Apr. 17—NORTHERN TOWNSHIP — On April 14, Northern Township issued Beltrami County and neighboring cities and townships with a notice of intent to incorporate, the first step toward dropping the township status to become a city.
After 30 days, the township will file a petition with the
Minnesota Office of Municipal Boundary Adjustment Unit
to continue the process. The township requested an incorporation study during a
December meeting
after years of weighing options.
“Community involvement has been central to this decision,” a Northern Township release said. “In November 2022, the township hosted public meetings to share initial information and hear directly from residents. Feedback collected through those meetings — both in person and through follow-up submissions — strongly supported moving forward with the incorporation process.”
If Northern Township is successful, it would leave the 41 other Beltrami County townships and become the ninth Beltrami County city.
The township has a growing population — the third largest in the county, with around 3,700 residents, according to the
U.S. Census.
Only Bemidji and Bemidji Township house more residents.
Additionally, Northern is bearing the responsibility of more city-esque services and is in the process of constructing its own
wastewater treatment facility.
Northern could have connected with the
Bemidji facility,
which has enough capacity to handle Northern Township households, but the deal
did not go through.
The decision to construct a new facility has sparked some
contention among the community members it impacts.
It is a multi-million dollar deal and involves a land transaction with the county.
“This step is about putting Northern Township in a position to manage our future effectively and protect the interests of our residents,” Chris Lahn, Township Administrator, said in the release. “As a large and active township, incorporation allows us to build on the services we already provide while ensuring we have the tools and stability to plan for the years ahead.”
The release
also mentions that the Northern Township board is behind the decision as well.
Northern will continue to update residents about the incorporation process at
northerntownship.com.
Those with questions, comments or concerns regarding the action can contact Lahn at
(218) 444-1857
or
chris.lahn@northerntownship.com.
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