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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| | Email this article • Print this article | Township officers learn about September
Vietnam Healing Wall event; Senator Olseen
recaps Green Acres legislative changes
BY ERIC VARGO
Correspondent
County Commissioner George McMahon and Dan Lundberg spoke on about the Vietnam Veterans Healing Wall at June's Township Association meeting.
The Healing Wall is a half-size replica of the official Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, and tours the country. The Wall will be installed at Chisago Lakes High School from September 10 to 13. On the way in, police and motorcycles will form an escort for the truck carrying the Wall. Once in place, the Wall will be on display 24 hours a day for those who wish to visit and pay their respects. Every name on the Wall will be read aloud over the 3-day period "even if it takes us all night", according to Lundberg.
McMahon asked if any of the townships assembled would contribute money to the Wall, and explained that any money collected before the Wall arrived would be used exclusively for electricity and other expenses associated with the traveling wall. Any money donated during the Wall's stay will go directly to maintenance and support for the Veterans Memorial in D.C. Chisago Lake Township had raised $750 previously, with other townships' representatives stated they would be making arrangements once they consulted on their budgets.
In other news, Diane Larkin has relinquished her post as Clerk and Treasurer of the Township Association. She has been replaced by Sharon McAndrews, Treasurer of Fish Lake Township.
State Senator Rick Olseen informed the Association about the newest Green Acres property tax legislation. Green Acres is a program intended to assist farmers with tax breaks based on their productive and non-productive land. The program had been revised during the last legislative session, with several changes unpopular with rural landowners. The new session voted to grandfather the program back to its original status until 2013, and introduced a new program called Rural Preserve to address the areas the changes were intended to address.
In response to recent statements made elsewhere concerning the upcoming US census, Supervisor Lyle Johnson asked that township officers encourage people to fill out "at least" the names, ages, and number of people in the household. He stated that census information determines how much funding counties and townships get from the state and federal government, including road and education funding. Jim Froberg Chisago Lake Supervisor, agreed, noting that several townships have had more registered voters than official census population due to people not sending in their census forms. Amador Supervisor Lin Strong stated that census record information was "vital" to genealogists and should be filled out in more detail.
Bob VandeKamp also Amador from Township, spoke to those in attendance about the importance of the County's 4H program. He stated that 4H "prevents problems" by teaching adolescents how to be good citizens and provides valuable experience and responsibility. Concerned about possible budget cuts, he asked that cuts be made elsewhere instead.
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