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BENTON AG Section B
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11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Thursday, April 11 Statewide tornado drills Same Local Coverage Since 1 8 5 4 .
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Vol. 164, No. 52
Payment for pavement County proposes tax for transportation BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – Most people are familiar with the jolt of a nasty pot hole and the washboard effect of an unkept road. The county is hoping to change unpleasant road experiences, but it will cost you. Benton County is proposing a .5% retail sales tax increase to generate revenue for local roads. “No one likes new taxes, but I think this is the fairest tax there is,” said Jake Bauerly, chair of the Benton County Board of Commissioners. “It’s on an affordability basis. You can choose to spend money if you want, but you can’t choose whether or not to pay your property tax.” Two open houses to inform residents about the Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation will take place this month. The first, Monday, April 9, will be at the Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N., Sauk Rapids. The second is April 22 at the Benton County Commissioner’s Board Room, 531 Dewey Street, Foley. Both events begin at 6:30 p.m. “Our existing revenues are not keeping up with what needs to be done,” said Chris Byrd, Benton County Public Works Director.
According to Byrd, there are 450 miles of road in Benton County, only half are eligible for state funding. With current funding levels, Byrd said 187 road miles will be beyond useful life within the next five years. Dependent on the road repair project – mill and overlay, reclaim or reconstruction – road repairs can cost roughly $150,000$900,000 per mile. The combined funding from state aid and property and wheelage taxes currently equates to about $3.5 million a year. Byrd said if the county sets a goal of 10 years to reach the point of beginning to replace roads at the end of their service lives, an additional $6.6 million annually would need to be generated. If the goal was 15 years, the amount drops to $4.1 million. Based on data from 2016, an analysis from the University of Minnesota Extension estimates the .5% tax could generate $1.9 million of additional revenue each year. The university’s study was commissioned by Benton County as they researched solutions to the road funding gap. “It doesn’t close the gap,” Byrd said. “It maybe gets us a step in the right direction. … It isn’t going to get us everything. That’s always a concern. There will still be frustration that somebody’s road (hasn’t been fixed).” Local option transportation tax became available to Minnesota counties in 2013 – the same time as wheelage tax. Benton County adopted a wheelage tax of $10 in 2013 and raised the amount to $20 in 2018 to help pay for its non-state-aid roads. As construction costs rise
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Machulas travel to their predecessors’ Polish lands BY NATASHA BARBER | STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – When Lynn and Sandy Machula spent a few days driving through the countryside of northeastern Poland in September 2018, the resemblances proved just how small the world really is. The rolling hills, plants, wildlife and surrounding lakes reminded the Sauk Rapids couple of home. “Driving over there, it was amazing how much it looked like Minnesota,” Lynn said. The Machulas visited the land of their Polish ancestors on a 10-day tour Sept. 15-25, 2018. The couple, along with their son Nathan, joined others from Sioux Falls, S.D. and Pittsburg, Penn. on the PolishOrigins Prussian Poland Tour. Lynn and Sandy shared their experience in a public presentation March 17 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids. A second presentation at the church will be offered at 3 p.m. May 5. Refreshments – including poppy seed bread and ginger bread – will be provided. By air, 4,593 miles separate the European
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Sandy (left) and Lynn Machula stand in front of the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, Poland September 2018. The Machulas traveled to northeastern Poland to learn about the lands their ancestors emigrated from.
country and “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Still, over 50 families of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids can trace their roots to the Warmian-Masurian province which is characterized by its lakes and forests.
Machulas page 3
Loss for words Roses diagnosed with same kidney disease as brother BY ANNA HINKEMEYER | STAFF WRITER
RICE – Life-threatening illness has been a reality for the Roses family in the past three years. Dylan Roses was diagnosed Sept. 17, 2015, with end-stage renal disease – life-threatening kidney failure. Two years ago, he received a kidney transplant that saved his life. “It was depressing to see him go through that,” said Zach Roses, Dylan’s older brother. “His kidneys were dead when they diagnosed him. He was dying. PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER But, he is doing great now, two years post-transplant.” Zach and Amber Roses sit in their home in Rice April 3. The family’s battle is not over. Zach was diagZach was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease Feb. 25 after his brother, Dylan, was diagnosed with the same disease three years ago.
• Benton County Advertisement for Bids - pg. 11 • Benton County Reg. Minutes, March 19, 2019 - pg. 11 • Benton County Public Hearing Notice - pg. 11 • Public Meeting Notice - pg. 11
Roses page 3 • Advertisement for Bids - pg. 12 • Summons Notice - pg. 12 • City of Sauk Rapids Public Hearing - pg. 13