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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

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Road less traveled

Chickamaw Beach is off the beaten path, but city's residents don't mind

By KATHI NAGORSKI

City Editor

CHICKAMAW BEACH - There's no cafe, church, city hall or convenience store.

And there's not a lot of traffic since the most traveled city road ends in Norway Lake at the public access.

But Chickamaw Beach remains today a little known, close-knit city, nestled among the pines outside of Pine River.

The community is defined mostly by residences, a home-based business or two and few city streets, totaling about three miles of paved roads and nearly three miles of gravel roads. City population tops out at nearly 150.

The main artery of the community is Indian Trail Lane, which follows the east shore of Norway Lake. Most-recently established roads include Northumbria Drive and Silbaugh Drive. The community has its own bypass of sorts since the lightly traveled Highway 84, which connects Pine River to Longville, skirts the outer edge of the city.

The city of Chickamaw Beach doesn't have the typical trappings of a city. There are no cafes, churches or convenience stores - not even a city hall. But there's no lack of community pride from its residents. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Other than the green highway signs marking the community, travelers would never realize they are passing through the more than 50-year-old community. There are no reduced speed signs or sidewalks on the highway, no business district or city offices.

So why does the community exist barely a stone's throw outside the city limits of Pine River?

Past

Jeannette Silbaugh, 85, was a founding mother of the city, so to speak. Her late husband, Walt, served on the first city council.

Walt bought three lake lots along Norway Lake in the early 1940s for $10 per lot. After his service in World War II, the Silbaughs built a lake home on their property.

In 1950, residents, including the Silbaughs, along what is now known as Indian Trail Lane, organized a vote to incorporate as a city. The primary reason was to control the destiny of their sandy road, which they thought was poorly maintained by Barclay Township.

It all started with this road. East shore residents of Norway Lake voted to incorporate as a city so they could control the maintenance of Indian Trail Lane. This paved street was once little more than a washed out, sandy road. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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On Nov. 7, 1950, 33 people voted in favor of incorporation and 15 voted against.

Silbaugh remembers the early days of the city. When roadwork needed to be done, she said the men would gather with their shovels and split into two groups. They would start at each end of Indian Trail Lane and work on filling potholes until they met in the middle. Then they would gather at one of their homes, where the women had breakfast waiting.

"If we did anything, we did it as a group," Silbaugh said. "We were more like a family."

In the early days before state open meeting laws, city council meetings and elections were hosted in a councilman's home - a different home each month. Silbaugh said the lady of the house would serve refreshments. She recalls one meeting in which she had 17 people show up in addition to the council members.

"No kidding, it was almost a social gathering," she said. "They always stayed for lunch. It was a laid-back approach of governing."

Silbaugh credits much of the success of the city to its founding fathers, including her late husband.

"He was a good leader," she said. "I think he learned a lot of that in the service. Walter has always been a good worker and he had a way of getting along with people."

"If we did anything, we did it as a group. We were more like a family," said Jeannette Silbaugh of Chickamaw Beach, on the city's past Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Their early budgets were only a few thousand dollars - enough for a little road maintenance.

Present

Silbaugh, who serves as the city treasurer, describes the city today as not much changed from the early days.

"We have a city without a downtown," she said, noting that there are lake owners and farmers and a whole lot of retired people.

One major change today is evident on the shores of the lake. The more than half dozen resorts that dotted the city landscape are now gone, and many of the seasonal cabins have been remodeled into year-round homes.

"As a whole, it's been a very peaceful area to live in," Silbaugh said. "It's a friendly little community."

Today, the council meets once a month at the Pine River Chamber of Commerce information center.

On occasion, there are contested city elections. This year, no incumbents face a challenge. Often, council seats are filled when a resident is drafted or encouraged to run or fill a vacancy.

A small roadside sign on Indian Trail Lane invites Chickamaw Beach residents to the city council's monthly meetings. Because there are no government buildings in the city, the council meets in the Pine River Chamber of Commerce information center. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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The city budget in 2007 will be $36,950. The levy will not increase from 2006. City funds will be used for road maintenance as well as other city services. The city contracts with Pine River for police and fire protection. The city also consults with a zoning official on a fee-for-service basis.

Future

City officials see Chickamaw Beach as a viable and productive community for years to come.

When asked about any perceived pressure from Pine River to annex, city officials don't foresee any merger. They say the two communities live in harmony.

"I've taken to saying we're the Twin Cities of the north," Mayor Don Van Vorst said jokingly.

Mike Mills, who served two terms as mayor and now serves as city clerk, also jokes about the relationship of the communities.

"Pine River is a suburb of Chickamaw Beach," he said. Kidding aside, he added, "We're a small, residential community adjacent to Pine River."

Mills and Van Vorst are proud of the proactive measures the city has taken. The city has established an infrastructure replacement reserve fund and recently revised its comprehensive plan.

Mills said an effective comprehensive plan serves as a foundation for all land-use ordinances or regulations in a city. Many citizens participated in the process by attending public hearings.

As a result, the plan reflects the desires, interests and values of the community, Mills said.

Mills and Van Vorst said they believe the city of Chickamaw Beach runs smoothly because of its relationship with its residents.

"People feel like they've had an opportunity to participate," Mills said. "They're happy with the service they get."

"The council works well with the people, and the people respond," Van Vorst said. "There's been an awful lot of involvement by the community."

KATHI NAGORSKI can be reached at kathi.nagorski@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5859.

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