RES 26-07City of Elk River
City Council
Resolution 26-07
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Elk River to amend Minnesota Laws,
2019, I st Special Session, Chapter 6, Article 6, Section 17
WHEREAS, the City of Elk River enacted a Local Option Sales Tax in June 2019 of
one half of one cent to pay the cost of collecting and administering the tax and to
pay the capital and administrative costs for various recreational facility and park
improvements; and
WHEREAS, City of Elk River voters approved by referendum the implementation
of the tax before approved in Minnesota law; and
WHEREAS, the total raised from the tax was limited to $35,000,000, plus the costs
related to the issuance and paying debt service for the identified projects; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elk River was granted, bylaw, up to 25 years to collect the
tax; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elk River seeks to amend the said state law to include an
additional $20,000,000, plus the costs related to the issuance and paying debt
service to construct a replacement fire station; and
WHEREAS, The City of Elk River seeks to maintain the currently authorized tax
rate and 25-year period of collection to fund the primary fire station that serves the
City of Elk River, the City of Otsego, Big Lake Township with fire and ambulance
response, as well as supporting Mutual Aid Agreements with surrounding cities and
townships; and
WHEREAS, the city is a gateway to the Minnesota lakes regions served by U.S.
Highways 169 and 10 with an approximate average of 70,000 vehicles moving
through the city daily to vacation destinations, places of employment, shopping and
entertainment as well as a BNSF rail line with approximately 60 freight trains per
day. Our fire department responds to motor vehicle and personal injury accidents
and maintains hazardous material response capabilities for both rail and over-the-
road haulers; and
WHEREAS, Elk River is home to ISD 728 and the Sherburne County Government
Center, two of the largest employers in the region serving students, families from
throughout the three -county area; and
WHEREAS, the city is also the regional employer for large manufacturers such as
Sportech, Rinker Materials, Preferred Powder, Heritage Millworks, J&J Machine and
JonnyPops; and
WHEREAS, Elk River is also a regional shopping and entertainment destination as
evidenced by a 2018 University of Minnesota Extension Service Study finding non-
residents accounted for 45.5 percent of taxable sales; and
WHEREAS, the city is also a destination for its parks system which include 300+
acre Woodland Trails Regional Park, William H. Houlton Conservation Area (325
acres on the Mississippi River), Hillside Mountain Bike Park which draws cycling
enthusiasts from the entire Midwest as well as the privately -owned ERX Motor Park
which hosts multiple national championship Snocross snowmobile and Torx Truck
races, concerts and events annually; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Elk River,
Minnesota, as follows: 1. The above recitals are incorporated as if fully set forth
herein. 2. The city requests that the Legislature amend Minnesota Laws, 2019, First
Special Session, Chapter 6, Article 6, Section 17 to increase the total raised from the
one half of one cent to Local Option Sales Tax by $20,000,000 for a total of
$55,000,000 during the 25-year period of collection.
Passed and adopted this 281h day of January 2026.
J J. Di tz, a or
ATTEST:
Calvin P. Portner, Interim Deputy Clerk