SAUK RAPIDS – Property developers, stakeholders, and city and county leaders came together for the long-awaited study on Benton County’s housing infrastructure May 24 at The Clearing in Sauk Rapids. The study showed that the county has a lack of places to live, especially for senior citizens, renters and those looking for single-family houses. Key takeaways from the study, according to Matt Mullins of Maxfield Research and Consulting, which is the company Benton County hired a year ago to conduct the housing study, includes moderate population growth in the county over the last decade. The vast majority of growth is led by millennials and baby boomers, or those born between 1981 to 1996 and 1946 to 1964, respectively. Mullins also reported that the unemployment rate in Benton County is lower than it was pre-pandemic, but he said labor force participation remains down. There are many job openings but fewer workers to fill those positions, which can make staffing senior housing a deterrent to constructing a much-needed housing demographic. Senior housing and standard rental vacancies in Benton County are at 6.2% and 1.5%, respectively – figures Mullins said are “dangerously low.” Mullins said there is pent-up demand for new rental housing. Not only are rental vacancies at a critical shortage, but there is also lack of availability of residential lots. The housing study resulted in a wealth of data that Mullins hopes elected leaders use as a tool for policymaking as well as a tool that will attract developers. The study showed Benton County is ripe for construction. However, the state of the economy may deter developers from choosing Benton County for their projects. For example, former state representative and current government affairs director for the Central Minnesota Builders Association Steve Gottwalt said the issue at hand is not what the data says but rather the regulatory environment in the state. Mullins said it takes, on average, $100,000 more to build an average home in Minnesota than it does in neighboring states. “When you are $100,000 into a parcel of land before you build a house on it, before you turn a spade of dirt – that’s before material costs, before interest rates, before labor costs – that’s a problem,” Gottwalt said. Gottwalt said fees are a major deterrent to building low-cost, affordable homes. Gottwalt said most people view $250,000-$275,000 as an affordable house, and neither investors nor families are going to build an affordable house when a lot costs close to a half or a third of the house to develop. “If the cost just to play is so high that nobody’s going to play, then you’re never going to build the houses you need,” Gottwalt said. “The state, county and local units of government all need to start thinking seriously about how to reduce the burden on the cost of building houses.” Gottwalt hopes government units do their part when it comes to easing the financial burden on developers and families to get them into Benton County, and Benton Economic Partnership Executive Director Amanda Othoudt agreed. Othoudt said regulations like housing density and, potentially, outside-the-box solutions like allowing accessory dwelling units could benefit the county. “Now that this housing study is done, those conversations are what we need to have with individual communities in order to tackle the bigger picture,” Othoudt said. “We need to involve all communities together to continue conversations about housing.”

FOLEY – Memorial Day serves as a venerated reminder for communities and families that Americans stand proudly on the shoulders of its fallen veterans. With the holiday, there comes a collective understanding that brave men and women have given their lives on foreign soil for the benefit of a country they would never see again. With the celebration of their gift to all citizens also comes the solemnity of their sacrifice – a dichotomy that calls for both triumphant applause and pensive mourning.

Join us as we honor our fallen veterans Monday, May 29, 9:30 a.m.

ST. CLOUD – Christine Ellen Grove, 26, of Foley, was charged May 17 with third-degree murder after allegedly selling a controlled substance to an individual who later overdosed and died March 22. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonment and potentially a $40,000 fine. The charge suggests Grove did not intend to cause death but proximately caused the death of the individual, who also lived in Foley, by directly or indirectly selling a controlled substance classified as a schedule I or II narcotic.

FOLEY – When Joe Kaproth accepted the Foley citizen of the year award, he was surprised, humbled and honored. In a brief and impromptu acceptance speech, he mentioned there are many Foley natives who are just as, if not more, deserving of the award. But, after living in Foley for nearly his entire life; serving on the city’s fire department for 38 years, 10 of which as assistant fire chief and 10 as chief; being an active member of the Foley American Legion Post 298, including as commander; and stepping forward as a community volunteer in various ways, especially for C.A.R.E. and St. John’s Catholic Church in Foley, some were left wondering who would have been more worthy of the award than Kaproth.

Benton County marriage applications Kyle Anthony Petersen and Cearia Kay Nelson , both of Foley. Benjamin Jess Gruba and Kelcie Joy Ingle , both of Oak Park.   Foley students …

75 years ago May 1948

One mantra about budgets states it is never too early to discuss what is coming next. Benton County commissioners did exactly that with their review of two important budget development documents.

FOLEY – The Foley Fire Department responded to a fire on agricultural property May 14. Foley Fire Chief Mark Pappenfus said the department was paged shortly after 8:30 p.m. to the 18100 block of 45th Street Northeast in Glendorado Township for a fire that included a combine and the cornfield it was operating on.

FOLEY – As spring finally ushers in warmer weather and the last vestiges of winter have receded, the rolling farmlands in the Foley area are once again buzzing with activity. Farmers in the area are already hard at work in the fields, tilling the land and nestling seeds that will soon sprout into the corn, soybeans and other crops many in the area are accustomed to seeing.

FOLEY – Sandy Anderson, a pillar of St. John’s Area School in Foley, is bidding farewell to the school she has dedicated 45 years of her life to. As a first- and second-grade teacher, Anderson has left an indelible mark on the school and the countless students whose lives she touched. However, as she steps away from Catholic school education, she does so with a mixture of excitement for what lays ahead and melancholy for what she is leaving behind.

Organizers of Foley High School’s 2023 prom did not gamble on weather disrupting grand march. Anticipated rain showers May 13 prompted a Casino Night venue switch to the school’s gymnasium. Prom adviser Mary Keating said the prom committee started working on the event when school started.