WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 120 NO. 52 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Braves move closer to playoff bid. PAGE 10
Polk County will expand 4-H services
Sheriff race likely to be decided in primary
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Polk Republicans host forum
Polk County Board members last week authorized an expansion of 4-H program services administered through the University of Wisconsin—Extension office. The expansion will take the form of a full-time 4-H coordinator shared with St. Croix County. To fund its part, Polk County will eliminate an existing parttime support position in the UW—Extension office. “4-H is a really large program here in Polk County, and very well maintained,” said Kristen Bruder, UW—Extension area director. “We could use more youth development and support in this community. [A 4-H coordinator] would help free up the youth development educator to do the youth development work that’s needed in the community.” “The 4-H program being as large and robust as it is, there isn’t time for our educators to do more than 4-H programs,” she continued. “So we’re really looking at how do we expand our 4-H program […] and how can we work with other youth in the county on some of the issues we have here in Polk County.” According to Bruder, Polk County has 23 community clubs, 673 4-H club members, 275 adult volunteers and about 40 newly trained volunteers. “Given the population, you have a large 4-H program,” Bruder said. “What we would look at doing with this position is coordinate the efforts within the
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The Polk County Sheriff’s race will likely be decided in the August 14 primary election. Tony Grimm and Brent Waak have both filed as Republicans. No Democrats have filed. Although it’s possible a Democrat could mount a write-in campaign before the Nov. 6 election, such a scenario is hypothetical at this point. The Republican Party of Polk County will hold a forum for Grimm and Waak on Wed., August Grimm Waak 1, 7 p.m. at the Trollhaugen Convention Center. Assembly Representative Adam Jarchow will OWI on his record, saying, “I paid a serious price moderate the event. both personally and professionally. I know that it was a mistake, it was foolish, but it happened. … Grimm Now all I ask of [voters] is that you consider my Grimm has worked in law enforcement for 23 regret and what I have learned from making this years, 16 in Polk County. He has served as coordimistake while exploring my candidacy.” nator for the St. Croix Valley Drug Task Force and the school resource officer at Unity School DisWhy are you interested in serving as sheriff and what trict. He is also assigned to the Sheriff’s Investigaare your qualifications for the office? tive Division. I raised my children in this community, and I He has said his top priorities are ensuring school believe in Polk County. I believe we can meet the safety and security, and mitigating drug abuse. SEE CANDIDATES, PAGE 20 Grimm has openly acknowledged an
SEE COUNTY, PAGE 2
Garfield residents fight address change BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
After months of listening to homeowners’ pleas, the Polk County Board has placed a moratorium on proposed address changes associated with the county’s uniform addressing system. Additionally, the board set a public hearing on the issue for August 7. Last February, a letter arrived in mailboxes on Homes Court, a street that runs parallel to Big Lake’s northwest shoreline. The county’s computer-aided emergency dispatch system had identified the street name and house numbers as non-conforming to the county’s rural uniform addressing system, the letter explained. The name of the street would soon be changed to 62nd Avenue. In addition, each household would receive a new house number. “With the support of emergency services, local fire department and town,” the letter
read, “[the Polk County Zoning Department] has changed your address to comply with the emergency services rural addressing system.” Homes Court residents protested the change, appearing before the county board in April to plead their case. It was the first of what would become regular attempts to convince the board that the switch would be costly and might cause more confusion than clarity. “The computer aided 911 system can locate us already,” said Homes Court resident Joel Hazzard. “We’ve had five emergencies on our block and it’s not an issue. […] Changing our address causes a serious safety issue. It puts us in a black hole. Addresses on 62nd Avenue are not recognized by any search engine and they’re not going to be for a long time.” Saying most emergency responders use smartphone GPS to locate their destinations, Hazzard
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Now every time I go to the doctor or to pick up a prescription I’ll have a card with a different address than all my other identification.” Additionally, delivery drivers have been unable to locate her house. For her daughter, whose shipment of medication is time sensitive, an undelivered package could become more than an inconvenience. “Even with this moratorium, there are still effects,” she said. “The ramifications continue on and on.”
PUBLIC HEARING SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Joel Hazzard and Heidi Hazzard address the county board, requesting a reconsideration of mandated address changes. County representatives have said the changes are needed to help first responders find rural addresses. However, last week the board put a moratorium on address changes and scheduled a public hearing on the issue.
added that the change could do more harm than good. “It’s beyond what the costs are,” he said. The change would also require homeowners to
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update drivers licenses and other identification and records at their own expense. Although the switch is not yet official, Homes Court resident Mary Haz-
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zard told the Sun the address change has already impacted her family. “I just received a new Medicare card,” she said. “It was sent to the fictitious address. […]
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Uniform Rural Addressing and Road Numbering The Public Safety and Highway Committee will hear public comments on the county’s Uniform Rural Addressing and Road Numbering Ordinance. When: Aug. 7, 6 p.m. Where: Polk County Government Center (100 Polk Plaza, Balsam Lake), in the county board room.
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