Big changes are afoot for the Anoka County Board of Commissioners as they usher in the new year with Commissioner Scott Schulte at the helm as the newly elected chair. Commissioner Mandy Meisner also steps into the role of vice chair; both appointments were determined at the board's January 6 organizational meeting. As reported by Anoka County's official news release, Schulte and Meisner are poised to foster unity among board members and improve outcomes for county residents throughout 2026.
In addition to leadership changes, there's a bit of housekeeping, too. The board adopted a revised set of Roberts Rules of Order; these rules will dictate the meeting conduct for the upcoming year. Notably, minimum salaries for the county attorney and sheriff are now pegged at $192,566.40 annually. It's a figure that puts a number on the value Anoka County places on law and order.
At that same meeting, Schulte and Meisner stepped up with statements that highlighted their commitment to collaborative efforts aimed at serving the best interests of Anoka County’s constituents. Echoing these goals, the board discussed a forward-looking initiative to establish an annual rotating chair practice, aimed to give the vice chair the opportunity to lead as the chair in the subsequent year, as detailed by Anoka County's news release.
Infrastructure also made the agenda, with Baugh Street set for a major overhaul. The contract lands in the lap of North Pine Aggregate, Inc., who swooped in with a final bid over $2 million below the engineer’s estimate. Early risers in January will see the construction crews beginning with tree removal, signaling the start of something fresh and hopefully, less pot-holey, for the residents between 181st Avenue NW and Viking Boulevard in the City of Nowthen. The state’s bean counters, represented by Juli Mader and Felicia Tri from the Office of State Auditor, also did their part, conducting the entrance meeting for the County’s annual audit.
For those who squeeze public meetings into their binge-watching schedules, the full monty of both the statutory and regular board meetings is up for viewing. Complete video recordings are available on the county’s website, a move by the board to maintain transparency and inform their constituency.
