After a 20-minute discussion Tuesday, the Sherburne County Board tabled a request by US Solar to amend the county’s comprehensive land use plan to allow a solar farm on a 38-acre parcel in Big Lake Twp. The board also tabled its decision on an Interim Use Permit for the same solar farm.
Zoning Administrator Lynn Waytashek said the applicant was proposing to use 30 of the 38.87 acres on the 209th Ave. parcel to build a 3.5 megawatt solar farm. The land is owned by Minnesota Municipal Power Agency and has eight wetlands on the property.
Waytashek said the applicant is proposing to plant one row of six-foot tall Eastern Red Cedar trees around the perimeter of the property, plus northern white cedars and a variety of deciduous shrubs on the portions of the property where there are wetlands. They also propose to erect a seven-foot high non-electric farm-style fence around the solar farm.
There was extensive testimony on the issue at a hearing before the Planning Advisory Commission in February. Some neighboring residents objected to the impact it would have on the area, including altering the ecosystem and disrupting wildlife. After the hearing closed, the Commission voted, 6-1 to recommend denial.
Tuesday, Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said the board had three options: table their decision, approve the request or deny the request.
Commissioner Gregg Felber said the board needed more information before approving or denying the request.
“If we’re going to be asked to alter all of our rules to allow a business to go into a residential area,” he said, “we need to know it’s not going to adversely affect the other people in the neighborhood.”
He said the effect on wetlands and property values are important considerations.
Commissioner Andrew Hulse said he wanted to be sure what the board could legally do.
“As you well know there are certain things that we can legally approve or deny for, and certain things that don’t rise to that occasion,” he said.
Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski said there was also the issue of whether the action would create a landlocked parcel.
Commissioner Gary Gray said he was a proponent of solar, but was “disappointed” with the way this was being handled because the property was purchased for three times the appraised value.
“This piece was purchased for the sole use for solar without looking into whether it could even be permitted for solar,” he said.
The board voted unanimously to table the issue until staff could get more information on the impacts discussed earlier.
RSVP Lease
The board approved a two-year lease agreement for general office space with AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP. RSVP has been leasing office space from the county since 2021. The current lease expires May 31, 2026, and both parties are interested in extending the lease for an additional two years.
The payment of $5,837 over two years includes two office desks, chairs  and access to the public Wi-Fi system as conditions of the lease agreement, which runs  from June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2028 and includes a 3% rent increase from the previous contract.
History Center Lease
The board amended the lease agreement with the Sherburne County Historical Center. The current agreement allows the  Sherburne County Historical Society to sublease outdoor space specifically to the local Boy Scout Troop to provide for the recycling of cardboard.
The amended lease modifies the language to state “interested non-profits” to allow for additional organizations that may be interested in providing the cardboard recycling service.
Clothing Donations
The board approved accepting ongoing clothing donations by Community Corrections and Judicial Branch staff for clients and their families. Community Corrections recognized that clients were often without basic necessities to be successful on probation and in the community. They started the clothing closet with donations from Community Corrections and Judicial Branch staff to assist with this need.
The clothing closet allows juvenile and adult clients to obtain clothing for themselves or their family, free of cost, for job interviews, work/school obligations, winter weather, and other occasions.
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Approved the reappointment of Matt Danzl as County Agricultural Inspector, accepted the Agricultural Inspector’s 2025 Annual Report, and approved the 2026 Workplan Summary for the State’s Noxious Weed and the Seed Laws;
• Approved the final contract payment of $115,276.19 to Landwehr Construction, Inc. for the 2025 Hwy. 10 & County Road 61 Intersection Improvements. The final contract amount is $852,299.18;
• Approved the preliminary and final simple plat of “Wagon Woods Trail,” consisting of three lots on 159.43 acres on Co. Rd. 59 in Palmer Twp.
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