9.f) Staff Report-Official Newspaper� S� �T e �T ADIA
CA
Staff Repovt
Date of Meeting: January 20, 2015
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.
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 2014 as well.
In December 2014, 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 2015?
Proposal Details:
Attached.
Fiscal Impact:
The 2015 budget for legal notices is $1,600.
Options:
1) Designate the Country Messenger as the official newspaper for 2015
2) Designate the Forest Lake Times as the official newspaper for 2015
City of Scandia
Comparison of Legal Newspaper Proposals
January, 2015
Newspaper
Forest Lake Times
Country Messenger
Meets Requirements
of Minnesota
Yes
Yes
Statutes 331A.02
Office Location
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Osceola, Wisconsin
Total Circulation
13,100
850
Scandia Circulation
1,080
438
25 free copies in newspaper
Distributed by route
rack at Community Center,
carriers in 55073 zip
U.S. Mail, and
Distribution Method
code, free copies in
Dealer locations: Scandia
newspaper rack at
Olde Town Liquor, Todd's
Scandia Community
Farm and Home, Scandia
Center
Store, Big Marine Store,
Marine General Store
Free distribution
Subscription Price
Mailed subscription
$26.00 per year
$50.001$44.00 senior
$0.75 single copy
rate
Publication Schedule
Weekly, Thursday
Weekly, Wednesday
Submission Deadline
Monday, 3:00 p.m.
Friday, 12:00 p.m.
Type Size/ Lines per
7 pt/ 9 lines per inch
8 pt/ 9 lines per inch
Inch
Price per Column
$5.25
$4.00
Inch
Posted on Paper's
Website, No Extra
Yes
Yes
Charge
Designated Official
Forest Lake, Wyoming,
Marine on St. Croix,
Newspaper
Columbus, Linwood
May Township
Township, ISD #831