A recount by County Board Chair Rich Sve of historical events occurring on the day of this meeting included the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, founded August 25, 1916. Its mandate, signed by President Woodrow Wilson, was “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” It was also the birthday of American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, born in 1918, and Scottish actor and producer Sean Connery, born in 1930.
County Administrator Matthew Huddleston’s report began with the first major topic on hand, the continuation of the Silver Rapids Redevelopment Expansion Project. The Board voted to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation that there is no need for an Environmental Impact Statement and that “further potential conditions of approval be reserved for the Planning Commission’s independent evaluation” tied to any future Conditional Use Permits and Planned Unit Development reviews for the project. This follows a long process for the Project, where it voluntarily underwent an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), scrutinizing the proposed effects of the redevelopment and expansion of the Silver Rapids Lodge resort. Lake County Environmental Services Director Bryr Ludington recounted how, once the EAW was completed by consultants at the end of June, staff in the department became heavily involved in deciding how to make improvements to the project. The EAW was distilled for easier presentation to the Planning Commission, while in the meantime, members of the public were given a 30-day period to offer their opinions on the EAW’s findings and the project itself. Ludington expressed appreciation for the public’s input, as the matter garnered 54 comments and three agency letters in that time. She highlighted one issue raised by both the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the number of new mooring spaces added by Silver Lodge’s expansion, noting that a more recent iteration on the project has brought down the added mooring spaces to 33, with the number of new docks down to two from the originally proposed 12. Another topic which sparked concern was leaking fuel tanks on the property. Although an investigation showed no immediate danger to human health, after some pushback, the Lodge will be removing those tanks.
Sve and Commissioner Rick Hogenson had only positives to share about the public meeting earlier in August, which covered the public comments, responses, and staff report, with Sve stating that it was long but thorough and Hogenson agreeing that all involved did their due diligence.
As part of the resolution approved today, the findings adopted by the Board hold that, in its current iteration, the Silver Rapids Lodge project “does not have the potential for significant environmental effects.”
A new resolution added during the meeting was the Board approving additional hiring for the Sheriff’s Department, allowing more flexibility for hiring if and when good candidates present themselves. This comes in anticipation of Sheriff Nathan Stadler’s retirement and possible other shifts within the Department ranks.
The second large matter of the meeting was the approval and adoption of a new County ordinance on camping and land use on County-administered lands. This ordinance, approved with enthusiasm by the Board, will impose a time limit for camping on County land, including tax-forfeit property and county fee land: 14 days through May to September and 21 days during the rest of the year. After hitting that time limit, campers must move a minimum of 15 miles away to continue camping or risk legal repercussions for overstaying their welcome.
Lake County Land Commissioner Nate Eide noted that aside from a brief surge at the height of COVID, campers sticking in the same spot had never been a large-scale problem until recently. The current spate of long-term campers has proven themselves to be more difficult to dislodge, leading to the County feeling it necessary to add a more formal way to deal with the problem. Or, as Commissioner Rick Goutermont stated: “Like any good law, it’s a reaction to an abuse.”
One public comment was brought by an individual living on a farm who often has to deal with the individuals targeted by this ordinance. She described a love of freedom and nature she shares with those visiting and camping on County lands responsibly, but notes that those living in campers on County land long-term are a different matter. “It’s a danger to come upon them when we’re recreating,” she stated, recounting evidence of their being hostile, blocking roadways, leaving trash in their wake, using drugs, and burning trees without regard for safety. Given her firsthand experiences dealing with their lack of respect for the area and the people within it, she fully supports the ordinance in hopes it will allow County lands to be safer for others to enjoy.
Another public comment suggested the possibility of a registration system to track those camping on County lands, though given the sheer amount of land in Lake County’s possession, there was no good immediate answer for the logistics of how to handle a system on that scale or whether that would even be an option the County would want. For now, the Board and Lake County Attorney Lara Nygaard are content that the ordinance will be an improvement over the previous method, with Nygaard calling it “a good first step to addressing this issue.”
Prior to this, the County relied on Minnesota statutes which lacked clear application to all County lands. This new ordinance uses Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ language as part of its base, incorporating pieces from other state statutes regarding topics like fire limitations and adding the ability for multiple county authorities to enforce the ordinance, eject overstaying individuals, and confiscate their property. Other counties have similar ordinances already in place.
The timer for County land camping will start on the ordinance’s publication, with Huddleston commenting, “We want to give them a chance to move out on their own” before enforcement begins.
Hogenson ended the topic by noting that “sometimes people are fearful to call” when they have dealt with or witnessed a hostile or unstable person camping on public land. He encouraged people to do so and stay anonymous, simply by saying “I would like to remain anonymous.” Provided you do so, “your name’s not on the record if you call the Sheriff and complain,” Sve added.
Consent agenda items approved included several findings and conditions by the Planning Commission; payments to Stony River Trucking for septic replacement, and WSB Engineering for Construction Material Testing and Plant Inspection; contract renewals for Mn.IT Computing Services; Municipal Maintenance Distributions to the Cities of Two Harbors and Silver Bay; a special event permit for the Heck of the North Gravel Classic bike race on September 26; a receipt of services agreement with the Association of Minnesota Counties to be part of the MN Cyber Response Team; and a snow removal contract covering this upcoming winter with Mosher Trucking and Excavating LLC.
Other resolutions approved were a letter to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Assessment Worksheet Project Manager supporting Northshore Mining’s Mile Post 7 West Ridge Railroad Relocation, Dam Progressions, and Stream Mitigation Project; an amended resolution replacing one adopted on August 12, 2025, allowing Ekstrom Land Exchange to exchange certain parcels of land in the County, reclassifying those parcels as tax forfeited land non-conservation, then proceeding with valuations for the land involved, abstracts and title opinions. Finally, a public hearing concerning a land exchange of private land for County Tax Forfeited Land (Northwest ¼ of Southwest ¼ of Section 8, Township 54 North, Range 10 West (29-5410-08550); exchanged for Southwest ¼ of Northwest ¼ of Section 10, Township 53 North, Range 11 West (25-5311-10370)) will be held on Tuesday, October 13th, during Lake County Board’s regular meeting.
