PINE CITY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017 VOL. 132 NO. 40 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
GOING FOR THE KILL: Dragon volleyball defeats Barnum, Hinckley-Finlayson. P10
County sets prelim levy at 5.5% BY AILENE CROUP NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
LANCE FURBER | THE PIONEER
Lions fun runner earns a high five The Pine Area Lions annual costume Fun Run on Sept. 30 brought out runners intent on having a good time. More photos on Page 12.
Pine County Commissioners have had additional meetings to hammer out the preliminary 2018 property tax levy and budget. Though the consensus in the beginning of September was a 3 percent to 4 percent increase, the board approved a 5.5 percent preliminary levy increase at the Sept. 19 regular meeting. The nearly $1 million increase will bring the total county residents’ property taxes for 2018 to $17,912,930. County departments delivered their budget requests for next year. Those requests totaled an increase in taxes of $1.4 million. It was at the special budget meeting Sept. 12, 2017, held between the regular September board meetings in September, where the board reached a consensus of a 5.5 percent increase. This means an additional $933,849 tax increase, $489,807 short of the budget requests. Budget cuts will now begin. Commissioners approved the 5.5 percent preliminary
tax levy increase which had to be confirmed by Sept. 30 according to State law. When the property tax levy is finalized in December, the board can decrease the 5.5 percent preliminary as far as they want but cannot increase it. In other business: • County Auditor-Treasurer Cathy Clemmer told the board there will be a special assessment on about 20 to 30 properties for maintenance on County Ditch No. 7 during 2018 and 2019. County Engineer Mark LeBrun said the benefiting adjacent properties will be getting a letter notifying them of the tax increase. He told commissioners to be prepared because they “will hear from” property owners who will be assessed for the ditch. • The recently approved bond, which will fund the new county building in Sandstone, will also be used to construct the new county maintenance shop in Hinckley. The board awarded the contract to the lowest bidder, Kotek Builders, Inc., for $147,845.
Margery Stratte Swanson makes her mark on Pine City BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Margery Stratte Swanson was at the Pine City Library a few weeks ago, at the regular Thursday afternoon get-together to talk about local history. Swanson said she loves that group, and enjoys all their good discussions and memories of Pine City’s past. “It’s terrific,” Margery said. “It’s something I never miss. Boy, I’d almost have to be dead to miss that one.” In the middle of the meeting, three representatives from the
Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce strolled in, walked to the front of the room, and asked for Margery. “And so I went up there and they told me,” she said. Margery had been named the Outstanding Citizen of the Year for her many years of work in the community, including the library renovation, her work with the Pine City Area History Association, and much more. “I was floored,” she said. “I never, ever, ever expected this. Ever. There are so many other people who deserve it.” Margery was raised in Pine
City, the daughter of Alf and Margret Stratte. “My dad came here in 1924,” she said. “Someone on his honeymoon told him that Pine City needed a doctor, so that’s why he came here. And I was born the next August, in 1925.” The family moved away while her father served in the Army in Louisiana during World War II, but she came back to graduate from high school in Pine City. That was when a young Pine City man named Bayliss Swanson walked up to her at MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER
Margery Stratte Swanson has been named Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
SEE MARGERY, PAGE 14
Lock in a great rate today and enjoy peace-of-mind with our No Worry CD.
1.51 1.61
✔ Easy Access - Withdraw up to 50% with no penalty ✔ Rate Increase – Raise your rate if rates go up
• 36 Month Adjustable Rate CD • $5000 Minimum 2
NO WORRY CD
%
APY*
%
APY* With a qualifying Northwoods checking account1
Life is too short to worry about your CDs.Come to Northwoods today!
NORTHWOODS BANK We mak it happen…for you e !
11015 Hillside Ave SW, Suite 1, Pine City • 320-629-5000
Park Rapids • Nevis • Rush City • Pine City
(1) A qualifying checking account will have at least one monthly direct deposit or auto-payment. (2) Minimum opening deposit is $5000 - at least $2500 must be new money to the Bank, not currently on deposit. *Annual Percentage Yield (apy) effective as of 5/10/17 and subject to change. APY assumes interest remains on deposit until maturity. Interest compounds quarterly. You may adjust the rate once during the term to the rate being offered on our standard 42 month certificate of deposit (CD) at the time of rate adjustment. Additional terms - Penalty for early withdrawal, fees could reduce earnings, automatically renewable to a standard 42 month CD. We reserve the right to decline or limit deposits.
northwoodsbank.com
Equal Housing Lender CLASSIFIED ADS 320-629-6771 mel@countystar.com
NEWS 320-629-6771 editor@pinecitymn.com
ADVERTISING 320-629-6771 kent@pinecitymn.com
Member FDIC
PUBLIC NOTICES 320-629-6771 publicnotices@pinecitymn.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 320-629-6771 ads@pinecitymn.com
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone