10.a Designating official newspaper
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: January 21, 2025
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Re: Designate Official Newspaper
Background:
State Statute requires the council, at the annual meeting, to designate a newspaper of general
circulation as its official newspaper in which the city will publish ordinances and other matters
as required by law.
Last year, the Council designated the Country Messenger as the official newspaper for 2024, as
it did in 2017-23. Previously, the Forest Lake Times was the official newspaper from 2007
through 2009, and in 2011 and 2016. In 2010, the Country Messenger was designated the legal
newspaper after state law was changed to reduce the circulation requirement from 500 to 400,
and a legal issue with the location of the office of issue was resolved. The Country Messenger
was the official newspaper of the city in 2012 through 2015 as well.
In December 2024, staff requested proposals from the Forest Lake Times and Country
Messenger. A summary of their responses is found on page 2 of this report.
Issue:
Which newspaper should be designated as the official newspaper of the city for 20 25?
Proposal Details:
Attached.
Fiscal Impact:
The 2025 budget for legal notices is $1,500.
Options:
1) Designate the Country Messenger as the official newspaper for 2025
2) Designate the Forest Lake Times as the official newspaper for 20 25
City of Scandia
Comparison of Legal Newspaper Proposals
January, 2025
Newspaper Forest Lake Times Country Messenger
Meets Requirements
of Minnesota
Statutes 331A.02
Yes Yes
Office Location Forest Lake, Minnesota Osceola, Wisconsin
Total Circulation Not provided 850
Scandia Circulation Not provided 459
Distribution Method U.S. Mail and dealer
locations in Forest Lake
25 free copies at Community
Center, U.S. Mail, and dealer
locations: Olde Towne
Liquor, Big Marine Store,
Marine General Store
Subscription Price
Mailed and digital
subscription
$73.60 per year
Mailed and digital
subscription
$49.00 per year
$1.25 single copy
Publication Schedule Weekly, Thursday Weekly, Wednesday
Submission Deadline Monday, 3:00 p.m. Friday, 12:00 p.m.
Type Size/ Lines per
Inch 7 pt/ 9 lines per inch 7 pt/ 9 lines per inch
Price per Column Inch $6.00 $5.00
Posted on Paper’s
Website, No Extra
Charge
Yes Yes
Designated Official
Newspaper
Forest Lake, Columbus,
FL School District 831
Marine on St. Croix, May
Township, Washington
County
December 30, 2024
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N
Scandia, MN 55073
Via email
Dear Ms. Eklund:
The Country Messenger is pleased to submit the information you requested to be considered as
the official newspaper of the City of Scandia for the year 2025.
We appreciated the business and trust of the council in 2024 as we served as the city’s official
newspaper, and we hope we can continue to serve in the same capacity in 2025.
Here is the information you requested:
Newspaper publication schedule and deadlines: the Messenger is published on Wednesdays.
The deadline for copy is Friday at noon.
Rates: $5.00 per column inch.
Type size and lines per inch: 7 point type, 9 lines per inch.
Total circulation and Scandia circulation: Total circulation is 850. Scandia circulation is 459.
Distribution methods and/or locations: Paid subscribers receive their papers through the U.S.
Mail. Single copies are offered for sale at Old Towne Liquor, Scandia Store, and Big Marine
Store. We drop off a complimentary bundle of papers at Scandia City Hall, a practice we will
continue should you select us as your official newspaper.
Other cities or townships for which your paper currently serves as the official newspaper:
Marine on St. Croix, May Township, and Washington County.
If you have any questions about the information, please feel free to call me at 715-268-8101 or
email me at tstangl@theameryfreepress.com.
Thank you for the opportunity to bid on the city’s business. We hope you will consider our
request favorably.
Sincerely,
Tom Stangl
Publisher
Country Messenger