Residents urge confidence in elections, raise fears about federal enforcement and property assessments

Monique LaCroix, a Chaska resident, told the Carver County Board that a 10-year University of St. Thomas review found three instances of noncitizen voting in more than 13 million Minnesota ballots and urged officials to ground election conversations in verifiable data. "Out of more than 13,000,000 ballots cast, it identified exactly 3 instances where a noncitizen voted," LaCroix said, and recommended steps to ensure polling sites are welcoming and nonintimidating, including adequate staffing, visible nonpartisan signage and well-trained poll workers.

LaCroix also said county officials must protect the safety and inclusion of voters of color and asked that county leaders coordinate—"including county commissioners, county attorney, and sheriff"—to uphold state and federal laws that prohibit intimidation at the polls. She said she would leave a printed copy of the study with staff and follow up with links and notes.

During the same public-comment period, Pam Understad of Norwood Young America described a property-assessment dispute she said stemmed from how contiguous parcels and deeded acres were counted. She said comparable properties cited by assessors included recent improvements and that her parcel’s true deeded acres were shown on her property tax statement. "So when you read the property information search, it always shows less than what you own," Understad said, asking the board for support in ensuring the assessor’s office reviews her materials.

Tom Desatell of Chaska asked the board to review a board-of-equalization matter he left believing would be ruled one way but later learned a different valuation was adopted. Commissioners and staff agreed to follow up with the assessor’s office to determine whether the matter can be reopened or clarified.

A resident who identified herself as Natasha Adams described multiple instances of what she said were ICE vehicles conducting enforcement activity near a manufactured-home park over the winter. Adams said the pattern of surveillance and close-following made her and other residents fear for their safety and asked whether the presence of federal agents at polling locations would suppress turnout. "So would we...feel safe were there any kind of federal agency at a polling place?" she asked.

Board members acknowledged the comments, thanked speakers for raising issues and asked staff to follow up on assessment and process questions. No formal board action on the public comments was taken during the period.