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Baldwin Township is a small but growing community in central Minnesota that maintains a “rural identity” with just over 7,000 residents, according to its website.
It’s also home to decades of debate over boundaries, growth, sewers and taxes. Baldwin Township is seeking to urbanize amid concerns that it would otherwise lose a third of its land to neighboring Princeton.
Officials on both sides of the border accused the other side of giving false information. Princeton city officials have said the city has no intention of annexing town land, but Baldwin officials have accused the city in court of secret efforts to do so. Meanwhile, Princeton city officials are accusing Baldwin Township officials of misleading residents about the true impact of annexation or incorporation as an independent city.
Jay Swanson, director of the Baldwin Township Board of Commissioners, said making the township its own city would allow residents to live a lifestyle of homes built on acres, open nature and few neighbors in sight. He said he could protect the
“They want the rural character to be maintained,” Swanson said.
But Princeton Mayor Tom Walker questioned this. He said Baldwin’s reliance on septic tanks poses a threat to the city’s groundwater supply. Walker said property owners in annexed areas can expect to see increased property values because Princeton allows higher density buildings and has a sewer system in place.
“We think this is a legitimate place to end the city boundaries,” Walker said of the land the city might acquire.
Princeton has annexed land from several townships in the past, but the parcels were small and landowners requested changes. In 2021, the city considered a larger annexation proposal, and at a meeting at the time, Walker said, “If Baldwin Township really wanted to become Baldwin City, we would park all the businesses in front of us. They wouldn’t have done that. They were there because they wanted low rates and a connection to the city of Princeton.”
An administrative law judge has asked Baldwin Township to incorporate as a city, and is considering what its boundaries should be.
The public comment period will end in late March, the city and township will have to submit final comments by April 19, and a decision will be made within 90 days, said Kendra Schmidt, spokeswoman for the Administrative Hearing Board. It is said that it is necessary.
Baldwin or Princeton?
Swanson said Baldwin Township has had annexation discussions and concerns about annexation during his 15 years as town board supervisor.
Mr Swanson said the unrest is having a real impact on the town. Losing a third of the town and the income that comes with it could make it difficult to repay the loan. The area in question includes Baldwin’s business district and local parks, as well as an area of about 900 homes and 2,500 people.
Baldwin Fire Chief and Town Board Supervisor Scott Case said annexation would shrink the town’s tax base and hurt services.
“All taxes that are based on the township-wide budget will go to the city of Princeton,” Case said, adding that township residents will pay higher property taxes once they become part of Princeton. He also pointed out that there is a possibility.
Meanwhile, Princeton’s move to attract more land to the city is motivated by efforts to increase development opportunities and reduce risks associated with Baldwin Township’s septic tanks, the mayor said. .
Walker said Baldwin’s rural design prevents development near the city’s southern border because property owners can’t build high-density buildings like apartments.
Reliance on local septic tanks is also a concern to Princeton city officials, who are concerned that leaks could affect the city’s groundwater supply. Walker said that if the city were to absorb a portion of Baldwin Township, properties currently using septic tanks would be added to Princeton’s sewer system “on an as-requested, as-needed basis.” .
While Walker agrees that residents could experience an increase in taxes, he added that Baldwin residents should also expect an increase in taxes if the town becomes its own city. Ta.
Princeton City Administrator Michelle McPherson said cities must provide more services than townships (such as snow removal and street maintenance) to comply with state law, which increases costs.
Elizabeth Weffel, an attorney with the firm Flaherty & Hood and an annexation lobbyist for the Minnesota Association of Cities, said judges are weighing the city’s request to incorporate as a city while considering the expected available housing in the township. He said he would consider growth. Other factors, such as environmental risks, sewerage services, land use objectives and local government structures, will also influence decisions, Wefel added.
Baldwin Township officials argue that Princeton misled the public about its goals for annexation by seeking annexation in court and publicly saying it had no plans to annex.
“Why are we playing games here? I really don’t understand what’s going on,” Swanson said.
Meanwhile, Princeton’s mayor said town officials are stirring up concerns.
”[Residents] These concerns wouldn’t exist if the Baldwin District Supervisors hadn’t sent the letter and made false claims about what would happen if they were part of the city, Walker said.
Case, who lives in the area that could be annexed, said she just hopes the judge will uphold keeping the Princeton-Baldwin border as is.
“Part of what drives us is the fact that we feel the Baldwin sense of community,” Case said. “I would like [Baldwin to incorporate], but that’s up to the administrative law judge. ”
Jack O’Connor is a student reporter at the University of Minnesota and is assigned to the Star Tribune.
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