Protect Downtown Anoka

08/21/2024

Over a month ago, Anoka County put forward a resolution to locate their new jail in downtown Anoka. They should reconsider a location. This jail is oversized, costs more than it needs to, and is not ideal for prisoners or employees of the Sheriff. This is a convenience decision on the part of the County board to serve the Sheriff, judges, attorneys of Anoka County. It will ben paid for by overbuilding the facility so the County can "rent" beds to the federal government.

It is poorly planned, harms downtown Anoka as a center for commerce and civic life, and relies on the idea that there will be funds coming from the federal government to make payments on the bonds needed to build the facility. Sherburn County had the same idea, and is losing money on an overbuilt jail that doesn't have enough "guests". There an many reasons why this particular plan is not the best, and we'll work over then next few months to bring these reasons to the public.

In the meantime, help us by signing a petition telling Anoka County no to an oversized regional jail in downtown Anoka.

This is a petition opposing a new regional jail facility in Downtown Anoka, Minnesota. It will be sent to the Anoka County Board of Commissioners and other officials who need to know that the public overwhelmingly opposes this action. On July 9th, 2024, the Anoka County Board met and passed a resolu...

07/26/2024

"Would you like Anoka County to build a larger jail than planned to house Federal inmates and get Federal Funding like Sherburne County?"

This is one question asked by the Sheriff's office last fall at the Zion Lutheran Open House.

The Jail, as authorized by the Anoka County Board of July 9th, supports overbuilding the Jail. What will the County do with additional space? They are telling us right here: they will rent it out to the feds.

Further, and disingenuously, the resolution talks about not allowing federal inmates, but individual County commissioners have stated in one-on-one meetings that the Board does not have control over how the Sheriff runs the Jail once it is constructed. In other words, they know that if they overbuild the Jail, this Sheriff or any future Sheriff can take on Federal inmates to fund the operational cost of the Jail. It would be an income stream there for the taking.

Tell your County commissioner, the County attorney, and the Sheriff, you say NO to an oversized urban jail in the heart of the City of Anoka!

07/25/2024

Hi everyone. Bjorn Skogquist here. It's been a minute since I posted, but I wanted to send out a quick note. The Anoka County Board passed a resolution to build a new jail in downtown Anoka. This is crazy, since the State of Minnesota is studying incarceration trends with the idea to remove more medical/care inmates from the system.

To make it painfully clear, there is zero reason for Anoka County to act on building a $250 Million facility until that report is completed in October.

There are reasons for all of them to have voted the way they did, but I want to commend on Commissioner Jeff Reinhart as the only member of the board who voted no based on the fact that the plan is unclear and very expensive.

I also want to call out Commissioner Mandy Miesner from Columbia Heights / Fridley as the Commissioner who snuck the resolution onto the agenda with less than 24 hours notice to the public. This is shameful behavior from someone who promised to help make the board more transparent.

In addition to less than 24 hours' notice, I want everyone to understand that the County did not notify anyone beyond posting the agenda, with the exception that Comissioner Gamache called an Anoka Council member the evening before the vote. Thank you Mike for attempting to give Anoka City a heads-up.

It's important that everyone spread the word. I will be working to see what can be done, and letting people know more within the week.

Remember, the proposed jail is larger, and houses federal inmates when we don't need to host those kinds of tough customers. This is a revenue tactic being used by the County. A smaller, local jail for Anoka County offenders is safer, and a very real option. ALL mayors and councilmembers from other cities in Anoka County, and northern Hennepin County need to understand that what was passed brings a different kind of prisoner to the center of our county. Tell your elected officials that this plan, under a jail administration that lets prisoners out on Main Street, is allowing folks access to the bus and rail lines that go to Ramsey, C**n Rapids, Blaine, Fridley, Columbia Heights and Champlin, Dayton, Brooklyn Park and many other places just miles from your door.

Let's let our County Board know that this is a bad plan, and they need to rethink an urban jail!

03/25/2024

Good afternoon Anoka. A quick update - The Anoka County Board met in a working session this morning to discuss a new version of the resolution it considered in December. As it was a work session, no action was taken.

In other news, Anoka City's Jail Task Force has met only once. Please call or email your Anoka council members and the Mayor to get them moving! It is up to the City to find alternative solutions since the County tasked the City with that task in December. Time is ticking!

01/29/2024

Jail Update - Hey everyone, the City of Anoka is seeking applicants for its Jail Task Force Committee. It is expected there will be two meetings per month for up to 6 months.

The City Council will appoint one neighborhood representative, one city-at-large representative, and one County-at-large representative at its February 5th meeting.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, you may apply via this link: https://www.anokaminnesota.com/FormCenter/General-Forms-6/City-of-Anoka-Jail-Task-Force-Committee--153

Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

Questions can be directed to the City Clerk, Amy Oehlers, at [email protected] or via phone at 763-576-2712.

