May 19, 2026, to deny the petition to establish the Lake Andrew Lake Improvement District, concluding the petition did not meet statutory petition requirements under Minnesota Statute 103B.521.
Auditor‑Treasurer Lisa Whis told the board staff initially counted signatures by parcel, but after reviewing an Attorney General opinion and consulting the county attorney, staff recalculated ownership counts. Under the county attorney’s reading of the AG opinion, jointly owned property requires both owners to be counted if both signed and owners with multiple parcels count only once. That recount reduced the petition’s support below the statutory 51% threshold.
Commissioners expressed sympathy for the petitioners and frustration that different informal advice from peer counties may have led volunteers to proceed in good faith. Administrator Baker said staff would help petitioners understand the ownership counting rules if they choose to collect signatures again. A motion to adopt the order denying formation of the Lake Andrew Lake Improvement District passed by voice vote (four yes, one present).
The denial is procedural: staff and several commissioners noted petitioners may refile a corrected petition and that the county will provide guidance on how to count signatures to meet the statutory test. The DNR was not taking a position on the statutory question and directed staff to consult the county attorney.
