Highlights, priorities and future ideas were presented at the State of Isanti County Luncheon on Wednesday, April 17.
The Braham Event Center hosted the event, which was sponsored by the North 65 Chamber of Commerce.
Alan Duff, chair of the Board of Commissioners, and County Administrator Amanda Usher addressed the community, sharing an overview of events and changes in 2023, while also explaining what’s to come in the future.
2023 Highlights
Duff spoke about many different highlights from last year, one being the change of four new board of commissioners, which is unusual for a county.
But with new faces came new changes such as:
• Transparency Enhancements. To increase transparency, four Board of Commissioner meetings throughout a year (one every quarter) are now held in the evenings.
• Long-term infrastructure planning.
• Changing focus from social programs to public safety. Discontinued the Orange Frog initiative.
• Focusing on important citizen rights.
One of the topics that was of bigger notice in the community was when the county became a Second Amendment Dedicated County.
“We strongly were wanting to protect our constitutional rights, in particular the Second Amendment,” Duff said.
One thing that was brand new in 2023 was a new Drainage Ditch Authority Plan.
“We have quite a few ditches in Isanti County that have been neglected for years, and so we’re starting the process to try to improve those,” Duff said.
He also touched on how the probation department transitioned to community corrections, meaning five state employees have joined the team, which helps provide more state funding.
Another major event that occurred in 2023 was the first zero percent levy increase in over 10 years for the year 2024.
“We were really pleased to do that on a 5-0 vote last year,” Duff said.
He also mentioned the county has been living within its means and the means of the community, saying the county spent $1.8 million less than budgeted in 2023.
“We are going to have a lot of things come up this year that are going to be costly for us to look at, so it’s good to know that we had a little savings from last year to carry forward,” Duff said.
Priorities
Duff talked through the county’s main priorities for 2024. They are:
• Procuring former State Hospital property.
• Completing Imagine 2045 Comp Plan.
• Exploring options for new highway department facility.
• Road improvements, including repaving 30 miles of county roads and adding a roundabout to County Road 5 and Dual Blvd in Isanti.
• Auditor presents voting procedures.
• Updating county mission and strategic planning priorities.
• Updating contracting policy.
• Staff retention and morale.
• Negotiating contracts with seven unions.
One main priority is to continue to have low taxes while maintaining sufficient fund balance reserves.
“I believe our reserve is 40-45%, which is healthy, it’s nice, and we don’t want to be dipping below that,” Duff said.
Something that has become a new priority for the county is economic development, but the county is taking “baby steps” on this topic.
“Isanti County is one of the very few counties in the Twin Cities area that does not have an economic development-specific staff person,” Duff said. “We’ve been really slowly processing whether it’s time to move forward with that.”
In the office and community
Usher spoke on the actions and events the county departments have taken over the past year.
Health and Human Services
• Caseloads increased in many programs.
• Busy with health care renewals post pandemic.
• Working on reducing opioid fatalities and near deaths.
• Baby cafe open each Thursday through partnership with Allina and C-I schools.
• Focused efforts on Suicide Prevention in Isanti County.
• Mental health first aid trainings will be offered to residents soon.
• Special committee working to address the childcare shortage in the county.
• Hosted and participated in many events including Operation Community Connect, Baby Shower Event for families, Moving Forward informational event for those with disabilities, Senior Fairs, annual career day at CIHS.
One recent event was the “One Pill can Kill” informational event that invited parents and their children to learn more about the current opioid crisis.
“We’re in just kind of a scary situation with fentanyl and how it impacts our youth, and so they’ve done a great job working with some of our other county partners to share that message and awareness,” Usher said.
Sheriff’s Office
Isanti County welcomed new Sheriff Wayne Seiberlich in 2023. Here is an overview of events at the Sheriff’s Office:
• Conducted 3,982 security checks of properties and businesses.
• Completed over 2,500 traffic stops in 2023.
• Answered 7,282 incoming 911 calls.
• Processed 1,131 inmates in the jail.
• Provided Safety and Security for the Isanti County Fair.
• Added two new deputies and an Emergency Manager.
Zoning
Zoning stayed quite busy in 2023 with a range of events and changes within the county such as:
• Planned annual fifth grade conservation day.
• Provided training at local events.
• Reviewed county ordinances based on soon-to-be completed Imagine 2045 Comp Plan.
• 60 single-family dwelling unit permits.
• 640 roofing/siding permits (storm damage).
• 33 wetland permits.
• 17 plats.
Maple Ridge Park Reserve is a new 730-acre park that was given at a discounted cost to the county. This will become a park for the community to utilize as another county park.
“We’re currently working on ordinances on that park preserve so that that 730 acres can become a place for all of you to go and enjoy for many years to come,” Usher said.
Veterans services
Newer Veterans Service Officer Jamie High has made big impacts in 2023 along with is team.
“He has really gone above and beyond helping our veterans get the services they need,” Usher said.
The veterans office provide assistance with:
• Health care.
• Financial assistance.
• VA home loans.
• Educational opportunities.
• Mental health help.
Assessors
An overview of the changes in Isanti County from population to homes in 2023 were:
• 4.7% growth in Isanti County, No. 3 in statewide growth.
• Assessment growth 2020-2023.
• 36.62% assessment growth.
• 974 single-family homes.
• $378,448,400 in new construction value.
County Attorney
In 2023 the county attorneys office:
• Opened 1,030 new cases.
• Helped over 1,000 victims.
• Participates in community events and provides educational lessons from real-life cases to student drivers.
Probation
The Isanti County Probation Office transitioned to Community Corrections on July 1, 2023, and brought in $1.6 million in state funding. Currently the department is overseeing the following number of offenders:
• Adult active cases: 785 high, medium, low probation offenders.
• Juvenile Active cases: 93.
• Probation Service Center: 561 low-risk administrative cases.
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