By Wright County
The last meeting of the year was also the last meeting, period, for two members of the Wright County Board of Commissioners, as Tuesday morning’s meeting wrapped up with a lengthy, accolade-packed sendoff for Commissioners Charles Borrell and Michael Potter.
Both served two terms, with their respective eight years of total service on the board ending as 2020 comes to a close.
The two commissioners represent two sides of the county, literally and perhaps figuratively. Commissioner Potter represents District 4 … the fast-growing, more urban eastern portion of the county that includes Albertville, Rockford city and township, and parts of the cities of St. Michael and Hanover. Commissioner Borrell’s District 5 includes most of the southern half of the county from the city of Delano on the eastern edge of the county to the city of Cokato on the western edge, including the mostly rural communities and townships in between.
As such, the two board members have utilized their personal strengths and the general will of their respective constituents in their approach to their position, with Borrell often seeing things from the viewpoint of the farmer and long-time resident and Potter generally looking forward to inevitable growth in population and industry.
These traits were often evoked as fellow commissioners and county department leaders took turns offering them thanks for their years of service to the county, even to the point of playfully creating metal signs that highlighted their personalities. Potter’s sign listed his accomplishments, mostly as an outspoken advocate for roads and transportation. A quote on the sign … “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu” … was a favorite saying of his as he pressed for communicating with neighboring counties, the state and the federal government. As for Borrell, his sign called him “King of the Ditches” and listed a trio of oft-stated Borrellisms, including, “Greg will probably tell me this is illegal, but”.
Wright County Administrator Lee Kelly thanked both commissioners for serving during what he feels may have been the busiest, most productive period in the history of the county. Borrell, he said, always spoke his mind and always “stuck up for the little guy.” Kelly called Potter the “transportation guru”, adding, “I certainly appreciate your efforts flying all over and basically being a lobbyist for Wright County.”
Commissioner Darek Vetsch, speaking to Borrell, stated, “You embody what it means to be an elected official.”
Later, while describing Potter, Vetsch commented, “Your passion for the core values of government and working for the greater good may not be appreciated yet, but are going to be a long-lasting legacy for you in the years to come.”
Commissioner Mark Daleiden gave an example, pointing out that the county’s decision to enact a local half-cent sales tax in 2017 came about only because of the persistent arguments in favor by Potter. “It was one of the best things we’ve ever done,” he said, pointing to the transportation-related accomplishment brought about by the extra tax revenue. “Thank you for convincing us to figure out a way to help move the county forward.”
Commissioner Christine Husom called Potter the county’s unpaid lobbyist for the past eight years. “How can we put a value on that, with all you have been able to accomplish?” she asked. “You’re driven, you’re tenacious and you have vision.”
As others took turns to talk, additional words of praise for Potter: included “passion,” “honest” and “unparalleled.”
Commissioners used words like “passionate,” “caring,” and “perspective” while describing Borrell.
Both outgoing commissioners took turns to talk.
Speaking about the different perspectives offered by fellow commissioners, Potter commented, “Our diverse backgrounds are what makes us function well. It’s a cross-section of what Wright County is, because we are no longer a rural county.”
He added, “In the last eight years, I don’t think there has been a county busier than us. In fact, I’m sure of it.”
“At the end of the day, we all serve the 140,000 citizens of Wright County,” Potter summarized as he thanked everyone for their comments. “We need to do what’s right for them moving forward.”
For his part, Borrell also thanked everyone for their words, but stressed that commissioners would not get much accomplished without the backing and support of department heads and staff. Mentioning times when he had passed concerns and complaints from residents on to county departments, he underlined, “You can’t help the little guy without staff support.”
“The most rewarding part of this job is just going out to help our constituency,” he concluded. Borrell attended Tuesday’s meeting in person, a break from his pattern of attending remotely in the year of the coronavirus.
When the Wright County Board of Commissioners meets again on Jan 5, two new faces will be on five-member board. District 4 will be represented by Mary Wetter, who narrowly defeated Potter (50.9 percent to 48.6 percent) in the Nov. 3 election. District 5 will be represented by Mike Kaczmarek, who won a seat that was opened after Borrell decided not to run for another term.
Also recognized by the board was the long service of Becky Aanerud, who has worked for the county for 35 years and has been supervisor of the License Bureau since 2009. Speaking before the county board on Tuesday, the retiring Aanerud briefly recapped the many changes that the bureau has gone through over the years – from typewriters and carbon paper to computers and programs – and expressed her appreciation for the “great team of co-workers over the years.”
As the final meeting of 2020, most other discussion and action was brief, with the exception being a decision to amend the county’s zoning ordinance to allow for treatment and recovery facilities in agricultural zones.
The catalyst for this decision was a request to establish such a facility in rural Rockford Township, a request which current zoning regulations do not allow. A public hearing was held by the Wright County Planning Commission on Dec. 10 to consider the zoning amendment, and the county has received considerable, mostly negative public input in regards to the proposal. Responses were also submitted from a number of the cities and townships within the county, including a negative reply from the Rockford Township Board.
Leading the argument in favor of the ordinance was Commissioner Borrell, who commented that facilities to treat people afflicted by alcohol and drug abuse have to go somewhere. “It is our duty to accept living in neighborhoods that are not ideal. That’s what we are really up against with this ordinance,” he said. “I support this amendment. I think there is a need for it.”
A facility would be allowed after meeting the terms of a conditional use permit, and as part of the discussion, commissioners strengthened the conditions a bit, including requiring that a parcel be 70 acres in size, up from the proposed 60 acres.
The motion to amend the zoning ordinance passed in a 4-0-1 vote, with Commissioner Daleiden explaining that he was abstaining because the attorney representing the applicants for the Rockford Township property was also his attorney.
An agency entitled Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge is proposing to purchase the former YMAM property in Rockford Township to be used as a licensed chemical dependency treatment facility.