The City of Anoka is seeking applicants for its Jail Task Force Committee to discuss the location for the proposed expansion of the Anoka County Jail.  We anticipate the commitment will be up to two meetings per month for up to 4-6 months.  

01/24/2024

Update - Anoka County Jail - Save the date. Zach Stephenson and Erik Skogquist - Anoka City Council will be holding a Listening Session on Tuesday, February 6th, 6:30 at Anoka's First Congregational Church.

Please pass this on and plan on attending!

01/19/2024

Hi everyone. Here's a brief update regarding the proposed jail project:

Resolution in Favor of the Jail defeated.

In mid-December, the Anoka County Board voted 4-3 against the proposed jail. Those who voted for it seemed to do so in support our Sheriff and his employees. For those that voted against, I still believe they strongly support the Sheriff, but saw other reasons, like cost, size, procedural issues, timing, ect., as reasons to vote down the specific proposal.

New Chairman Elected in January.

There has also been a slight shift in the board. Unlike the City of Anoka and other cities where the Mayor is automatically the Chair, the County of Anoka chooses its own chair. The chair is now former Mayor of Andover, Mike Gamache. In my dealings with Mike, I have found him to be fair and open minded and see this as good for our cause.

Joint Meeting of the City of Anoka and Anoka County Scheduled.

The County and City have agreed to meet together in February to speak specifically about the Jail and other ways they may cooperate. I see this as a huge positive. Though the meeting will be public, I feel it would be best to let these bodies talk and reestablish their relationship as that has been notably absent in recent years.

Anoka City Council Votes to Establish a Jail Location Task Force.

The City of Anoka voted in December to allocate funds, staff time, and legal expertise into influencing the location of the Jail. They believe they have a better spot near the Anoka State hospital, but will also be looking at other locations in Anoka and likely, elsewhere in the County.

All of this effort will be in support of a Jail Location Task Force to review, comment on and provide input regarding findings, land uses, locations, etc. No participants have been chose, and meetings are not yet scheduled.

I will post more information regarding the Task Force and meeting times when more information becomes available. This would be an excellent way to participate if any of you are inclined to come to public meetings.

12/19/2023

Anoka County will meet this morning at 9:30 to discuss forwarding the downtown jail proposal. No input is allowed from the public. However, you can all email your commissioners and tell them your thoughts about the proposal.

Attached is a longer packet of information, but it shows the City of Anoka is taking a more active role in finding an appropriate site for the needed jail update. Your County Commissioners are also starting to see the City/Community perspective as well. Keep calling and emailing them so they understand the importance of this issue to the public.

Addresses of your Commissioners

[email protected] - Chair
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]

An Open Letter to the Board:

12/11/2023

UPDATE: Anoka City Council to meet regarding the placement of a new jail in downtown Anoka.

Hi all, Bjorn Skogquist here. The Anoka City Council will meet Monday, December 11th at 5:00 pm at Anoka City Hall (2015 First Ave, Anoka MN, 55303) to discuss the topic. Council members are opposed to the jail in downtown, but we would like them to take a firm stance and also use City resources to identify a better location. Many of us believe it is time for them to do so.

Here is what is new since the County of Anoka hosted it's open house, which felt much more like a sales meeting than a solicitation of input to change it's plan.

1) The jail is very large, and it is envisioned to double in size. It will close Van Buren Street, take another two full city blocks off the tax rolls, and keep this property from being housing, businesses, or open space.

2) It further chokes off downtown from 4th avenue, making circulation more difficult.

3) It is implied that federal prisoners may be housed there to defray costs. Once the space is built, the Sheriff alone makes the choice on whether or not such guests can be housed there.

4) Prisoner release is haphazard at best, and currently it is a very common occurrence for released prisoners to be let out after the last bus leaves town with no fare or telephone call. These people simply wander around until someone helps them out.

5) The jail is one city block from businesses, shops, restaurants, a church, two schools and residential neighborhoods which contain senior apartments.

PLEASE, attend this meeting in person at 5:00 pm. Encourage this City council to take a stand against the placement of the jail in downtown.

This does not need to be a City/County fight. This jail can be located to the north of the new state hospital, and legislation can be authored to place it anywhere in Anoka County.

Tell the council you want them to ask Zach Stephenson and Jim Abeler to author such a law. Ask them to include language that it cannot be within 1,000 feet of a church, senior facility, residential neighborhood, or business.

Anoka has worked hard to be livable and safe. Let's keep it that way. Please help by attending this meeting, or by calling your City Council member or County Commissioner.

Thank you,

Bjorn Skogquist

Agenda https://www.anokaminnesota.com/AgendaCenter/City-Council-4

Zoom Link - https://www.anokaminnesota.com/calendar.aspx?CID=14

Notifications of Anoka City Council agendas, packets and minutes.

11/12/2023