9.a. Staff Report-Official Newspaper
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: January 17, 2017
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy 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 Forest Lake Times as the official newspaper for 2016.
Previously, the Forest Lake Times was the official newspaper from 2007 through 2009, and in
2011. 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 2016, 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 201 7?
Proposal Details:
Attached.
Fiscal Impact:
The 2017 budget for legal notices is $1,500.
Options:
1) Designate the Country Messenger as the official newspaper for 2017
2) Designate the Forest Lake Times as the official newspaper for 2017
City of Scandia
Comparison of Legal Newspaper Proposals
January, 2017
Newspaper Forest Lake Times Country Messenger
Meets Requirements
of Minnesota
Statutes 331A.02
Yes Yes
Office Location Forest Lake, Minnesota Osceola, Wisconsin
Total Circulation 12,900 850
Scandia Circulation 1,100 469
Distribution Method
Distributed by route
carriers in 55073 zip
code; free copies in
newspaper rack at
Scandia Community
Center
U.S. Mail, and
Dealer locations: Scandia
Olde Town Liquor, Scandia
Store, Big Marine Store,
Marine General Store
Subscription Price
Free distribution;
Mailed subscription
$51.00/ $45.00 senior
rate
$26.00 per year
$0.75 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 8 pt/ 9 lines per inch
Price per Column Inch $5.30 $4.00
Posted on Paper’s
Website, No Extra
Charge
Yes Yes
Designated Official
Newspaper
Forest Lake, Wyoming,
Columbus, Linwood
Township, ISD #831
Marine on St. Croix,
May Township