On May 16, the Brainerd City Council talked about the ongoing discussions between the cities of Brainerd and Baxter regarding the Brainerd Public Utilities facility on Highland Scenic Drive.
To say the BPU annexation issue is ongoing might be an understatement.
A May 3, 2006 article in the Brainerd Dispatch indicates at that time, the city of Brainerd indicated its desire to have the BPU property brought into the city.
At the BPU Commission's request, the Brainerd City Council unanimously agreed to have public utilities officials meet with Baxter representatives to talk about annexing the BPU Service Center, the wastewater treatment facility and other lots along the Mississippi River on Highland Scenic Road in Baxter.
Directed to meet with Baxter representatives were council member Lucy Nesheim, who is the council's liaison to the utilities commission, and public utilities staffers. Nesheim is now a member of the BPU commission and not on the Brainerd City Council.
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In a letter to the city council, BPU Commission President Bill Wroolie said the time was right for Brainerd to pursue annexation for several reasons, including the need for Brainerd Police Department jurisdiction over the facilities, having the ability to receive conditional use and building permits from Brainerd only and for public relations.
"It only makes sense to have all city of Brainerd facilities located within the city limits of Brainerd," Wroolie wrote at the time. "We continue to receive inquiries from vendors and customers why the BPU is located in Baxter."
At the time, no timetable was set for the annexation discussions with Baxter.
Then in November of 2015, Council President Gary Scheeler informed the BPU Commission he would be meeting with city of Baxter representatives in the next week to discuss the possible annexation of three parcels of land currently in Crow Wing County.
Scheeler asked the commission if it would be open to having the BPU facility on Highland Scenic Drive, currently in Baxter, be annexed into Brainerd, as Scheeler said he could bring up that option as part of these other annexation negotiations. One of the parcels is on Dellwood Drive, Scheeler said, and the other two parcels are behind Menard's on Highway 371.
Scheeler said he thought Baxter would be receptive to allowing the BPU facility to be annexed into Brainerd.
Then in February, the Brainerd City Council decided to hold off on approving an annexation agreement with the city of Baxter which had expired in 2010.
The annexation agreement would provide certainty about which properties are appropriate to be annexed into each city so public services can be provided cost-effectively. It also would allow each city to appropriately plan for the delivery of public services to the respective potential future territory.
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Council member Kelly Bevans said he felt the agreement was premature, as the impetus behind renewing the annexation agreement was to talk with the city of Baxter about annexing the BPU Service Center on Highland Scenic Drive into the city of Brainerd from the city of Baxter. Council members agreed on holding off on approving the annexation agreement until an agreement on the BPU property could be reached with the city of Baxter.
The annexation agreement with the city of Baxter would be executed for an additional 10 years.
SPENSER BICKETT may be reached at 218-855-5859 or spenser.bickett@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/spenserbickett .
