Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Deputy Prochaska to retire



MEEKER COUNTY, MN – The retirement of Meeker County Sheriff’s Deputy Gordy Prochaska was announced at Tuesday’s Meeker County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Prochaska, who has been one of the two contract officers in Dassel, started with the department part-time in August 2001 and became a full-time deputy in 2007 in Dassel.

His last day on the force will be Friday, Oct. 26.

Sheriff Jeff Norlin was given permission to advertise for a full-time deputy to take his place.

County Ditch 15 to be redetermined

The county ditch authority for County Ditch 15 ordered a redetermination of benefits to landowners following a request by landowners. An informational meeting for the property owners affected took place Sept. 11 at Dassel City Hall.

County Ditch 15 has six branches that run through Collinwood Township, from Collinwood Lake to Lake Washington.

Qualified viewers will be hired to verify and identify the land parcels, roads, and infrastructure served by the drainage system.

County Auditor Barb Loch noted that there is a high demand for viewers because more redeterminations are being requested due to higher property values. She has a request in for viewers, but it could take up to 18 months before one is available.

Lake Stella Creamery OK’d for retreat center

Christine Herdegen of Darwin applied for a conditional use permit and interim use permit to turn the building known as the Lake Stella Creamery on CSAH 9 near Darwin into a retreat center.

The county approved the permit request.

Herdegen’s plans are to turn the 1920 building into a retreat center for such groups as quilters, scrapbookers, or book clubs, housing up to 10 guests. She noted that a complete renovation was done by herself in 2001-2006.

Odds and ends

In other business, the county board:

• took official action supporting Hennepin County in a federal class-action lawsuit against Minnesota counties and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an attempt to recover deed transfer taxes these entities owe in real estate they have sold over the last 6.5 years.

It was noted that Hennepin County will handle all of the costs. If the county prevails, the cities will share the costs, but would share money received from the settlement, according to County Attorney Stephanie Beckman.

• approved the hiring of Carlen Hansen for the maintenance superintendent, as recommended by County Engineer Ron Mortensen.

• presented awards to the following employees for their years of service: Anthony Spector, five years in the sheriff’s office; John Boline, 15 years with the highway department; Colleen Lehrer, 15 years in the sheriff’s office; and Dave VanNurden, 15 years in the sheriff’s office.





























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