Letter to the Editor (Verndale Sun)
To the Editor:
At the October 4 Wadena County Commissioner meeting final approval was given to amend current zoning laws to allow Auxiliary Dwelling Units on rural property.
This will make it much easier and cheaper to add a second dwelling to existing homesteads. It will add to our tax base and provide needed housing, without government funding, and maybe end the decline of our township populations.
This is the third county in Minnesota to adopt this, although many are considering them.
Our county, at one time, was home to hundreds of family dairy farms. The 30-plus years demise of that industry left a void of financial activity, which is evident in our small cities. It can even be attributed to our high county tax rates.
It is time for county commissioners to study the reality of our situation. If we do not, we will still have these uncompetitive tax rates 20 years from now.
Why? We need to find ways to encourage and make it easier for small businesses to exist in townships, side by side with agriculture.
In 2023, I will ask the Wadena County Board to study and learn how and what our current county zoning laws are and from there I will ask for ideas that can start to create opportunities and growth countywide.
Murlyn Kreklau
District 4 Commissioner
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